Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

= —_— Pa * — ee — ses = among the fraternity as an ‘“‘angel.” In other words, he played faro in accordance with ‘‘a system ;” having favorite cards for backing et the beginning, middle and last of the deal, making little or no attempt to disguise his line of play, so that it required only a few deals for the watchful gambler to learn his system, when he was enabled to govern himself accordingly. Curly Kaine was not the only person who noticed this, and as soon as .. »ecame a settled fact, a keen-eyed looker-o1 jushed his way through the double row of plsyors, taking up his station directly behind «x. between the two young men, bothof whom ‘ore seated next the table, Thrice in succession he placed bank-notes on the cards selected by Alva Pennington, but with this difference: where the ey: man played to win, he ‘*coppered,” or risked his money on that being the banker’s card. There was a heavy gamo running, early though the night was, and as Curly Kaine acted as his own croupier, he did not immedi- ately notice this peculiarity of play; but when Pennington had lost thrice in succession on cards which some other had coppered, he watch- ed for the winner, and beheld Monte Jim. Black eyes and blue met at the same instant —one shining steadily, the other flashing with deadly hatred, Only for a moment, however; then Curly Kaine resumed his dealing. Dut his massive features were whiter than ordinary, and his nimble fingers actually seemed to trem- ble as they manipulated the cards, raked in winnings and paid the more for*unate players, Frank Lisle, too, seemed ill at ease. He played but littlhe—barely sufficient to retain his claim to a seat—and more than once urged his friend in a whisper to draw out from the game, where the cards seemed to hold an especial spite against him, almost from the first. os Drop it, man!” growled Pennington, as Curly Kaine was shuffling the cards ior a fresh deal. ‘I’m not going to quit loser, as long as there’s a shot left in the locixer, If you're tired, pullout. Tl see you later.” ‘It’s not your night, Al. If you won't quit for good, come and take a turn in the fresh air to change your luck. With an impatient shrug of his shoulders in dissent, Pennington tossed a bank-note of a large Cenomination across the table for a fresh supply of chips, then backed his favorite cards as the dealer wai‘ed for the players to make | their os And, just as promptly, Monte Jim backed the ‘game cards to lose, when up flashed the dealer’s black eyes, more than ever full of bitter dislike, though the voice of Curly Kaine was smooth and equable as he uttered: ‘Tt is not often that I make any comment on the manner in which my patrons place their bets, but you, Monte Jim, are old enough at the business to know how — it rattles a man to have another steadily bet against his game, That makes the fourth time in succession you have bet your money against this gentle- man’s judgmen .” ‘** And what of it?’ quietly retorted the other. “Tf the a don’t object, what are you kicking about?” ‘** Partly for his sake, as I am bound to guard the interests of all my patrons; partly because it may lead some to ct this is a skin game, got up to beat the gent out of his money, with you inside the ring.” ** No one would ever suspect you of putting up a brace, surely!” retorted Monte Jim with alow laugh that stung more keenly than if it had been a slap in the face, while giving not the slightest cause for resenting the speech. _ It told on Curly Kaine, as his flushed, then paling face and flashing eyes betrayed to those who knew him best; and it was in a sharper tone that be made reply: ‘‘ If you two are playing in cahoots, come out flat-footed, so I’ll know how to take you.” “Look here, Mister Man!” interposed Alva Pennington, the strong dislike’ which be felt for the gambler, with whom he had already had one little brush, showing itself in botb tone and glance. ‘“‘If youare alluding to me, don’t let sympathy put ‘e off your feed, for it’s wholl uncalled for. I back my own judgment, wit my own money, and don’t care a continental copper how others look at it. If this gentle- man, or any other, thinks he can make more money by betting against the cards I pick out to win. let him amuse himself. When J begin se i a it will be time enough for you to ck. “That’s talk with the bark on!” and Monte Jim nodded his approval of the bluntly spoken sentiments. ‘‘ Ifthegentleman objects to my in- dulging in thisfancy, ehasonly tosay asmuch, and [ll draw out of the game until he has got enouch of the tiger.” **Not on my account!” Jaurhed Pennington. “Tf your judgment is better than mine, you're ahead and I’m behin’; we can’t both lose.” ‘* That’s just where vou hit it, young gentle- man!” quickly uttered Curly Kaine. ‘‘Toaman ich would be mighty apt to do its cutting tween you two.” oS ween y on the wrong side, were we partners, and idiots — Monte Jim, th ee aeeenmnni as = em —— and Monte Jim, for the first time, began to show signs of irritation, ‘*‘ Where would we be when we tumbled up against a split? Ont half our stakes, with nothing to show for it.” ‘*That’s chin-music enough!” impatiently in- terrupted Alva Pennington. ‘‘If you’re afraid to deal for more than one man at a time, why don’t you hang out a sign?” ‘** Afraid nothing!” growled the gambler, now wroucht up to fever-heat, and controlling him- self only by a desperate effort of will. ‘* When you try to teach me the laws of faro, Monte Jim, you want to go to school first. There’s = split on the last turn, when ree “But the odds are six to one against hitting e Black Sheep of Bismarck. — —— a 7 ——— to put up our money after that fashion,” | his dealing as though to give him time to make up his mind which card to back. ‘* All placed, gentlemen?” he said, with a swift glance toward his rival. ‘‘There’s a few slugs left in the bank for those who’ve got the grit to reach out for them. No one else wants to get rich? After so much wind, I expected to expe- rience a perfect hail-storm !” A little contrary to the etiquette of faro, where money talks instead of man, but this un- written rule is seldom enforced in the ‘* wild and woolly West,” and that night was an exception to the general run in still otuer respects. A little buzz of interest ran around the group cue-cards are | of eager spectators, and many a covert glance was cast toward Monte Jim, for whose especial benefit they knew this taunt was flung out by the turn, and you only pay four to one when it | the King of Bismarck; but if the Black Shee is correctly called—odds sufficient for a hog! But let that pass, “*Tf you are cowed, you have your option. Say that your bank is burst, and close the game until you can open it with only players of your own yagi Set a price on the privilege of run- ning the bank for one evening, and I'll pay it. Maybe [ cannot fill the dealer’s chair quite so gracefully as you can, but of one thing you may be sure; Pll not kick at any bet, big or little, as long as my boodle holds out.” For a brief space there was silenceso profound that one might have heard a fly walking—as one of the eager on-lookers solemnly asserted the next day. All who knew anything of the two men, be- lieved them pure grit, and it was equally well known that there was no love Icst between them, Fora month or more the sports had been on the lookout for a collision between the twain, eager to be within eyesight when it did occur, for that it would be a memorable struggle, one and all granted. | Instinctively the ranks began to open, after that brief pause of breathless suspense, as though to make way for the burning of powder; and this movement seemed to recall the two men to their senses. Sharp and clear rung the voice of Curly ine: ““ We'll resume this discussion after business hours, Monte Jim. Will that suit you?” ‘** All hours are the same to me, my dear sir,” was the soft response. ‘‘My ears will be open when you knock, never fear.” “Cut each other’s throats as quick as you please,” ores Alva Pennington, impatiently rattling his checks before him. “T reckon the town wouldn’t go into mourning if it never saw either of youagain. But, meanti:ne, my money is = and waiting for thecards. If you mean to deal, cut loose,” His face as impassive as that of a marble statue, showing not the slightest trace of the storm which had so recently convulsed it, Curly Kaine began dealing the cards, placing them as 2 Bs from the silver box, in two piles, side by side. At the prospect of a shooting-match taking place across the table, ihe other players bad drawn out of the game, leaving only Monte Jim and the two young men betting. As before, the dashing sport placed his bets in direct opposi- tion to those made by Alva Pennington, and the cynical smile which curled his mustached lips, grew more and more pronounced as his wagers were won, almost without an exception, throughout the deal. Steadily the pile of chips before Pennington rrew lower. He bought more, and as thoughin opes of retrieving his heavy losses by still bolder play, be increased his stakes until at the latter part of the deal, he was again redaced to checks on a single card. Another turn, and those, too, were swept from the board, while Monte Jim won a nearly equal amount, Again the excited Alva drew forth his wallet, and once more Frank Lisle endeavored to coax him away, but in vain. The fever was upon him, and he would not be choked off while he could raise money for another wacer. _It had come to the last turn, the favorite bet- ting point for daring gamblers, since, though the odds are heavily against their me 3+ | the turn, success in doing so is repaid four-fold the amount risked. Curly Kaino paused in his dealing, giving time for those playing to make their bets. In the box, according to the cue-cards, were three cards besides the one exposed by te previous deal: king, queen and deuce. The que n was one of the cards which Pennington had favored throughout the game, ard on this card he drop-* ped bis last stake, erying: ‘‘Deuce-queen, with the king in hoc, for a thousand!” CHAPTER IX. MONTE JIM CATCHES THE TURN. Hts face as white as chalk, his eyes glowin | with a feverish light, Alva Pennington lean rtly across the table on which rested almost the last dollar which he could rightly call his up a tree, it looks like a sort of whip-saw ar- | own. depending on the turn of a card. Behind bim stood Monte Jim, cold and im- passive, making no move toward placing bis money or chips, though Curly Kaine delayed felt it or recognized them, he gave no outwar token of either. ‘‘My money is up—deal for it!” growled Pen- nington, as he moistened his dry lips with his tongue, Exposed to view in the open-faced box was the four of spades, being the winning card of the previous turn, With one white ig ite pressing lightly upon this card, Curly Kaine slowly slipped it through the slit in the side of the box, this action uncovering the deuce, which lay directly beneath. Again tbat subdued humming, for since the deuce was the banker’s card, all could see that the bold better’s chances of hitting the turn were now even. King and queen alone remain- ed in the box, and on the order of their appear- ance depended the last note of Alva Penning- ton’s little fortune. For a moment the dealer paused, with a cov- ert glance at the white, hard set countenance of the young gambler; then his fingers made a lightning motion, and the fatal card lay wholly revealed to sight. A quick drawing of breath on the part of the spectators; then all eyes were turned curiously upon the unlucky gamester to see how be bore up under this final stroke. For Alva Penning- ton had failed to catch the turn: the king was oe winning card, while the queen remained in oc! Those who anticipated a scene, however, were doomed to suffer ean! GH for, now that he knew the worst, Alva Pennington showed true grit. ¥ -by, old fellow !” he laughed, in a hard, dry tone, nodding at the bank-note as Curly Iraine drew it toward him. ‘ Gone over to the majority! Well, such is life in the Far West! Sorry to part so early, old fellow,” with a nod across the table to the dealer; ** but I’ve run my limit for this evening. See you again, witha longer pole next time.” He was pushing back his chair to arise, when a hand was gently placed upon his shoulder, and the voice of Monte Jim greeted his ears with the words: “The evening is young yet, Mr. Pennin and surely you will not draw out yet? Then turn may be yours. Ill-fortune cannot always eet Moaey tack I * Money s here, as suppose you are aware,” remarked the young gambler, with a hard laugh. ‘If steamboats were selling atone — cent a dozen, I couldn’t buy a rotten plug from — a wrecked yaw!!” ‘**T owe you one thousand dollars; permit me to pay it now, before I forget it,” said Monte Jim, in easy tones, as he selected a couple of bank-notes from a large roll, and drop them on the table before the astonished man. One glance at them, long enough to show him that each one called for five hundred dollars, then Alva Pennington turned toward the dash- ing rt, his face pale, bis eyes poeine: ‘What do you mean by that? You owe me nothing; then why make the offer? Do you mean to insult me, sir?” ‘* Not for the world, my dear sir,” was the hasty assurance given by MonteJim. ‘If I did not feel that you had a rightful claim on that money, most assuredly I should never have of- fered it to you.” ‘*Rut how? I don’t understand!” “Yet it is very simple, and only in accord- ance with a custom which has become a rule among all ramblers, like myself, for instance; a fair Civi7icn of spoils,” he laughed, softly. “That’s all ae among partners, of course; ies you and I never ores nor Siesbly ill be. layed my own ga‘ne, and you p.ayed yours. Dm sh so hard up that Y a receive charity.” Harsh and blunt as were his words, Alva Pennineton rarely appeared to better advan- tage than at that moment, when rudcly re- pulsing the offer made by Monte Jim. Many of those around had set him down for en insolent prig, but they entertained widely different sen- timents now, though a few among the crowd mentally pronounced him a fool for refusing the windfall. The cheek of Monte Jim slightly flushed, but peal was no trace of anger in his tones as he added: ‘*'You misunderstand me, Mr. Pennington. For more reasons than one, you the last man in the world to whom I would offer charity un- solicited, That money, according to the un- Eomicbooks