The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-15
CHAPTER I

With an ostentatious flourish Mr..
Lucky" Broad placed crisp ten
dollar bill in All eager palm out
stretched across his foldingtable.
The gentleman wins and the gam
bier loses!" Mir Broad proclaimed
to the world. The eye is quicker
than the hand, and the dealers
means is music to the strangers
ear" With practised touch he rear
ranged the three worn walnut shells
which constituted his stock in trade.
Beneath one Of them he deftly con-
ccaled a pellet about the size of a
hve-srain allopathic pill, 1t was the
erratic behavior of this tiny ball, its
mysterious comings and eoings. that
had summoned Mr.. Broad's audience
and now held its observant interest
This audience, composed of roughly
dressed men. listened attcntively to
the seductive monoloeue which ac-
companied the dealers deft mahipu-
lationS. and was greatly entertained
thereby. Three tiny tcpees in 4
row and 4 little black .medicine-man
inside The speakers voice was
hieh-pitchcd and it carried like a
''t!iirty-thirty" You see him walk
i'll, YOU open the door, and-you
double your money. Awfully
simple! Simpully awful! What?
AS l live! The gentleman Wins ten
morc-tcn >ilvcr-tongucd song-birds,
ten messengers OF mirth-the price Of
a hard days toll Take it, sir. and
may it make better and stronger
man of you. Times are good and
| spend my money free. ! made it
packin' grub to L,nderman, four bits
a pound. but-easy come. easy 60.
Now then, who's next? You've seen
me work couldn't battle sore
eyed Siwash with snow-glasses."1
Lucky Breads three-legged table
stood among some stumps beside the
muddy roadway which did service as
the main street Of Dyea and along
which flowed an irregular stream of
pedestrians; incidental to his prac-
tised manipulation of the polished
walnut shells he maintained an I'M
ceasing chatter of the sort above set
down. Now his voice was loud and
challenging. now it was apologize,
always it stimulated curiosity. One
moment he was jubilant and gay,
again lie was contritc and querulous.
Occasionally he burst forth into
plaintivc seli-denunciations.
Fixing a hypnotic gaze upon a
bland, blue-eyed bystander who had
just joined the charmed circle, he
murmured, invitingly: Better try
Your luck, Olaf. It's Danish dice
three chances to win and one to
lose"
The object of his address shook
his head. AYE ant Danish, Aye ban
Norveeen." said he.
Danish dice or Norwegian poker.
they're both the same. Ill deal you
a free hand and it wop't cost you a
cent. Fix your baby blues on the
little ball and watch me close. Don't
let me deceive you. Now then,
which but hides the grain?"
Noting half-dozen pairs of eyes
upon him, the Norseman became
conscious that he was center Of
interest. He grinned half-heartedly
and. after a brief hesitation, thrust
forth clumsy paw, lifted she'll.
and exposed the object of general
curiosity.
You guessed it!' There was
commentator. there was pleased
surprise, in Mr.. Breads tone. "You
can't fool foreigner, can you,
boys! My, my! Amt it lucky for
me that we played for fun? But you
got to give me another chance,
Lars; I'll fool you yet. In walks
the little pill once more, l make the
magic pass, and you follow me at
tentively. knowing in your heart OF
hearts that I'm a slick I'm. Now
then. shoot, Kid; you can't miss
mi"