The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-22

had been mastered at his own game
and he knew 1t.
Get my o US together. and see
what l owe you," he said brusquely
as he pushed his chair back. "Look
here" he added insolently-Selwood
in leisurely fashion was casting up
his accOunts-"where did you learn
to play pokerf"
SelwOOd did not take the trouble
to look up. "Among the thieves and
cutthrOats at Thief River" he an
swered with no lack Of curtness and
complete Indifference to the result
Of his words. "Why?" he asked in
turn and with no less Of insolence.
Don't you like my gamer"
"What's your business?" demanded
Roper. The general had cast aside
the mask Of suavity worn for SO many
hours Selwood met his rudeness with
rudeness. playing poker" he re-
torted. Indifferent to results.
WHAT" exclaimed Roper. kindling.
do you mean to say you're profess
sional gambler?"
"That sounds like 1t, doesn't it,"
"You insult me. sir!" exclaimed
Roper. with an oath.
"YOu insulted me when you refused
to play with my cards. You called for
your own, didn't you? And l cleaned
you out with your own"
Roper flew into passion. do you
play with marked cards?" he thun-
dered.
Selwood was impassive. Nobody
would need marked cards to play with
you. General" he returned. Il play
with marked cards when l play with
thieves-they furnish Them"
wentworth! Carpy!" roared Roper.
"Come in here!" The two men ap-
peared at the door together. 'What
do you mean?" he demanded with a
string Of expletives. 'by running in a
professional gambler on me for gen.
tlemen's game of poker?"
Carpy looked blank-but the look
was mostly assumed. HAS he cleaned
you. General?" he asked. with medi-
cal innocence.
wentworth" blurted out Roper,
"you told me he was your superinten-
dent here"
"Dash 1t, he is" returned Went
worth testify. Last time you were up
here you cleaned out Dave Tracy.
You weren't so blamed particular then
whom you played poker with"
Roper stamped about in tantrum.
"I've been played on-taken in by a
common card sharp I've been
robbed"
Selwood, who had been sitting as
an unconcerned listener, slapped the
cards with which they had been play
ing sharply down on the table. He
rose instantly and confronted Roper.
81 wouldn't call a man of your
years liar, General. But you can't
crawl away after game with me with
any such word as robbed"
"Why you blamed old martinez"
shouted Carpy angrily.
"Hold on, Doc! Hold your horses"
interposed Wentworth hastily. "The
general is my guest--we'res gentlemen
here" }H
Carpy could not be suppressed.
every man on the Mountain divide"
he Numbered at Roper, would call
you liar If you called John Selwood
a crook"
Selwood put up his hand. He was
white with anger. "Pll do the talking,
Doctor" he said. The men watching
him made no further attempt to in
terfere. Roper, sullen, glared at him.
'This man" - Selwood pointed to
Roper-'calls me a card sharp-he
has good reason tO-a better reason
than he knows!" He was looking as
he spoke at Wentworth and Carpy and
directed his words to them. 81 want
to tell you, gentlemen, who that man
is"-his finger pointed remorselessly
at Roper. "And I want to tell you
who am, That man sent my father
to his death at the hands of Indians
That man tried to send my mother
and me to the same death. That man
put stain on my mothers name. He
sent me out into the world without
a name. If that mans word is good"
he shot the words out like bullets
my father never married my
mother!"
"Damnatlonr shouted Carpy, en-
ragged. "Why don't you kill him?"
Selwood went steadily on. 'I'll tell
you that, too. l came out on the d.
vide ten years ago. l was fifteen
years old. went to this man up at
the Fort-told him who / was-he
cursed me. The only man on the
whole trail that showed me honest
kindness was the old man who lies
down there in the tent-Dave Tracy.
Dave Tracy was a gambler; he could
teach me no trade but his own. He
never tried to make a gambler Of me
Il made one Of myself liked 1t, l
drifted into 1t, expect to die in 1t.
l don't excuse 1t. / don't whine about
1t. know the cards-they know me.
They're false friends, like all friends
with you when you win, against you
when you lose. But don't forget
hok x,,ov. hos Anna o. 49,,