The Coolidge examiner., 1936-04-24

NOW, III help Dulld pot for
you, Sawyer" said West. Leave
it to old Tod! There's a five-spot.
But don't put too much faith in
women"
He chuckled, but there was no
mirth in the sound, Kerry thought.
He judged that Sawyer had anoth-
er queen in the hole; he was the
aggressor and a bit too aggressive
for a man with only the high card
showing. No pair was in sight !;
the queen dominated the board. Be
fore Tod West were exposed an in
nocuous four and five and nine
spot of three suits.
Jim Hinkle and another had
dropped out.
$50 we spin 'em for the final
heat" drawled West. "We drop
a jack to you, neighbor, and Saw
yer catches himself a six and
Take a look! l draw myself
large ball of fret"
The top card had finally dropped.
It was the ace Of diamonds and
Kerry Strengthened slowly. Vests
hole card had been dealt from the
bottom; for certain, it was another
ace!
Now, with this large ace show
in, it puts the bet to me, l take
it. Hum. Sawyer, you got
a queen showin' md you been proud
of her. 1 wonder what else, if any,
you've got. But this old ace
of mine Now, it'd be a down
right insult to bet less N ten dol
lars"
The tourist folded and Sawyer
eyed Tod's hand. He was breath
ing just bit rapidly, Kerry noted,
and fingered his remaining bills in
manner which proved him i'll at
ease.
But me, got only eight bucks
left, Tod" he said.
"Then I'd be pretty sure 1 had
somethin' before l used 'em. Hon
est, Sawyer" - with a grin I'D
stay out until l was sure l had
EN-"
But that was no sincere advice.
1t was goading, an invitation, a
challenge. He knew his man.
"All right! For the eight, then.
CALI"
Sawyer showed in his money and
turned his hole card. "Pair!" he
said, showing the second queen,
and leaned forward.
Il warned yOu," chuckled West.
Il told you to stay out. All along,
I had him." He turned the ace of
clubs.
The man rubbed his chin.
"Well," he said, "guess 1 better.
That cleans me out, as the feller
said. 1t just amt my night, ]
guess"
$50 you're leavin' us fiat, Saw
yer!" put in West. -Four handed's
not so good. Anybody else want
to try his luck just to keep the
game goin'?"
IT'S too rich for my blood!' a
youth giggled.
Anybody else? Last CALI"
He looked up and around, grin
ming, and the grin changed, ran into
a stiff sort of grimace as Kerry
Young moved out from his position
against the wall.
IF the games Open," he said,
Il don't mind trying my luck now
and again."
Eyes were on him, not on Tod
so the group missed one half the
exchange of glances which fol
lowed. Emotion chased emotion
across the older mans eyes; sur
prise, hatred, chagrin and a malev-
olent sort of inspiration.
"Why, sure" Tod said but could
not keep the grudging quality from
his tone.
Young moved, then, to the chair
just vacated by Sawyer, seated
himself and, thrusting a hand in
side his shirt, drew a packet OF
bills from his money belt.
A change had come over the
place. The onloOkers had ceased
their idle talk; the two fishermen
from Nan DOwner's eyed Young ap-
praisingly and Tod West, showing
the deck to the dealer, lighted a
cigar with a hand which was not
just steady.
A change came over the play,
too. OF a sudden, it was more in
tent, a seasoning of savagery in
the betting put there by Vests
sudden silence and the sharpness
of his gestures
Kerry played cautiously. His luck
was not good. Through the first
half dozen deals he stayed only
once after the second card. Jim
Hinkle, at his left. lost repeatedly
and. with his losing, his tension In
creased.
(TC BE CONTINUED