Pa?e '

'"CAPE MAT COTTHTT TKIS, TODAY,.TEBBEAW ». !»?■"

WHAT HAS GOHE BEFORE: : ll is ms and the Pacific Railroad has reached 1U newest ; “farthest west" Benton. WyomUnr.. a town described as "roariwy" u each new terminus, .temporarily, was. Prank Beeson, a young from Albany. New York, come:)‘bere because he is in search of ■'feealth and Benton Is considered “high and dry.” Edna Montoya, a fellow fer on the train from Omaha, impresses Beeson with the beauty of her blue eyes and the style of her apparel. Equally she as•tonlsbed him by taking a "smile" of brandy before breakfast. A tuaceman tells Beeson she has .“followed her man” to Benton. Jim. a typical western ruffian whom she knows apparently well -Insults and la floored by Frank . whose prowess impresses the pas-

"tensers.

Col. Lunderson and "Bill" Brady volunteer to enterta* young Beeson.

Robbed ; A crowd had gathered before a youth in galoshes, soiled shirt “and belled pa'.laloons, who standing upon a box. was exhorting at the top of his lungs. "Whoo-o'ip! This way. this army! Rondo eoolo-oh! Here's -.■your easy money! Down with lybur soap! Let her roll! Rondo - ; «oo!o-oh!" 5' “It's a great game suh" the .Colonel said. We pushed forward, to the . front The center for the crowd •as a table across one end of ^.which there were several holt*, lato these balls, ten or a doxen. resembling miniature billiard - balls, might roll. The balls had been banked at ike opposite end: and Just as w r arrived they were propelled all forward, acatterlng. by a short cue rapidly swept across their base. “Rondo coolo. suh." the Colonel

explained, "as you see. Is an im- i :; provement on the old rondo, foh^.^h red-blooded people. Shall » • l

take a turn, fob luck?”

The crowd

gyrating balls expectantly, part of the balls enters' pockets; the remainder ca

rest.

'Rondo." announced the

:ac—! them up Now them slowly--you ca : hern. Observe closely. The lop. between thumb and

eyeing the ' forefinger. The ace next— A I the middle. The other Jack hot-

lie turned his hand, with the thr.-- cards In a tier, no that all aight aee. "The ace is the win

with the short cut and deftly dls-j r -ng card. You are to locate the tributed checks and coins. a<e. Observe closely again. "She roils again. Make your liny hand against your ey.-s. bets, ladies and gents," and he am going to throw. Who will reassembled the balls. 1 riwi the ace? Watch, everybody.

"X prefer not to play, sir." It Ready! Go!"

responded to the Colonel. "I am The backs of the cards were new here and I cannot afford toj up. With a swift movemi lose until 1 am better es'.ab- rWascd the three, spreading them

liahed.

Never yet seen a man who couldn’t afford to win. though." he growled. But come on. then." left the crowd—containing indeed women ai Well as mtn-to their Insensate fervor over childish game under the stimulation of the raucous, sweating

barker.

Of gambling devices. In the open of the street, there was end. My conductors finally slopped at the simplest apparatus

of alL

The spiel game for me. gentlemen." said the Colonel. "Here It Ye* :uh. lucre's nothlag like ie. where any man is privileged to match his eyes against fingers. Nobody but a blind rna can lose at monte, by George!" "And thla spieler's on th level." Bill pronounced, sotto voice. “I vote we hook him for gudgeon, and git the price of meal. Our friend will join u> in the turn. He can see for himself that he can't lose. He's got sharp eye*.'* The by-sUnders here were stationed before a man silting at a low tripod table! and all that he had was the small table—a plain cheap table with folding legs— and three playing cards. Business was a trifle slack. 'Two Jacks and the ace. gentleman. There they are.

row. face down, upon the table. "Twenty dollars against your twenty that you can't pick out the act. tint try! I'll let the cards He, If you'vi watched the ace fall, you win!" "Juat do that trick again, will you, for the benefit of my friend here?" bade Ibe Colonel. The “spieler" — th:n-lipped. cadaverous Individual—smiled. "Hello, sir. I'm agreeable. Yes aid. But as they lie, will you make a. guess? No? Or you. sir?" And he addressed BUI. "No? Then you. sir?" h<- appealed to me. "No?" But I'm a mlndreader. 1 can tell by your eves. They're upon the right-end card. Aha! Correct!" He turned up the card and showed the ace. "You should have bet. You would have beaten me. sir. Watch the ace! I pick up the cards. Ace first— blessed ac.; and the Jacks. Watch close. There you are.” He briofly expoaed the faces of th. cards. Ki-ep your eyes upon the ace.

Ready—go!"

He spread the cards. As he had released he had tUted them slightly, and I clearly saw the are land. The cards fell In the same order as arranged. To tbit 1 would have sworn. Five dollars now that any one card is not the ace. he challenged. T shall not touch them.' "1T1 "o halves with you Col-

onel." BUI proposed.

*Tm on.” agree the Colonel. “There's the soap. And fob the honor of the grand old Empire State are will let our friend pick

the a

: fob t

I turned up the right-end card. "By the Eternal, he's done It! He has an eye like an eagle's." praised the dealer, with evident chagrin. 'T lose. One again now. Everybody In this time." gathered the cards. Til play against you all. thla gentleman Includ' d. I'm afraid he's ami than me. but I'm came.” He was too insistent. Somehow I did not like him. anyway, and I was beginning to be susptcli of my company. "You'll have to excune t gentlemen." I pleaded. "Another Urns, but not now. I wish to eat and to bathe and I have an engagement following." "We can't talk this over while we're dry," the Colonel objected, as we moved off. "Let ns libate. subs." e were verging upon argument. much to my distaste, when i sudden who should come tripping along but My Lady of the Blue E/ea—yes. the very flesh and action of her. her face shielded from the dost by a little sunshade. Phe recogniled me in a startled fashion, and with a swift glance at my two companions bowed and as gone. "Gad. suh! You know the lady?" the Colonel ejaculated. "A casual acquaintance.’’ ( answered. “We were merely Ira era by the same route at

You

time. And now if you will recommend a good eating place, and be my gueata at supper, alter that, ns I have said. I must be excused. By the way. while I think of It.” I carelessly added, "can you direct me how to get to the Big Tent?*’ The Colonel swelled; his fishy eyes hardened upon me as righteous Indignation. "Suh. you are too Innocent! I bellm. by gad. suh. that you are a rapper fob some infernal skinning came, or that you a professional. Suh, I call your

hand:"

I was about to retort hotly, when Mr. Brady, who likewise had been glaring at me, growled

morosely.

“Shi't waitin' for you. can wiuare with us later.'

The black-clad figure bad lingered beyond, ostensibly gating into a window. Without saying another word to my ruffled body-

guard* I approached her.

-Madam." I uttered foolishly,

‘good evening."

"You haw left your friends?'

"Very willingly."

“And I have rescued you?” she tmlled again. "Believe me. sir you would be better off alone. 1 know the gentlemen. The Colonel is a notorious capper and strerer. and Brady la no better.' "Strange to say. they Juat ac cused me of being a capper.” 1

answered.

Her face brightened. ’They •ere disappointed In finding you no gudgaon to be hooked by such method*. Promise me that you will take up with no more

The backs of the cards were up. With a swift movement he released the three, spreading them in a neat row. face down. up.m the table. TVwenty dollars against your twenty that you can't pick out the ace, first try! HI let the cards He. If you've watched the ace fall, you win!"

str*n*,.*n! Meanwhile, let me advise you. YHitfit' while you wait, and become of the country! You look too much the pilgrim— mere la Eastern dust showing through our Benton dust, and that spells of other 'dust' In your pockets. Get another hat. a flannel shirt, some coarser trousers, a pair of boots, don a gun and a swagger, say little, make few Impromptu friends, win and lose without a smile or frown. If you play (but upon playing I will advise you later.) I shall hopto see you tonight. Bo adloa. sir. and remember.” With no mention of the Big Tent ahe Bashed smile at me aad mingled with the other pedestrians crossing the street on diagonal course. When I turned for a final word with my two guide*, they had

vanished.

The counsel to don a garb smacking less of the recent East struck me as sound and a> ••Levi's Mammoth Emporium Liquor*. Groceries and General Merchandise" I procured a hat. a ‘flannel shirt, a serviceable ready-made suit, boots, and a

revolver.

With my bulky parcel ! sought a cafe, ate supjpr and hastened to the hotel for bath and change of costume. J had yet time to array myself, as an experiment and a lark; and that I did. hurriedly toesing my old garments upon bed and th In order to Invest wrlth the n The third bed was occupied by a plump, round-faced, dust-scald ed man. with piggish feature* accentuated by bis small bloodshot eyes; dressed In Eastern mode. "Hell of a country, ain’t it?" he observed. “You a etranger. too? What'* your line?” "Well, you don’t have to tell 'em." he granted. 'Thought you was a salesman. I'm from St. Ixmla. myself. Sell grocerie*. and pasteboards on the aide. Cards are the stuff. I got the beat line of sure thing stock stripper*. —humps, rounds, squares, brief* and marked backs—" He did not finish. An uproar sounded above the other street clamor; a pistol shot, and other—a cnonu of hoarse shouts and shrill frightened cries, the •currying rush of feet, all In the street; and In the hall of the hotel, and, the lobby below, the rush of atlU more feet, booted, and the din of excited voices. "A fight, a fight! Shoot in' ,,cr *ps!" in a flash my companion was pelting down the hall. Overcome by the test of the momentl pelte-l after, and with several others plunged as madly upon the porch.

the *tre*l. with Jangle Hang

M-'. BrU, V»

I saw flrat a flgnre Woodychested and Inert flat In the doM. with stooping figure* trying -" raise him; then, beyond, a man white as death, hustled to and from from clutcHng hands and suddenly forced in firm the street, while the mob trailed after, whooping, cursing, shriek-j Ing flourishing gua« and knlvrej and ropes. There were women aa

ell as men in H!

AH’this turned me rick. From the outskirts of the throng 1 tramped back to my room and the bath. The hotel was quiet if emptied; my room was vacant—and more than vacant, for of my clothing not a vestUge remained! My bag also was gone. Worse, yet. prompted by an inner voice that stabbed me like an icicle I was awakened to the knowledge that every cent I had creed was In those garments. (Continued Next Week)

Shopper: T would Bite to **t ome diamonds for »y *»e” Clerk: "GUaaware-wext nMe-

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