All-Story Weekly, Vol. 112, No. 1 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

a time when he appreciated it from the bottom of his heart. One by one the cowboys of the Gray Dog Ranch threw down their cards, shoved back their chairs and quit the game in disgust. Tige’s cards ran in straights, flushes and threes of a kind with such smashing regu- larity that even his bluffs were not called, and when every dollar on the Gray ‘Dog Ranch had passed into his possession, Tige jumped up from the table with a whoop of exultation. He did not tarry to tell ’em how it all happened—-he could crow over the Gray Dog victims at another time; instead, Tige clanked out to Peanut, his pinto pony, swung into the saddle and streaked for his own stamping grounds, the Buckjump Ranch, as fast as his cowpony could go— which was going some! And the while Peanut’s hoofs beat a rapid tattoo upon the highway, Tige’s thoughts buzzed in harmony with the world at large. Over and over he conned the results of his poker winnings—one hun- dred and fifty dollars! To this sum he would add the one hundred and fifty dol- lars stowed safely away in the old tobacco jar which reposed back of a rafter in the bunk-house. The total was the exact amount neces- sary to buy his third interest in the seven- passenger “used” automobile which he |: smiled upon Tige Northrup and at and Loop Brown and Dummy Norris had figured on buying. Loop and Dummy had had their three hundred dollars for the past week and they had. been prodding him con- siderably of late to dig up his pro rata. Tige had been optimistic—in fact, he had assured his prospective partners time and again that he would come through with his share before either of them had accumu- lated theirs. It was somewhat of a shock to Tige when Loop and Dummy had each flashed his roll of bills. That was a week ago and Tige immediately got busy. He sold his extra saddle, swapped his six-shooter for an in- ferior gun and five dollars to boot and made several other deals—all of which had netted him but the $150. Now, the Gods had smiled upon “ Lucky Bird ” Tige—it was by the merest accident he had sat in with the Gray Dog outfit and trimmed them beautifully. No won- der he let out a whoop of joy when Peanut took the turn at the stone dairy at top speed and whirled into view of the bunk- house. Tige’s whoop dwindled to a strident gur- gle of amazement when he saw a rakish- looking car standing in the yard. It had a familiar aspect—by the time Peanut had come to a stiff-legged halt, Tige recognized the machine. It was the seven-passenger “used” car, of which he was soon to be- come third owner. 96 IODOOLK C©