Nogales international., 1936-06-13


"A bunch of US said Brent, with
a shoulder in his tired eyes, aim
30 cali a camp meetin' at one o'clock
when the crowds in and before
the backtrailin' starts, so we can
get full vote. That's why l spoke
TO ye. Can we figure on you boys
30 stand in?"
Speed looked at his partner. 1t
was their one remaining chance OF
Keeping Garnet on the trail. You
can count on US to VOTE" he said,
shut that's all"
Brent sIgnifed that he asked for
nothing more, and leaving them,
went up the trail to collect more
voters. .,,
When they returned to Liarsville
the camp was crowded. Here and
there the dispirited faces of mud
dragged men showed that Fallon s
decision meant the end of the trail
for some of them, but they accepted
1t as the harsh law Of the stampede.
Brent's chance, even of a hearing,
was more than doubtful. The trail
of the partners had reached crit
&cai inpassee.
Before they reached the cache,
they met Garnet coming toward
them, looking refreshed and clean
as he stepped carefully along the
river path. He listened in silence
To Speeds tactful account OF the
trail, and agreed to attend the mass
meeting.
But he was visibty moro inter-
iested In some sounds that came to
thcm from the vicinity Of the bridge.
"A metallic "come-on" chant rang
atridentiy throegh the hollow, above
g babel Of voices and the rivers
brawL
Not a game of chance. friends
A simpul lest of skill. The quick
ness of the hand decefves thu
Suppose we give the game ;
spin while waiting for one o'clock,
Garnet suggested. you need some
relaxation"
You can spit it," Speed declined
eff had the jack it wouldn't rela,
1ne none 10 give it to i shell rigger.
The sunlight that pierced tn
canyon mist fell on noisy GROVE
around the dealers pitch table
many of them not following tn
game, but simply herding there t.
wait for the backtrail to clear /
player had just placed bet. From
the higher ground at the bridg
head they saw it to be the ma
with the sheepskin coat = Pete
partner Bill Noticeably drunk
Bill was swaying on his heels. Fal
lon and one OF his outfit stood neal
watching him play
Il guess we'll pass this" sai
Garnet prudently.
Speed did not answer. His at
tentiOn had been arrested by tn
pallid, narrow-eyed face of tn
dealer, on which the sunlight ,fel
sQuarely. Seems like I've see
that bird somewheres," he mutterec
While Bill stood shifting hi
wealth between his hands, the vel
low head of his young partner ap
peared beside him. Pete was tryin
to pull him out of the game. Ie
nored by Bill. the boy said some
thing to Fallon--rot audible fror
the bridge Fallon brushed him ou
Of the way with an impatient, back
ward fling of his hand. The blo1
might have been unintentional, bu
the hand was heavy and ringed.
crt the boys cheek aud seat hir
stumbling.
Damned shame. said Carnet.
Speed swore to himself. Pet
broke away and went up the cauyo
while Bill was obllvious to every
thing but the stakes he was vac eel
counting.
The dealeg fastened to cove tn
incident :" Not same G
the hand" LIEF. til teaier'
ISoice huuc trailing, hi Did eye,
xoving oye. the crovd, suddenl
Sucovr- esed and liked witt
Speed. A look Of incrcdulous won
der pierced lis mask.
"A thousand" n,2pndefed BET.
"Shoot it, Bill" sa;4 Fallor
FII copper you sOn7e IN c4se yo'
lose" He laid small Stack o
poid pieces on the tabic, as Bill
iurched forga. d and iaced hi
double handful of money
The dealers eyes, which ha'
returned to the game. Quivered Up
ward as a eaI /. ~ suddcni,
spoke over stlc heads OF s4t ~ro'rd
"T'it bet q thousand on Bal :.
WIN"
The discovery that it vas Spec
%xho had spoken astonished 40 on
qxlte as puch as Maitland. VIII