The Argosy, April 1912 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

WRESTING A PITTSBURGH SECRET. 123 Flume smiled. Feeling that he now con- trolled the situation Flume spoke slowly, but with terrible distinctness and in the Mex- ican they all understood. “You thought I did not know your lan- guage,” he said, “but I have understood everything. I knew that you intended to kill me in the beginning. Then I knew that you gave me one chance for life, and that I lost that. But there is a God above. He has given me another chance.” He paused and looked about him. His religious reference was just enough to im- press these primitive minds on whom the Indian priests had lavished their appeals. They were listening with credulous im- patience for each word as it fell. “IT can save you,” continued Flume. “I have a medicine that will make you well —in the twinking of an eye—even as the cricket bit you. And I will give it you on one condition— ” “What is it?” feverishly demanded resti Ng a ecret CHAPTER XIII (continued ). THE MAN FROM THE MOUNTAINS. = HAT did those four men do at the W table?” asked Fred eagerly, as Lucille paused. “They played cards for about two hours.” “That was a queer performance in a busi- ness place. What did they play? Poker?” “No. Cribbage.” “What was the idear”’ “Mr. Barrington told me one day that Sim Galt loved cribbage more than any- thing else in life) He had a downright passion for the game. Where he lived, up Began January ARGOSY. “That I live. J give you your life. You give me mine. Is it not fair?” Flume appealed to each of the six in turn. Valdez, his only friend, looked imploringly at his chief. Solis gave a quick toss to his head. “Very well,” he cried. “ Agreed—but the medicine—quick ! ”’ Flume hastened into the hut and _ re- turned almost immediately with a box of puls. He opened it and took one out. It was as big as the end of his thumb and a scarlet-red in color. “This,” he said, handing it to Solis, ‘is the Chinese sure remedy for cricket poison.” The bandit chief gulped it down and ap- peared to have immediate relief. Then he grasped the hand of his savior warmly. Half an hour later the six rode away. After they had gone, Flume carefully secreted his box of pills where he kept them to administer to the credulous natives. They were made of bread crumbs, sugar- coated, and stained with cochineal. in the mountains, there was no one to play with him. The nearest house to his shanty was five miles away. So, when he came to Pittsburgh every two weeks, it was ar- ranged, for his benefit, that there should be a four - handed game of cribbage—‘ crib’ your father generally called it. There were only two persons in the factory besides Mr. Barrington who could play cribbage. They were Willings and my stepfather.” And they played this four-handed game every two weeks?” “Yes; always on a Wednesday.”’ ‘Did they play for money? ” “T don’t think so. One Wednesday, Single copies, 10 cents. comicaoolkks