Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-06-19

were said to have been twenty thou
sand. Curly was at the faro table
losing his poker winnings, when DinsS
dale entered and bruskly walked to
the bar and invited the house to join
him.
Because of his losses Curly was
more venomous than usual, If that be
possible. He fingered his few remain
Ing chips and stared at Dinsdale, con-
WINGED it was personal misfortune
that the newcomer should throw away
money which might so easily be taken
from him at cards. The "greenback
man" had forgotten his losses at San
Juan's place, or else they were imma-
terial to him, and now was in rare
humoi. Carelessly throwing more
money on the bar he directed that
drinks be served again to all who
might care to partake. The accept
ance was general.
French Curly could endure the
spectacle no longer. He rose and saun-
tered to the bar and took a position
beside Dinsdale, his cadaverous face
attempting to assume q genial express
sion. Dinsdale smiled genially and In
vited:
"Name it,
"No, thanks" declined Curly, bis
eyes eagerly watching the hand dip
ping into the breast pocket for more
paper money. "But what say to little
game In Franks room7'
;;This is my drinking night. ] never
mix cards with liquor" laughed Dins-
dale.
"a man Of spirit finds one time as
good as another"
$50 he does; and tomorrow Is as
good as today. But if you're banker
ing for action I'll cut the deck for a
thousand cut; any one of the men
here to shuttle the cards for u.s."
lightly countered Dinsdale. Cutting
the deck doesn't call for much brain
work, and luck's with me tonight"
French Curly began to lose his evil
temper. Heads were twisting, necks
were craning, as Dinsdale's reckless
offer was made; and the gambler
willing to stake his soul on game
Of chance-had no thousand dollars
to risk, nor any respectable portion Of
that sum. Had the invitation to the
small room been accepted he had
planned to borrow money from Keno
Frank. With a sneer on his pallid
face he said:
/ you'll need lots of luck. You'll
do well to stick to luck"
Especially after / find a game is
crooked" loudly retorted Dinsdale.
'sWhat was you doing at that side
table when you pretended to be using
the gold scales?"
| Those who had emptied their glasses
gently replaced them on the bar.
| Those about to drink postponed the
ceremony, and there was general
withdrawal to the opposite side Of the
room. French Curly wet his pale lips
and quietly said.
you'll explain those words if you
can. If you can't you'll eat them"
Dinsdale tossed off his drink and
laughed vacuously and retorted:
"Then I prefer explaining. Some
thing happened in the game last night
I didn't like. let it pass, as / didn't
want to raise row In Joe's place
the first time was there. 1t was VIXEN
you stopped and picked up chip and
placed it on the table beside the little
gold scales"
Meaning worked something
crooked?' Missed French Curly.
"Derned If you haven't hit it dead
| center! Have drink"
"Swallow it," CURLY commanded
the gambler, pulling d large bore der
ringer from side coat pocket.
With a movement so quick that
none could follow it Dinsdale knocked
the derringer to the floor French
| Curly dived to recover it, but snarled
| In fear and threw himself backward
as bullet struck the floor under
! the weapon and jumped it to the CEN
ter of the room.
Then with both guns working alter
nately Dinsdale caused the derringer
to spin and hop toward the door, the
shots coming almost together and each
furthering the flight of the weapon.
'Look Quit" some one howled.
He wheeled in time to behold French
Curly half over the bar and reaching
for the bartender'S gun.
"Quit IT, calmly commanded Dins-
dale, walking toward him. ''You didn't
count right have shot left"
The gambler dropped back to the
floor and Dinsdale put up his weapons.