Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 131: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

een iF A vA S ee, ee his { x) Fisted We) ‘ Emergency Cards . 121 psychology. Not only must the player’s ob- servation turn upon such cards as chance—or skill—places in his hand, but upon his opponent as well. Things are not what they seem, and nowhere is it so clearly made manifest as in the ancient and honorable game of draw. Slim was not what he seemed. But this McGowan did not know. McGowan saw simply a simple mountain youth, freckled,’ difident, bitten by the gambling-bug. Mc- Gowan did not know that Slim had looked oft and skilfully upon the flushes when they were ~ red—or black—and the houses when they were full in his hand; and that in fast company. But most of all McGowan did not know that he was not to Slim and Andy the stranger he professed to be. From the first the card-duel upset Dr. Permutation’s dope. Practically every pot was opened with high pairs or better; and threes, straights and fulls were frequent. Old Andy sauntered genially in just as Slim laid dewn a flush and two hundred dollars to McGewan’s small full house. McGowan, with his back to the door, did not see the venerable prospector; nor, busied with ing in his winnings, did he see the glance of understanding which flashed from Slim to his partner. The play progressed, favoring one, then the other. McGowan dealt the next hand, glanced at his hand and then at the clock. It lacked twenty minutes of his train-time. “Open fer a hunderd,”’ Slim drawled, “Called and raised five hundred.” Old Andy lounged over and leaned against the table. “At hit ag’in, Slim?” But the chiding over- tones had gone from his voice. “Hain’t no objections, air they?” “Lord, no.” Andy turned to McGowan, speaking across the generous pile of crumpled bills upon the table. “This here seems to be a man-size game, but th’ boy’ll never learn that he kain’t cyard-play ontil he bucks action. Mebby after he’s fiddled away them fo’ thousan’ an the Florydory == well, he’ll come to a understandin’ with e oo Slim was counting the balance of his roll with 3 one hand. The cards McGowan had dealt him he covered*with the other. He paid no atten- tion to Andy. “Tt don’t know what ye got, stranger,” he ‘said. “But callin’ that five-hunderd raise o’ yore’n leaves me jest a even twenty-six hunderd that says I beat ye. I raise ye twenty-six hunderd.” McGowan paled slightly. His gaze passed from Slim and rested upon old Andy. Reas- sured that that benignant ancient had no in- tention of interfering with his ae extrava- gance, he again regarded his h “Twenty-six hundred practically cleans me,’ hesaid. ‘But if your faith in your hand is as great as mine, we may still tilt the betting.” Slim raised an interrogative eyebrow. “There was some talk of a mining-claim you owned,”’ McGowan explained. “Would you care to venture that?” ““Ag’in what?” McGowan’s reply came with difficulty. “Why—er—you see— It’s like this, My company has er—acquired the deed to the Belladonna. I have it with me. I can see your twenty-six-hundred raise, and re-raise the Belladonna against your Floradora.”’ Strangely this information concerning the Belladonna caused neither Slim nor Andy sur- prize, but McGowan did not notice this until long and profane hours afterward. Red and Jim and others, scenting high play, had ranged around the table. Andy held his vantage-post at McGowan’s right. Slim made a final study of his cards. “All right,” he consented. ‘But she'll take bookkeepin’!”’ The bookkeeping consisted in making out a bill of sale of the Floradora and a transfer of the Belladonna deed. Bystanders offered aid as counsel and witnesses. Old Andy took little part in the transaction, but kept up a gentle rawhiding of Slim. “Boy’s prob’ly misread his hand,” he said dolorously to the spectators. ‘He does that frequent. Looky here—”’ He drew a heavy Colt revolver from his pocket. “This here gun Slim bought in Cheyenne fer a .45. Gun-sto’ clerk told him that’ s what she was, an’ Slim, he bought up a mess 0’ .45 ca’tridges fer her. An’ now, looky here—’’ Andy drew forth a hand- ful of cartridges. ‘See them shells? ‘Them’s .44’s fer my gun.” He swung out the cylinder of the revolver and loaded it completely around. The cart- ridges fitted perfectly. ‘“‘’J’ever see .44 shells fit a .45 gun like that?” The old man chuckled. “That there gun-sto’ clerk jest natchully sold Slim a .44.” Andy rested the muzzle of the heavy weapon upon the table. “‘Misreadin’ a hand’s wuss’n misreadin’ a gun.” McGowan, blinded by his money - lust, missed this bit of by-play. He had scanned and approved of the Floradora bill of sale. The deed to the Belladonna lay at his elbow. “Your bet,” to Slim. “What are you doing?” eo m a-raisin’ you twenty-six hunderd dollars an’ the Florydory mine.’ Slim pushed money and documents to the center of the table. “And I,” McGowan’s voice was eager, “am calling all bets. Cards?” : 7 Comicbooks (C@)