San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-10

d., the broad shoulders beneath his flan-
mel shirt slipping with muscle, the
long hands on his pommel slender as
woman's and as fipe-grained, his
handsome blue eyes in odd contrast to
the darkness of his hair and the
smooth dark tan of his cheeks.
The group of newcomers, falling in
close together as if from habit, crossed
the street to the store, mounted the
steps with a clatter of spurs and en-
tered. The leader stood first inside
the door and looked around with the
sparkling smile that lighted his face
as with an inner flame. The men at
the table looked up. and though they
knew perfectly well, had known for
ten minutes, of their arrival, they
showed no surprise. Every face there
was placid, shallow with an alert in
difference. Brakeman alone looked
keenly over the crowd with an APP
praising glance.
Hello, boys" said the tall young
chap. setting the broad black hat back
upon his head at an angle, room for
some more?"
always room for more" said the
genial Hunnewell, ''what'n you
have"
Molten hell for these" said the
other airily with a wave of his slim
hand toward those behind him, "wa-
ter for me-. Gentlemen" he included
players at the table, who began to
rise at the time-honored invitation.
"Wh-what did you say, strang-
err? asked Hunnewell, a grin begin
ming to spread on his florid face.
But the young man turned and
looked at him, and all the smile, all
the sparkle, was gone suddenly from
his face.
~ said water Hunnewell," he
said evenly. lust plain, cold, ordinary
water. Suits my particular type of
beauty better. Keeps my complexion
smooth"
'Play?' asked Hunnewell.
IF we may"
Sanchez, out of it, drew up a chair
and sat smoking and watching as if
he had not but now lost the last mot
ley bag of dust, dollars and pesos he
possessed in the world. A game was
game and he was a born gambler,
feeling its lure vicariously.
At the table where Brakeman played
the stranger had taken seat natural
ly, as if one strong force drew an
other. As the cut for deal went round
these two men looked at each other
and keen observer would have
sensed measuring, an appraising, as
if each tested the others mettle. Corey
had Joined the second table and Hun
newell the third, while the rest of the
original players were about evenly
distributed.
Brakeman was rich for the day.
Whether or not he would be tomorrow
was another matter. However, he
had but to ride away into the dis
tances which swallowed and disgorged
him at fitful times, to come back
again laden to his ears with gold.
And many odd things this man had
put up at times when luck went
against him-once n wonderful ring of
heavy carven gold which, upon pres
sure. shot forth minute blade.
Brakeman had said the steel was
poisoned and the gamblers had
laughed. Wbereupon he had leaned
suddenly and touched the cat stretched
among the barrels in the warmth of
the fire, for it was winter time. The
thing was effective, for the creature
died promptly and with scare a culver.
Sanchez had won the ring. but
DTuellldH Huu lOTttu lllui W tputlhut
the play for 20 hours, until he won
it back.
Again, he had staked the beautiful
ivory hand of a sacred statue, got
from none knew what sacked Mission
of the Border, silent signe of the mans
depravity. Sanchez had won that, too,
and, play as he would, Brakeman had
never been able to win it back.
Hunnewell's was due that day to
see such high play as it had not seen
for years, and il was due to see the
breaking of Brakeman, a thing which
it had never seen.
For it was not long before every
man at the table-and at the one
adjoining, through subtle glances and
keenly cooked ears-knew that Bride
man had met his match. his real
match. not a squirting victor who won
and lost again, such as Corey and
Sanchez, but man who played to
him steadily and began to win.
Sof the day drifted by with sweet
winds in from the plain and n high
sun that sailed in cloudless sky. and
| the stacks of coin before Brakeman
dwindled, TO grow at the stranger S
elbow.
Maybe you're tired" said the
young man once, hating a moment,