Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-26
INSTALLMENT xvIx.

1--WE days later Sparrowhawk Lati-
- mer died during the night after
Il a short interval of improvement
u which gave his comrades renewed
. hope. He passed away alone, EVIL
nently in agony, to Judge from his dis
torted face.
: wal, 1 don't know but tibet Spar
rows better off," remarked Smoky with
: They buried him in his tarpauiin on
che spot and divided his effects among
Them by drawing lots.
. "What'd you do with the money you
found on him?" queried Hays.
: we didn't find none. Sparrow gave
It to me an Jim some days ago." re-
oiled Smoky.
: Reckon you better divide it,"
"Ump-umm," rejoined Smoky, nom
ehalantly. his beady little eyes on the
: why not?"
. Wal, Sparrow wanted us to have it.
not, I reckon, because we took care OF
plm when you forgot, but jest because
. Smoky, tell Hays the other reason"
spoke up Jim.
"Thet'l wait, Jim. No hurry. An
m not so shore Sparrow wanted us to
: Hank Hays turned livid.
: "Ahuh. Mebbe you'd both be wise to
stay shet up" he said, and left.
"Fellers,' said Brad Lincoln. turning
to the others, I've had a bunch ali
along there was hitch in this deal.
AIR you with me in demandin' a show
down from Smoky an Jim?"
= We shore air" rejoined Bridges, and
loyalty.
Smoky, you're square. II there's
anythin, we want to know"
wal, there's a lot. It's due you.
INN an me have no mind to keep silent,
now Latimer's gone. But we're stuck
hyar in this hole an we don't want to
4ght among ourselves"
Right you air-but no matter"
snapped Lincoln
!. It'll bust up the poker game, Brad.
You're behind an so long as there's a
chanct to win Hays roll, why not
take it?"
Lincoln made a passionate gesture.
Smoky had hit his weakness. He was
the top gambler of the outfit.
Smoky, you're sluggin' me one below
the belt. You know I'd pass up any
thin to beat Hank. I'm game Keep
your mouth shet till it's gotta, come
out. An you can bet your life If it's
as serious as you hint theren be a
row"
"Mebbe we can slick it over" replied
Smoky. smoothly. IF we win all the
boss money-an' he'll shore be easy
now with tibet CURL on his mind
reckon there won't be any sense in
tellin' at all. Eh. Jim?"
It don't make any rash promises.
Smoky" returned Jim. IT admire you
lot, Slocum. but I'm thinking you run
this into the ground. In all justice,
these men ought to be told something
Il say cards. You fellers can't keep
It forever" rejoined Lincoln. darby
From that hour dated the grim and
passionate gambling, in which they all
participated With one man on look
out duty, the others spent most Of the
daylight hours sitting at Happy Jacks
table of cottonwood poles
Jim had separated his money into
two parts-one consisting Of the bills
Of large denomination and the other
Of small. The latter he kept out for
gambling. intending to quit when it was
lost.
But fortune was tickle He did not
lose IL. Instead. he won steadily. There
was no hope of his getting out of the
game so long as he was ahead. He
wanted to watch. think, plan. Luck
changed eventually, and he lost all he
had won. Then he see-sawed for a day,
before he struck another streak Of los
ing. and lost everything.
I'm cleaned" he said, rising. But,
BY gosh, gave you q rum"
I'm way ahead. I'll lend you some"
o6e-ed uave
.'No, thanks. I'm glad to get OF this