The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-09-21
CHAPTER II

and ZeSt or opposition. But ne could
not wait for luck TO change. He had
to be in every hand. Moreover, he
was not adept enough with the cards
to deal himself a good hand when his
turn came. He grew so sullen that
Wall left of watching and returned
to the Preside
But presently he had cause TO at
tend more keenly than ever to this
card game. The drift OF conversation
wore toward an Inevitable fight. These
men were vicious characters. Wall
knew that life out here was raw.
There was no law except that Of the
six-shooter.
While he bent a more penetrating
gaze upon Stud. to whom his attention
grayitated, Wall saw him perform a
trick with the cards that was pretty
clever. and could not have been dis
cerned except from Wallis position.
Nevertheless, tickle fortune most
certainly had picked on Stud. He bet
this hand TO the limit OF his cash, and
then, such was his confidence, he bor-
rowed from Morley. Still he could not
force Hays to call He fell from ella
ton TO CONSERVATION, then to doubt,
from doubt TO dismay, and from this
to gathering impotent rage, all Of
which proved how poor gambler he
was. When at last he rasped out:
wal, CALI Here's mine"
He slammed down an ace full Hays
had drawn three cards.
Stud, I hate to show you this
hand" drawled Hays.
'Yes, you do! Lay it down. I
called you"
Whereupon Hays gently spread out
four ten spots, and then with greedy
hands raked in the stakes.
Stud stared with burning eyes.
''Three-card draw, You come
In with a pair Of tens?"
Nope. 1 held up one ten an the
ace" replied Hays, nonchalantly. 81
had bunch, Stud"
You'd steal coppers of a dead
mans eyes"
"Haw! Hawi" bawled the victori-
Gus gamester. But he was the only
one of the six players who seemed to
see anything funny in the situation.
That dawned upon him. "Stud, was
takin' tibet crack Of yours humorous"
"Was you?" snapped Stud.
"Shore was" returned Hays, with
congealing voice.
"Wal, / didn't mean 1t humorous"
Stud retorted.
"Ahuh. Come to look at you I see
you amt feelin' gay. Suppose you
say just what you did mean"
81 meant what said"
"Shore. I'm not so awful thick.
But apply tibet crack to this here card
game an my playin'."
Hays, you palmed them three ten
spots" declared Stud hotly.
Then there was quick action and
the rasp Of scraping chairs, and the
tumbling over OF a box seat. Stud
and Hays were left alone at the table
You're a liarw Kissed Hays, sud-
denly black in the face.
Here Jim Wall thought 1t was time
to intervene. He read the CLINT In
Studs eyes. Hays was at a disad-
vantage, so far as drawing a gun was
concerned. And Wall saw that Stud
could and would kill him.
Hold on there" called Wall, in q
voice that made both men freeze.
Hays did not turn to Wall, but he
spoke: 'Pard, lay of. can handle
this Teller"
Take care, stranger" warned Stud,
who appeared to be able to watch
both Hays and Wall at once. They
were, however, almost in line. This
amt any of your mix"
81 just wanted TO tell Hays I saw
you slip an ace from the bottom Of
the deck" said Wall. He might as
well have told of Hays Irregularities.
"Wot! He filed his ace full tibet
way?" roared Hays.
He most certainly did"
"An right let it go at that" replied
Stud, deadly cold IF you can say
honest tibet you haven't pulled any
tricks-go for your gun. Otherwise
keep your shirt on"
That unexpected sally exemplified
the peculiar conception Of honor
among thieves II silenced Hays. The
little gambler knew his man and shift
ed his deadly intent to a more doubt
full issue.
"Jim Wall, eh?'' he queried, inso-
lently.
at your service" retorted Wall.
He OWNED the workings Of the little
gamblers mind. Stud needed to have
more time, for the thing that made
decision hard to reach was the quality
of this stranger His motive was more
deadly than his viii. or his power TO
execute. All this Jim Wall know. It
was the difference between the two
men.
I'm admittin' 1 cheated" said Stud,
harshly. But I amt standin' to be
tipped off by a stranger"
well, what're you going to do
about it," asked Wall, while the spec
tators of the drama almost held their
breath
Studs lean, dark, little hands lifted
quiveringly from the table
Don't draw yelled Wall. The
man doesn't live who can sit at q
table and beat me to a gun"
TO BE CONTINUED.