The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-15
CHAPTER TX
Fate Takes a Hand,

for the expected visit of the head of
the firm, Ben Wentworth. Lefever had
sent word from Medicine Bend that
Wentworth was bringing with him
General Roper, chief engineer In
charge of the railroad construction.
and reminded McAlpin that Went
worth would be looking for clean
barn and that both distinguished visi.
tors would be looking for pony race
or game of poker.
One Of the busy places in Sleepy
Cat, particularly at stage time, was
the open square in front of the COM
pany barns. blacksmith shops, and
paint and wagon shops. The Medicine
Bend stage had pulled in and pulled
out again for the west, and the Thief
River wagon, with mail and express
was making ready to start south,
when Wentworth and General Roper
drew up before the barn.
AS the company representative Sell
wood received the two men. Went.
worth, almost as tall as Pardaloe,
with large features, sweeping mus.
tachios, aggressive eyes, wearing
broad plainsman's hat, dusty vel
veteen suit, and huge solitaire dia.
mond in the bosom of his gray WOODEN
shirt, was a familiar figure to Selwood
who knew his peculiarities well.
General Roper was an object Of
much greater interest to Selwood. He
was shorter and stouter with the ad
vance Of years than. his. companion
soldiers mustache, gray and close
cropped. SelwOod, when he could de-
Gently do so unobserved. looked at
this man very closely and inspected
him very coldly-he felt that he had
particular reason to do so. -as.
The usual program of Went
worth's inspection trip was observed.
After the horses, wagons. equipment,
and shops had been gone over, Sell
wood took his guests to the hotel for
dinner, stopping on the way at Tracy's
tent that Wentworth might go in to
speak to him.
The old man looked frail "rm
going to miss my game of poker with
you, Dave" remarked Wentworth, in
the rough sympathy of men of his
kind. Brought up a man to trim you
this time-General Roper"
"You won't miss me-" retOrted
Tracy huskily. and the old gambler.
in turn, named Selwood. Hell give
him a game"
After dinner the construction en-.
gineers took Roper away, and Selwood
drove Wentworth to Thief River for
the mine inspection. They got back
late to the hotel, where Carpy and
Roper joined them. After good bit
of talk and more or less action in the
barroom, the four went to the dining.
room for a late supper. The meal
was prolonged. Roper old army Off
Ger and stepped in the traditions OF
autocracy and action, began to mani
fest Impotence as the early night
wore on and no game was in sight.
"When does this poker player of
yours show up?" he asked OF Carpy
"What did you call him-'Gentleman
John'?"
Carpy touched the old gentleman's
breast with his finger. He was with
us at supper tonight-John SelwOOd.'
"That young fellow? Wentworth's
superintendent"
"That's Gentleman JOhn'-but don't
call him that" explained Carpy with
his broad smile, unless you want
row."
Roper shrugged his shoulders.
"We're going to miss Dave Tracy to
night"
"You may; you may" assented
Carpy automatically. "But the young
fellow will do the best he can"
The four men sat down in Carpy's
room. Carpy supplied the chips and
opened big box of cigars while Sci
wood placed new deck Of cards on
the table, the seal Of the packet un'
broken. He acted as banker
= Midnight found the four men fresh
at the work, the gains and losses see
saving from one pile of chips to
another. At two o'clock in the morn
ing Carpy, moderate winner
dropped out on the plea of necessity
Wentworth and Selwood We're behind;
Roper was winning and in excellent
humor. With the day breaking in the
east and the air of the room, vitiated
by the Kerosene lamps, heavy'\and
enervating, Wentworth, considerable
loser, quit.
81 hope you're not done, young man.
exclaimed Roper, whose palate was
whetted for further victories.
81 don't usually sit in game long
err than this" responded Selwood
whose composure seemed proof
against adverse fortune. "But if you
want to make it noon, I'm agreeable
Wentworth threw himself on the
bed beside Carpy, whose snoring was
of peaceful nature. SelwOOd pushed
aside the calico curtains. threw oper
the windows for air, put out one OF
the hot lamps. dashed some colo
water over his face, and sat down tc
finish with the man best known among