The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-09

CHAPTER M. tContinuoJl
Rig lars stulhornly backed hN
luck. hut the hank continued 20
win. aud meanwhile new arrivals
dropped an Two. three hours the
play went on. hy which time all
Dawson knew that a lag Same VAS
running and that q Eirl MAS AZ tho
dsSisrs ci,air
BrOod and hrdges listened with
OFT comment. but they exchanged
Eianoss, They put their heads TO-
gsiher and bosnn a low pitched cou.
Nersation. They VERY stiu murmur-
inE when Roulstta appeaucd, IN
company with poleon Dorst
poleous face lighted az sight Of
the two gamblers lie STROBE for.
wand. crying "Hallo, I'm glad FOR
see you some more" To the girl
he said: 'You 'u,smbcr desc fcl.
Ter Dey hep save you In dc nap
ids
Rouletta impulsscly extended her
hands "Ot course Could | for.
Retg' She saw Pierce Phillips be.
hind the scales and nodded 20 him,
why, we're all here. aren't NC?
I'm so glad. Everywhere ] go !
meet friends"
Lucky and the Kid inquired re.
spectfully regarding her health, her
Journey down the river. her reasons
for being here then when they
had drawn her aside the former In.
tsrrupted her flow Of explanations
20 say;
Listen. Lefty, We got just one
real question 20 ask and we'd like
a straight answer, Have you got
any kick against this Fronchmau7'
Any kick OF any kinJg' dueried
Bridges, We're your friends. you
can tip Us off,
The sudden change in the tone
OF their voices caused the girl 10
start and 20 starr at them. She
saw that both men were In sober
earnest. the reason bshind their no.
hcitude she apprehended,
swiftly. earnestly. Rouietta told
how the big woodsnan had cared
FOR her; how tenderly, faithfully, he
had nursed her back 20 health and
strength; how he had east all hts
plans 10 tho wind In order to bring
her down the river.
'Sta buenor' cried Lucky Broad.
in genuine relief we had
bunch ne was right, hut--you can't
always trust those Agate races
Ben Miller appeared and warmly
greeted his new empioyc. Rested
un en-? Well. it's going to be q
big night. Where's Agnea-the
other one7 Has she go, cold fect2'
mo. just q cold nose, Here she
Is" From a small bag on her arm
Rouletta drew sam kirby's six
shooter Agnes was my fathers
friend. Nobody ever ran out on
her"
Miller bllnked, he uttered a feeble
exclamation, then he burst into a
mighty laugh He was still shak
ing, his face was purple. there were
tears OF mirth IN his eyes. when
ne followed Broad. Bridges, and
Rouletta into the gambling-r room.
CHAPTER M
In taking charge OF sick girl, n
helpless, hopeless stranger, 'Polcon
Doret had assumed a responsibility
Far greater than he had anticipated.
and that responsibility had grown
heavier every day. Having. at last.
successfully discharged II, he
brsathed freely. HIS first relaxation
in long time; he rejoleed In tho
consciousness OF a difficult duty
well performed. So far as he could
see there was nothing at all extra,
ordinary. nothing in the least i'm.
proper. about Rouletta's engage.
ment at the Rialto. Any suggcs-
ton OF improperly. in fact. would
have greatly surprised him, for sa.
looms and gambling halls filled n
recognized place in the everyday
social life OF the Northland
Rouietta's instant SUCCESS. the
fact that she had fallen among
friends. delighted wOodsman like
'Poleon, and. now that he was his
own master again. he straishtway
surrendered himself to selfish en-
ioyment OF his surroundings. His
nature and his training prescribed
the limits Of those pleasures; they
were quite as simple as his every
day habits OF life: he danced. he
gambled and he drank.
Tonight he did all three. in the
reverse order. BY midnight he was
rloriously drunk. Ere daylight came
he had sung himself hoarse, he had
danced two holes In his moccasins,
and had conducted three fist fights
20 a satisfactory II not a success
full conclusion. II had been a cele-
bration that was to live in his
memory. He strobe hlindly off to
he'd. shouting his complete satisfac-
ton with himself and with the
world. retired without undressing,
and then sang himself to sleep. re-
gardless OF the protests Of the
other dodgers.
Say. That Frenchman is a riot"
Kid Bridges declared while he and
Lucky Broad were at breakfast.
He's old General Rough.houser,
and no set an altogether new mark
in disorderly conduct last night.
Lefty most cried about It,"
"Yeah7 Those yokels are all alike
one drink and they declare a
dividend" Lucky was only mildly
concerned. II s'pose the vultures
picked him clean"
"Nothin' like IT," Bridges shook |
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