New Britain herald., 1929-06-08
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| Let him get on with his story Deacon grunted.
 Jerry threw him defiant look that again reminded me of Alex Peterson.
 It'll come fast enough for you. Deacon. when l get started" Jerry growled. T know how you feel about dad. Uncle John. It must come pretty hard. But when l tell you about his last night in Torridity youll understand. It took 35 years to make dad what he was that night. It took six hours to turn him into the man you knew. It would have broken weaker man, that poker game"
 Poker aame"'
 I flung the words back at him. There was poker game, then?'
 "rhe game that cracked the town, Uncle John."
 His sombrA eyes held me rigid in my chair. You mean-they played poker-for a mans life??"
 "Yes. Uncle John.'
 "Who was the stake?" Deacon rapped out.
 Jerry ignored the question and Deacons face darkened: but Henry made no response. l suppose he realized that the boy couldn't be expected 10 feel any too amiably disnOSo5 tow.rdS him Dad had remarkable memory for details" Jerry went on, and he made those ghastly six hours so vivid that felt as if I were down there myself. Dads six hours began | just before sunset on Monday. July | 6th lS96 He was in his cabin on the Two Brothers property. Dad | had been doing some book work. | but he was about ready to go into town himself when the door flew open and Uncle Jerry tumbled into the cabin. His eyes were wild and dad asked him what was wrong. l It took him a minute to get it out. l "'Lundy - the bunch are after me- he gasped. They're going to string me up
 Uncle Jerry got his wind. then, and he started to pour his yarn out on dad. It seemed they'd taken Him down to Lundy's and given | him a miners trial, l.undy had been judge. Jerry had made a break l for it-got away. Alex had treated l him white when he ought to have 1 taken rawhide to him. Now he was roping Alex into it, low-down hog that he was Alex must hand l him over to l.undy.
 "It isn't your funeral, Alex. I'm going back Jerry said. | "'What have you.done now" dad roared at him. Uncle Jerry had been up to every kind of deviltry | imaginable.
 Jerry had started in to tell him when they heard shouting off to- ward the town. Half the town was racing towards the Two Brothers coming. 1t looked bad and dad knew it.
 "'Come on son, Pronto,' he shouted.
 "Bnt Uncle Jerry shook his head. I shouldn't have, come here, Alex. he said. Pm going back. It isn't right to rope you in on it. You've always treated me darn sight bet tern l deserved. So long,
 "He dragged open the door he had burst through moment before and was for making off across the desert when dad jumped on him from behind and swung him to- wards the flank of the Skeletons behind the miQe buildings.
 Dad must have been pretty Uncle Jerry by the shoulders and hustled him towards the mine tun- mel and dumped him into an ore car
 "'Keep your head out of sight and shut up.' he growled, running the car into the mine. "A bullet flattened against th, overhang of rock above the tunnel entrance and the crowd let out !. frightful yell as they saw what dad was doing. Dad shut the door of the tunnel entrance and pad locked it: then he set his back to the door, dropped his hands to hi. gun belt, and waited
 CHAPTER 34
 HUMAN WOLVES
 JcTry's boyish eloquence had car. | - V~- VD0-~