Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

nv FIRST NATIONAL “ Should the mining expert discover fa- vorable signs, we could have him begin operations. His.new activity would .divert our minds from this vile gambling obses- sion. That is all we need. It would. en- able us to amass fortunes, even though the ’ expert’s operations should prove unsuccess- p ful. Ye’re all agreed, I see, to my plan. “Our one salvation is to pour gold into the hands of one of our number and see that he gets away from town before he has the chance to spend it. He will endeavor to meet the mining expert and make the fit arrangements. I may mention a Mr. John Truscott, whose name Curry gave me. “Perhaps, when our representative is beyond reach of Dry Gulch’s baneful influ- ence, he will have the eyes to see-and the will to do what can be done to reclaim us from our evil ways: But, above all, let us act justly toward him. The evil genius of Dry Gulch may pursue him and prevail against him and steal away the money. Therefore we must not tie his hands: the money must be made his, to do with it as the spirit moves him.” This whole plan was so largely a gamble that it fascinated the Dry Gulchers! Not a miner was missing when the band gathered in the General Store early the fol- lowing Saturday afternoon. Mose Tuttle, self-appointed assistant to the professor, laid on the table a fresh poker deck for each man. The professor plunged straight into the business at hand. “Gentlemen,” he announced, ‘‘ we shall now, one and all, cut for highest cards.” Tabulated results showed that Curley Q., Limpid Brooks, and Tiny Tim Betts had drawn aces. The crowd surged excitedly toward the table to watch the three cut again. Curley Q. exposed the queen of hearts; Limpid Brooks, the king of spades; and Tiny Tim, the ace of diamonds. ‘Tt’s yourn—an’ congratoolations are in order!” cried Mose, officiously indicating the sacks of precious dust which represent- ed a-week’s strenuous labor on the part of the conscientious miners. Almost any man would be flustered if five hundred thousand and a weighty re- sponsibility were thrust upon him by the “485 turn of a card. Shifting his huge bulk from one foot tofthe other, Tiny Tim finally responded in a hoarse voice: ‘Gentlemen, I wants to say as how I appreciates this opportunity to help put some sense in Dry Gulch. An’ if there is any way of givin’ you men any backbone to buck this here B. Burns Casino, you can count on Tim to try his level best to do it.” Several hands flew unconsciously to hol- sters; but suddenly remembering the occa- sion, the men fell in with the spirit of Tim’s good intentions and cheered him lustily. As had been agreed upon, Tim paid Fo- ley Dugan for enough provisions to last the penniless miners during the coming week. Toasts were drunk from private flasks. Then Tim and his gold were personally conducted to the buckboard waiting in front of Dugan’s livery-stable before the flustered miner could head, as in habit bound, toward the B. Burns Saloon. Cal Cutty, pony-express rider—more fa- miliarly but unobtrusively referred to as “ Calipers ”—mounted his bronco and sig- nificantly tapped the guns that were to guard Tim and his treasure on the road to Tecopa. A mighty chorus of: “ Good luck, ye ol’ bald-headed son-of-a-gun!” welled from a dozen brazen throats. Tiny Tim smiled mistily, resolutely unbent his gaze from the B. Burns Saloon. and was off. IV. Mose Turt te averred that they’d kissed their coin good-by, when—with a dozen stout boots resting expectantly on\ the polished brass rail—it was discovered that Tiny Tim had not bequeathed them the price of a single drink. ; * Any galoot what would overlook a im- portant thing like that, an’ throw down his pals, can’t be counted on,” maintained Mose darkly. A dozen elbows leaned de-, jectedly on the mahogany bar, and a like number of heads wagged mournfully at the | evil omen. : Tragedy was averted, however. Mr. Jenks never batted an eye as he said in a) hearty voice: : “Gentlemen, don’t let a little thing like money stand between you and your favor-, BANK OF FARO. conmiclooolks.conn