Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1032 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4. game hof whist with a’igh stake, Hi would be appy.” ** Poker does seem to be the great American game,” acknowledged Flip, as he deftly shuffled and dealt the cards. “In fact, 1do not know much about any otber game, and I only play this for fun. ButI like a good high limit, if there is any limit at all, then 1t can be made mighty interesting.” ‘* Habout ’ow ’igh do you like the limit?” ‘* Well, say about as high as the sky.” ’Andy ’Arry fell back and stared at the Southwest sport in astonishment. ‘‘That isa litcle too’izh for my knowledge hof the game,” he confessed. ‘‘Habout a ’undred pounds will do me, ye knaw,” ‘*Or, say five hundred American doliars?” < Yes,” ‘* Well, we will let it stand at that.” Round-up Rube and Fred Walker joined the crowd of spectators, ‘* You jes’ keep your clothes on, whatever ye see, lad,” advised the bow-legged cowboy. ‘It won’t do ter git too fresh w’en Lightfinger Flip is around,” For a time the game ran along smoothly, neither of the players seeming to get much advantage, ‘** You play a pretty stiff and steady game for & man who pretends not to know much about it,” declared Flip. “Hi ham doing very well,” acknowledged ’Arry. ‘** But, there ’as been no’eavy betting yet, In a few moments there was some heavy bet- ting, for both of the players seemed to get good hands, but Round-up Rube stood directly be- hind the Southwest sport and knew Flip was pe ing a game of bluff, as he only had one ittle pair in bis hand. But, ’Andy ’Arry was not to be bluffed, for he raised avery bet with remarkable prompt- ness, ‘*Hi ham in this pot my ’ole bigness,” he de- clared, as he made a raise that took the full ex- tent of the limit, “I believe you are bluffing,” asserted Light- finger Flip, coolly counting out five hundred dollars and adding them tothe pot. ‘‘I have seen men that played your game before.” ‘** Well, whether you bare bluffing or not, you hare going to lose your wealth,” laughed the **Lunnon’” man, producing a fat pocketbook. ‘Hi will run this dry, band then write me draft, b’ Jove!” Having made this declaration, he raised the pot the limit once more, Lightfinger Flip laughed shortly. ‘*'You have the right kind of blood,” he ac- knowledged, flipping his cards face upward aud revealing a pair of five spots. ‘* It is use- less to try to bluff you when you have a good hand. The pot is yours, but I would give something to see your cards,” ‘You can see them band welcome,” smiled ’Arry; and, having gathered in the stakes, he showed his band, A cry of amazement came from the crowd, and Lighgtfinger Flip stared at the cards in aston- ishment, his face becoming crimson with shame, "Andy ’Arry had beld a four-card flush and a air of three-spots! Thesport’s five-spots would ave been good had he called! “Talk erbout bluff!” cried Round-up Rube, ** Thet jest takés ther rag off ther bush!” **? thought you said you did not know any- thing about this game,” said Flip, settling back in his chair and staring at the ‘* Lunnon” sport, ‘** Hi ham learning, dear sir,” was the calm re- ly. ** Well, I should say so. But, the game is not ended yet. 1 will play this back on you with in- terest, No man can skip mein that way and carry off my money at the end.” Flip ran his eyes over the throng of faces gathered around, and as they met the orbs of one nen, a sigral unseen by others passed be- | tween them. As the gambler picked up the cards and gave them a thorough rippling, Nevada Mike man- | the game, then he fairly shouted: aged to make his way to a place directly be- bind the London man’s chair. The game continued. ** Next time,” declared Lightfinger Flip, ‘I will be ready for you,” ‘*Hand next time Hi will not be bluffing,” was the retort, But, the Englishman’s luck seemed suddenly to turn, The dark-faced gambler began to win all the pots of consequence, with now and then the exception of a jack-pot, Whenever ’Arry would hold a good hand, Flip declined to bet, ailowing the London man to rake in the stakes without a struggle, Cowboy Chris, the Man of Caliber. ——$ $$$ —$._=»5 ‘OA ve Hi frightened you so you donct dare do a bloomin’ thing?” inquired the dandy English- man. ‘Well, not exactly,” was the reply; ‘‘ but I have decided to play a steady game and show you how little you really know of poker.” Finally there came a heavy jack-pot, and it fell to Flip to deal. He very deftly ‘‘ put up” the cards, and when the Englisbman “ cut,” he made the ‘‘ pass” which restored the cards to their original position. The trick was very neatly done, and remained undetected by ’Arry —apparently. ‘* Now comes the tug of war,” said Flip; grim- ly. ‘*f feel as if one of us would have openers this time.” ‘Arry received four kings and the Southwest sport succeeded in securing two aces. However, he knew where the other aces lay, ard they were not in the pack | The. pot was “opened,” then ’Andy ’Arry stood ‘‘ pat.” ‘¢ Well, I reckon I am in for it this time,” ob- served the dark-faced gambler, as he apparently took three cards from the pack. ‘‘ Still,” he added, not even glancing at the cards he had seemed to draw, ‘‘I am loaded for another bluff.” ‘‘ Hi wonder hif you hare?” smiled the Eng- lishman, screwing his glass into his eye and sur- veying his opponent critically. ‘‘ Hit Hi should bluff, Hi suppose you would raise me hall sum- mer,” f ‘* Well, you might try it on and see.” Two or three light bets were made, but they rapidly became larger till ’Arry went the limit. ‘* Well, now you have got blood!” cried Flip, in apparent admiration, ‘‘I never before saw a man with so much gall on the bluff. Two to one you do not hold anything higher than a bob- tailed flush,” ‘‘ You can ’ave the pleasure bof seeing them hif you see me hand call, ye knaw.” ‘*T presume so; but, the fact is, I am going to boost you the limit.” ‘*Which compels me to buost you back hagain,” Again and again did the players set each other the full extent of the limit. The spectators scented trouble, and many moved from the 1m- mediate vicinity. Finally the London sport called, , ‘Tf you have a straight flush, I am beaten,” said Flip, as he spread out bis bamd, ‘If not, the money is mine,” ’Arry stared at the four aces exposed, conster- nation written on his face, ‘Hi ’ave four kings,” he finally acknowl- edged, “Then the pot is mine,” and Flip reached to rake it in. ‘* Hands off !” rung out a clear and command- ing voice, ‘*I bold the drop!” At ore side of the table stood a tall, broad- shoutdered and long-haired young cowboy, a self-cocking revolver in each hand, the weapons being trained on the gambler of the dark face and his accomplice, Nevada Mike, who stood be- hiad the London sport’s chair. ‘‘T have spotted the crooked game,” declared the handsome young fellow who had tbus unex- pectedly chipped in, ‘‘ A sleeve hold-out and a system of signals may bea pretty sure way to rob a man at cards, but lynching is too good for the skunks who work the game!’ ** Hooray!” bellowed Round-up Rube, in de- light. ‘‘Tbhet’s Cowboy Chris as is talkin’, an’ w’en he speaks, he says sump’n’, bet yer shirt!” CHAPTER IV. A TREACHEROUS SHOT, ‘“* Cownoy CHRIS!” Twenty voices uttered the name, for the young cattleman was well-known in Hot Hole, But the most astounded man in the saloon was the young tenderfoot, Fred Walker. He stared a moment at the cowboy who had chipped into ‘¢ Obris Comstock, or his ghost!” At the sound of Fred Walker's voice, the cow- boy gave a great start and removed his eyes for an instant from the men beneath the muzzZles of hisreyolvers, As he looked the tenderfoot fairly in the face, he uttered a hoarse cry and reeled back a step, his weather-browned face growing ashen gray. Quick as thougbt, Lightfinger Flip’s hand dis- appeared into one of the side pockets of the coat he wore. Hedid not stop todraw the weapon his nimble fingers grasped, but fired through the ; coat. Providence was on Cowboy Chris’s side then, for, although the gambler had once killed a man by shooting from his pocket, his bullet missed the mark for which it was intended that time. But it found a living target just the same! A cowboy who had entered the saloon with Chris and was standing a short distance behind him threw up his arms and fell to the floor with- out even uttering a groan! *Andy ’Arry was not idle. He saw his chance: to scoop the stakes—and he made the scoop. The sudden turn things had taken threw the crowd into a panic and a general rush was made for the open doors and windows, Other shots. rung out, There were shouts and oaths, a crash- ing of glass, and half the lights in the Whoa. Emma were destroyed. arte When something like order was restored, it was found tkat Lightfinger Flip and bis two tools, Whisky Jim and Nevada Mike, bad disap- peared. The young tenderfoot, who was mainly the innocent cause of the break, having distract-- ed the cow boy’s attention and thus given the card- sharp a chance to perform his foul work, was. also missing. Cowboy Chiis and Round-up Rube were bend- - ing over the unfortunate cattleman who had been stricken down by the treacherous gam- bler’s bullet. In attempting to escape to a place of safety,. the ‘‘Lunnon” sport and Pete, the darky, ha fled as far asthe faro table, where they had col- lided, both falling to the floor and sliding under the table. The restoration of lights found them locked in each other’s arms, Pete clinging des- perately to his precious banjo and ’Andy ’Arr grasping a mass of coins and bank-notes in eac hand. ‘‘ Wuffo’ yo’ do dat?” spluttered the negro, in anger. ‘‘Wuffo’ yo? run kerchug ag’in’ my bread-basket an’ knocks me under dis yar table?’ ' ‘“Oh, you bloomin’ blocdy nigger!” blurted: the indignant Englishman, as soon as be could catch his breath, ‘t Don’t you know hany better than to collide with a gentleman 1n such an hin- fernally violent manner, You hougbt to’ave your black *’ead punched, b’ Jove!” ‘‘ Mebbe yo’ fink yo’’s able to dodat job?” and Pete glared at the Londoner without attempting to arise. ‘Jes’ yo’ try hit on an’ see ’f I don” meck yo’ sick! By golly! yo’s completely upsot my interior arrangeums! Il’s bettin’ more dan, sebenteen ob my ribs am broke!” ‘‘Hi wish your neck was broken!” groaned ’Arry as he made desperate efforts to untangle» himself and get out from beneath the table. ‘Then hit could go hand keep company with my back, Hi never saw sucb an houtrageous coun- try band such hinfernally hignorent people! Ware hare me ’at hand cane?” As he crept from under the table, he discov- ered his hat beneath him, but the shining tile was crushed into an unshepely mass, and its. beauty ruined forever. ’Arry gave a howl of despair as he saw it. ‘¢ Look at that ’at!’ he raved, holding if up with one band, having thrust his winnings into: various pockets, ‘‘ Hit cost me two pounds hin Bawston, b’Jove! Hand hit’s spoiled halk on haccount hof an hinfernal black nigger!” Having replaced his ruined hat upon bis head,, he began to groan and rub his back, ‘‘ Hit’s a wonder Hi ham not dead!” he de-- clared. Pete crawled forth and arose to a stooping’ posture, but seemed unable to fully straighten up. In his right hand he clutched his banjo, which fortunately was uninjured, while he pressed his left hand upon bis stomach, ‘“*Hit’s a drefful pity yo’? am not dead!” he grunted, shortly, Hit would save de Fool-Killer a job! Oh, my gizzard! it’s jes’ plumb complete- ly turned de wrong side ober!” ‘‘ But Hi got boff with the boodle, ye knaw!” ehuckled ’Arry, a happy thought suddenly striking him. ‘That his henough to purchase: two hor three ’ats.” “* An’ yo’’s kickin’ ‘cause yo’ run ag’in’ a pore culled gemman lek me! ell, yo’ oughter be ’shamed ob yo’se’f—yo’ jes’ had!” The Englishman adjusted his eyeglass and surveyed Pete from head to foot, presenting a. comical aspect as he did so, his clothes being covered with dust and his silk hat having a lop- sided cant on his head. : ** Hi rently ’ave to beg your pawdon,” he» smiled, in his sweetest manner, ‘Hi hassure ou Hi did not sea you. Hif Hi’ad; Hi might ave saved myself a lame back. Hi ’ope you will hexcuse me?” } ‘¢ Oh, dat’s all right!” grinned the darky, his: ood-nature returning in an instant, “I jes” on’ mine no smal] things lek dat! Is de boy