San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-08

little souvenir. Maybe a ring would
bring you luck-or is that rushing
things?"
The blood famed into the cheeks of
the Border Nightingale. She lower
ed her eyes.
"Ah amigo" she said softly-"if thou
would bring me a ribbon for my
hair -
"Sure I'll bring you a ribbon" said
Johnny. What color would you
like?"
Dolores studied the eyes of Sir
Galahad.
at must be a blue ribbon, she de-
cided, "a most heavenly blue. For look
you-it is also the color Of the Virgin,
who was most pure; and l assure thee,
JOhn-nay MIC, little Dolores, she has
the right TO wear it. Don't thou be-
Iieve?"
Johnny nodded his head to show
that he both believed and knew.
leave it to me- he told her. I'm
the blue ribbon kid. Feel little hap
pier now, don't you?"
She nodded dumbly.
ale too" said Johnny. "Now l
have TO get back on the job. Nobody
botherfng you, is there?" Is
She shook her head. The safety
Of johnny Powell had suddenly be-
come very precious to the Border
Nightingale.
in that case" he told her, "Fll
have to win little money for ran
chita with some mango trees" He
went away, smiling happily.
Life moves swiftly at Mexicana. An
hour later Brayfield's young game
keeper was imprisoned in the Quartet.
Nine times the house had lost, and
there was twenty-five hundred dol
lars on the table. The law of aver
ages was yielding to the reckless play
of Pancho Gonzales, gunman from the
Tres Pinos country. Back Of an i'm
perturbable mask, the mind of Johnny
Powell analysed swiftly the last nine
throws. and recalled that Gonzales
had first rolled the dice clear down
the table. and they had been tossed
back to him by fat man with beady
eyes, chewing nervously upon a black
cigar.
"Just minute, amigo" said Johnny
Powell. 81 feel little superstitious.
Try your luck with these bones, and
I'll relieve you of the others"
He reached into the case, and toss
ed out another pair of dice.
"Por Dios, no.' flared the man
from Tres Pinos. IL keep the dice by
which l ween. You think l cheat?"
Thirty men, packed around the long
table, held their breath.
al told you / was just supersti-
tious," reminded Johnny. The house
has the right to change the dice at
any time. Use that pair, or pick. up
your money
Pancho Gonzales drew and fired.
The shot went wild. There was a
flash Of blue from the other side of
the table, squirt of red-and the
man from Tres Pinos went down. No
one else stirred or spoke.
"All right" sighed Johnny Powell
"Pick up your money, boys and get
out. Don't you move. Morwych-Tve
got you covered. Everybody else
beat it.'
In a few minutes Brayfield's was
cleared of its usual patrons. There
remained only Johnny Powell and his
fellow gamekeepers, the prostrat,
figure on the floor and Mike Nor
wych.
Johnny walked up to the proprietor
Of the Palace, tore open the latter's
coat, and reaching one hand into the
left vest pocket, withdrew a pair Of
dice with the Brayfield house-mark
They were apparently identical will
| the ivory cubes that PanchO Gonzale:
had been using, but there was thi'
! difference The dice on the table hat
the usual markings-the trey on thu
right. and the four on the left wher
the, nee was uppermost and the deuce
in front: but on the dice taken from
Morwych's pocket. this order was re
versed. and by that token john!
knew his own. dice. Cold blue eye
looked at Morwych.
"Don't you every come in her,
again." warned Johnny. Don't ever
walk on the same side of the street
understand? Get out now before
drill you"
Morwych left without saying
word. Johnny Powell surrendered
fand even though his employer wa
away he knew how things were man
aged: so he slept peacefully on
couch in the commentaries office.
Early in the morning Senorit
! Romero hurried to the quartet.
81 "Ah.p she quavered. ~ have love