The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-03-05

"Oh-oh! muttered Tod. "You
must've felt her coming" - turning
himself king.
Excitement showed in Jim Hinkle's
sallow face. Why shouldn't it? With
queens back-to-back, and now a third?
And two kings showing in two hands?
''Ten dollars" he said and his voice
was too eager.
well, now, James :. I'm just
little bit proud of what I've got. I've
beaten those dam queens once or twice
tonight. I'll just tilt it mite this
time to try my luck. Let's bet twen-
ty-five and keep the retailers out!"
The man at his left folded; the Sec
ond hesitated and again Kerry caught
that little flash of misgiving in Vests
eve. He wanted them all out now;
all except Jim Hinkle who was already
lingering his money, ready to call or
raise.
The second tourist folded and Kerry
silently showed his cards away.
"Raisin' fifteen, Tod?" Jim asked
and this time his voice was husked.
That's the way 1 feel. I'll back at
your
West rubbed his chin and grinned.
"By gosh," he said, as if in chagrin.
"By gosh, Jimmy, you tryin' to beat
meT An onlooker laughed Il think
you're downright tryin' to take my
money and that amt quite right. g..
Back at you with twenty"
His voice snapped on this last and
the watchers crowded closer to the
chair backs.
"Well, SEEM as you've got so much
confidence and SEEM as how we've got
cards comm Call"
Three cards were dealt, now, with
two showing; pair of queens, with
a lone king against them. From the
top of the deck, lying so openly before
him, West picked an ace and tipped
it toward his adversary. For himself
he turned a nine-spot
1.-The queens bet twenty-five bucks !"
Jims voice was tight.
"And the king will see the twenty
FIVE and raise ten 20 said West mel
lowly.
Hinkle shifted his weight. He wet
his lips and looked nervously at Tod's
hand. Then, as if deciding on caution
after a struggle, he called. His stack
of bills was thin, now; the heap of
currency in the center had attained
considerable size.
Now for the last heat, Jimmy. To
you, M lad, trey, and to me-
hesitating as he looked at the card he
turned from the deck and let smile
cross his face-''to me, the king of
diamonds !"
So that was it! Kerry thought to
himself Obviously, Hinkle had threes.
Tod, from a cold deck, had dealt him
self the case king.
West was sitting back in his chair,
smiling coolly. The place had grown
very still. Well over two hundred dol
lars had been bet so far and West
was smiling at the distraught Jim Hin
kle as a man will who is most sure
of himself.
"Beat the kings" West said. IF
you can and care to"
Jim cleared his throat.
He counted his money slowly and
said, I'm betting fifty dollars" and as
he showed in the last of his money
Young heard the breath catch in his
throat.
Tod West began to laugh.
"Them queens !" he said. "You boys
have to learn about women from me
1 beat 'em with aces once tonight.
Now, it's kings. . Kings beat queens,
| Jimmy? Three? You got three of
| the gals?"--and Hinkle strained for.
ward as West began turning his hole
card.
Three queens" the man said husk.
lily.
That's what figured, along at the
last So just called, you bein' out
of cash. My kings, James, catched
'emselves a triplet, toop
Hinkle slumped back in his chair
weakly. In the depths of his eyes was
acute distress.
Caught the caser!" Tod West was
saying as he reached forward with
both hands for the pot Caught the
caser and"
"Just a minutew It was Kerry
Young's voice, with snap and iron ir
it; and Kerry Young's hand lay In
an arresting grasp on Vests wrist.
Tod broke short his speech. he
plunged a look hard into this strang
er's face.
"Jim, how much did you lose in thi.
pot?" Kerry asked. "You were even
you said, a while ago."
"Hunderd n eighteen" said Hinklt
unsteadily.
Young nodded.
"a hundred and eighteen dollars T
That's too much to lose"
"What comes off here?" West, re
covering himself, shook off Kerry!
hand and drew back. Color gushet
darkly into his face. "What goes OF
here? You weren't even in this pot 7
mo. You didn't want me in"
Makes no damn difference to me
what you do. But you were not. tt!
my pot. If you want to post-morten
here, whatever your name is, jus
string along and buy the right"
"Tve the right. nowl" Young's moutl
twitched and he was a bit pale. IN.
financial interest in this pot is moth
ing. But I've an interest in it besid,
that. I've been sitting in the gam,
and when I see a man stripped of hi
last dollar on a crooked deal"
Tod was on his feet, a rush of Grim
son rage flooding his face, and hi
right hand was whipping at his breast
jerking open the shirt. Buttons gave
exposing the sweat-stained strap acros
his chest and the segment of shoulde
holster.
IT hammered ouicklv. with such des