Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-04-11
CHAPTER VII

Atop his sleek dark head was
broad black sombrero, and he wore
black fooled Mexican riding boots.
Though his long black coat hid it, q
businesslike six-gun hung at his waist
in well-oiled holster and, according to
the time-honored custom of gamblers
all through the West, a derringer that
could drop into his hand on the instant
was up his sleeve.
Neither gun was there for ornament.
Many a man who was now reposing in
Boot Hill might have testified to Flash
Conroy's speed of hand and eye
before that same speed sent him there.
AS Michael Valdez moved slowly
across the bar-room floor now, the
gambler turned to face him, and for a
tense moment neither of them spoke.
Then Conroy flashed his white teeth in
what might or might not have been
friendly grin and said:
slows tricks, cowboy? It's treat
to see you around here. Didn't know
you often moved so far away from the
border"
"Everything's fne," Valdez drawled,
and slightly moved his charro vest SO
that his well-filled money belt came into
plain sight. 1--WE just come into a
little dinero, and thought this was just
as good place as any for me to invest
it so it would bring me in more"
Invest it, Ell? You'd like to run it
up" Conroy's full lips quirked and
again his white teeth showed. Certain
ly, certainly" he said affably. Draw
up chair and have yourself a stack
of chips. figure we can give you a
run for your money"
As Michael Valdez drew chair up
to the table and sat down he cast
swift, comprehensive, but apparently
idle glance around the room. He wanted |
to single out Conroy's henchmen, and
he did that with one sweep of his eyes.
They were some of those half-breeds
and renegades lounging at the bar, of
course.
But he gave no single sign of interest
in them as he sat down and carelessly
dumped the contents of the money belt
onto the table in front of him. Flash |
Conroy began methodically counting
'ut red, white and blue chips.
Valdez called for a new deck and |
,egan to shuttle the cards. Flash Con-
oy accepted his cards for the cut and
leal as though this man who had just
at in at the game were no unusual
'isitor, instead of the spectacular one
very man present knew him to be.
The five other players in the game also
ccepted the bit of melodrama, but
hortly realized that whatever was the
eason for the unexpected entry of this
ian from the border country, they were
ding to have to play heads-up game
4 order to stand even fighting chance
nth him.
The game went on quietly, though,
nd men finally relaxed. The wins and
uses seesawed back and forth between
he various players, while Michael Val
ez studied them surreptitiously.
Before the game had been going on
fteen minutes Valdez got a pretty
efinite idea Of the six men facing him
round the table. The two directly op-
osite obviously were well-to-do ranch
8 who would be able to stand any
asonable losses at the Palace gaming
bles. A man sitting beside the ranch
s looked like drifter who appeared
have made a stake, either in lucky
lining prospect or in some other quick
rn-over. He probably was ripe for
lash Conroy's plucking. And if later
should be found dead in some alley,
18th all his money and his other val
lbles missing, there would be no ex-
anation of that forthcoming.
The other two men in the game be-
les Conroy himself and Michael Val
z were plainly Conroy decoys. That
as definitely proved a few minutes 7
ter Valdez had pigeonholed them in =
5 mind, when they and Conroy swung :
to action, trying to whipsaw Valdez. +
1t they did not succeed He was ready !,
r them, and after that play he went
methodically raking in his winnings, o
d pushing away his losses with coof n
Ii ffaronoo