Desert Dust
By Edwin L Sabin
Author of “How Are You Feeling?" etc.
f ; CHAPTER VII
I go to rendezvous
The hotel lamps were being
lighted by the gnome porter.
Whe I stepped outside twilight
had deepened into dusk, the air
was almost frosty, and this main
street had been made garnish by
its nightly illumination.
It was a strange sight, as I
paused for a moment upon the
plank veranda. The near vici
nity resembled a fair. As if in
spired oy the freshness and cool
Tiess of the new air the people
were trooping to and fro more
restlessly than ever, and in great
er numbers. All up and down the
street coal oil torches or flam
beaus, raddily embossing the
heads of the players and onlook
ers, flared like votive braziers
"above tbe open-air gambling
games; there were even smoked
chimney lamps, and candles, set
on pedestals, signalizing other
centers. The walls of the tent
store-buildings glowed spectral
from the Rights to be glimpsed
through doorways and windows,
and grotesque gigantic figures
flitted in silhouette. While
through the interstices between
the buildings I might see other
structures, ranging from those
of tolerable size to simple wall
tents and makeshift shacks, eer
lly shadowed.
(,he noise had, if anything, re
doubled. To the exclamations,
the riotous shouts and whoops,
the general gay vociferations and
the footsteps of a busy people,
the harangues of the barkers,
the more distant puffing and
shrieking of the locomotives at
the railroad yards, the hammer
ing where men and hoys worked
by torchlight, and aow and then
a revolv r shot, there had been
added the inciting music of
stringed instruments, cymbals,
nrd such—some in dance mea
sures, some solo, while imrae
ciately at hand sounded the shuf
fling of waltz, hoe-down and
cotillion.
Night at Benton plainly had
begun with a gusto. It stirred
one’s blood. It called—it sum
moned with such a promise of
variety, of adventure, of flotsam
and jetsam and shuttlecock of
chances, that f, a youth with
twenty- ae dollars and a half at
disposal, all his clothes on his
back, a man’s weapon at his belt,
and an appointment with a lady
as his future, forgetful of past
n rid courageous in present, strode
confidently, even recklessly down
as eager as one to the manners
of the country horn.
The mysterious allusions to the
Big Tent now piqued me. It
was a rendezvous, popular, I
deem, and respectable,, as as
sured. An amusement place,
judging by the talk; superior,
undoubtedly, to other resorts that
I may have noted. I was well
equipped to test it out, for I
had little to lose, even time was
of no moment, and I possessed a
friend ut court, there whom I
had interested and who very
agreeably interested me. This
(ingle factor would have glori
fied with a halo any tent, big or
little, in benton.
There was no need for me to
inquire my way to the Big Tent,
t'pwi pushing along down the
street, beset upon my course by
many sights and proffered al
lurements, and keenly alive to
the romance of that hurly-burly
ot pleasure and business com
bined here two thousand miles
v.est of New York, always ex
pectant of my goal I was at
tracted by music again, just a
head, from an orchestra. I saw
% . _
« mrge canvas sign—The IJig
Tent— suspended in the full
thine of a locomotive reflector
Iteneath it the people were
streaming into the wide entrance
,to a ^reat canvas hall.
Quickening ray pace in accord
witn the increased pace of the
throng, presently I likewise en
tered, unchallenged for my ad
mission fee. Once across the
threshold, I halted, taken all a
back by the hubbub and the
kaleidoscopic spectacle that beat
upon my ears and eves. .
The interior, high eeilinged to
the,ridge roof, was unbroken by
supports. It was lighted by two
score of lamps and reflectors in
brackets along the walls and
hanging as chandeliers from the
rafters. The floor of planed
boards, already teemed with men
and women and children—along
one side there was an ornate bar
glittering with cut glass and sil
ver and backed by a large plate
!, mirror that repeated the lights,
11
the people, the glasses, decanters
and pitchers, and the figures of
the white-coated, busy bar
tenders.
At the farther end of the room
a stringed orchestra was station
ed upon a platform, while to the
bidding of the music women, and
men with hats upon their heads
and cigars in mouths, and men
together, whirled in couples, so
that the floor trembled to the
boot heels. Scattered thickly
over the intervening space there
were games of chance, every
dscription, surrounded by groujs
looking on or playing. Through
the atmosphere blue with smoke
women, many of them lavishly
costumed as if for a ball, stroll
ed risking or responding to gal
Ian tries. The garb of the men
themselves ran the scale: from
the eomme il faut of slender
shoes, fashionably cut coats and
pantaloons, and modish cravats,
through the campaign uniforms
of army officers and enlisted
men, to the frontier corduroy
and buckskin of surveyors and
adventurers, the flannel shirts,
red, blue and gray, the geans and
cowhide boots of trainmen, team
sters, graders, miners, and all.
Prom nearly every waist dan
gled a revolver. I remarked
that uot a few of the women dis
played little weapons as in bra
vauo.
What with the music, the
stamp of the dancers, the clink
of glasses and the ice in pitchers,
the rattle of dice, the slap of
cards and currency, the an
nouncements of the dealers, the
clap-trap of barkers and monte
spielers, the general chatter of
voices, one such as I, a new
comer, scarcely knew which way
to turn.
Altogether this was an amuse
ment place which, though of ex
terior, eelipsed the best of the
Bowery and might be found else
where,! imagined, not short of
San Francisco.
From the jostle of the door
way to pick out upon the floor
any single figure and follow it
was wellnigh impossible. Not
seeing my lady in black, at first
sight—not being certain of her,
that is, for there were a number
of black dresses—I moved on in.
It might be that she was among
the dancers, where, as I could
determine by the vista, beauts
appeared to be whirling around
in the embrace of the whiskered
beast.
Then as I advanced resolutely
amongthe gaming tables, I felt
a cuff upon the shoulder and
heard a bluff voice in my ear.
“Hello, old boss. How are
tricks bw this time?”
Facing about quickly with ap
prehension of having been stop
ped by another capper, if not
Bitl Brady himself (for the voice
was uot Colonel Sanderson’s unc
tubus tones) I saw Jim of the
Sidney station platform and the
railway coach fracas.
He was grinning affably, ap
parently none the worse for wear
save a slightly swollen lower lip;
he seemed in good humor.
“Shake,” he proffered, ex
tending his hand. ‘ ‘ No hard feel
in’s here. I’m no Inun. You
knocked the red-eye out o’ me.”
I shook hands with him, and
again he slapped me upon the
shoulder. “Hardly knowed you
in that new rig. Now you’re
talkin’. That’ssense. Well, how
you cornin’ on!”
“First rate,” I assured, not
a little nonplussed by this greet
ing from a man whom I had
knocked down, tipsy drunk, only
a few hours before. But evident
ly he was a seasoned customer.
“Bucked the tige a little, I
reckon?” And he leered cun
mngly, i
“No, I rarely gamble.”
“Aw, tell that to the mariucs.’’
Once more he ovially clapped me.
“A young gent like you has to
take a fling now and then. Hell,
this is Benton, where everything
goes and nobody the worse for
it. You bet yuh! Trail along
with me. Lot’s likker. Then
I’ll show you the ropes. I like
your style. Yes,sir; l know a
man when 1 see him.’' And he
swore "freely.
**‘Another time, sir,’’I begged
off. “I have an engagement
this evening-”
“O’ course you have. Dou’t
I know? that, too, by Gawdt The
when, where and who? Didn’t
skinned for you, and to cotton to
ahe tell me to keep my eyes
you when you came id!. We’ll
find her, after we likker up.”
“She did?”
“Why not ? Ain’t, I afriend o’
hern ? You bet! Finest little
woman in Behton. Trail to the
trough along with me, pardner,
and name your favorite. I’ve
got a thirst like a Sioux buck
with a robe to trade.’’
“I’d rather not drink, thank
you,” I essayed; but he would
have none of it. He seized me
by th arm and hustled me on. w
“O’ course you’ll drink. Any
gent I ax to drink has gotto
drink. Name your pizen—make
it champagne, if that’s your
brand. But the drinks are on
me.”
So willy-nilly I was brought to
the bar, where the line of men
already loafing there made space.
“Straight goods and the best
you’ve got,” my self-appointed
pilot blared. “None o’ your
agency whiskey, either. What’s
yourn?” he asked of me.
“The same as yours, sir,” 1
bravely replied.
With never a word the bar
tender shoved bottle and glasses
to us. Jim rather unsteadily fil
led ; I emulated, but to scanter
measure.
“Here's how,” he volunteered.
“May you never see the back of
your neck.”
“Your health,” I responded.
We drank. The stuff may have
been pure; at least it was stout
and cut fiery way down my un
wonted throat; the one draught
infused me with a swagger and
a sudden rosy view of life
through a temporary mist of
watering eyes.
“A-ah! That puts guts into
a man,” quoth Jim. “Shall we
haye another? One more?”
“Not now. The next shall he
on me. Let’s look around,” J
gasped.
“We’ll find her,” he promis
ed. “Take a stroll, I’ll steer you
right. Have a seegar, anyway.”
As smoking vied with drink
ing here in the Big Tent where
even the daners cavoted with
lighted cigars in their mouths, I
saw fit to humor him.
“Cigars it shall be, then. But
I’ll pay.” And to my nod the
bartender set out a box, from
which we selected at twenty
five cents each. With my own
“seegar” cocked up between my
. lips, and my revolver adequately
heavy at my belt, I suffered the
guidance of the importunate Jim.
We wended leisurely among
games of infinite variety: keno,
rondo coqlo, poker, faro, rou
lette ,monte, chuck-a-luck, wheels
of fortune—advertised, some, by
their barkers, but the better
class (if there is such a distinc
tion) presided over by remark
ably quiet, white-faced, nimble
fingered, steady-eyed gentry in
irreproachable garb running
much to white shrits, black
pantaloons, velvet waistcoats,
and polished boots, and diamonds
ar.d gold chains worn unaffected
ly; low-voiced gentry, these,
protected, it would appear,
mainly by their lookouts perch
ed at their sides with eyes alert
to read faces and to watch the
play.
We had by no means completed
the tour, interrupted by many
jests and nods exchanged be
tween Jim and sundry of the
p. trons, when we indeed met My
Lady. She detached herself, as
if cognizant of our approach?
from a little group of four ov fire,
standing upon the floor; ami
turned for me with hand out
strectched, a gratifying flush
upon her spirited face.
“You are here, then?” she
greeted.
I made a leg, with best bow,
not omitting to remove hat and
cigar, while agreeably conscious
of her approving gaze.
“I am here, madam, in the
Big Tent.”
Her small warm hand acted at»
if unreservedly mine, for the
* moment. About her there was a
tiugling element of the frieudly,
even of the intimate. She was a
haven in a strange coast.
“Told you I’d find him, didn’t
IT” Jim asserted—the bystanders
listening curiously. “There he
was, lookin’ as lonesome as a
two-bit piece on a poker table in
a sky-limit game. So we had a
drink and a seegar, and been
niakin’ the grand tower.”
“You got your outfit, I see,”
she smiled.
i es. Ain i correct i
“You have saved yourself an
noyance. You'll do,” she added.
“Have you played yet.t Win, or
lose!” *
“I did not eotne to play,
madam,” said I. “Not at table,
that is.” Whereupon I must
have returned her gaze so glow
ingly as to embarrass her. Yet
she was not displeased; and in
that costume and with that
liquor still coursing through my
veins I felt equal to any retort.
“But you should play. You
arc heeled!”
“The best I could propure.'’
Ilet my baud rest casually upon
try revolver butt.
She laughed merrily. There
were smiles aside.
“Oh, no; i didn’t mean that.
You are heeled fer all to see. I
meant, you have funds? You
didn’t come here too light, did
you?”
“I am prepared for all emer
gencies, madam, certainly,” I
averred with proper dignity. Not
for the world would I have con
fessed otherwise. Sooth to say,
I had the sensation of boundless
wealth. The affair at the hotel
did not bother me, now. Here in
the Big Tent prosperity reigned.
Money, money, money was pas
sing back and forth, carelessly
shoved out and carelessly pocket
ed or piled up, while the band
played and the people laughed
and drank and danced and brag
ged and staked, and laughed
again.
“ 1 hat is good, bhall we walk
a little? And when you play—
come here.” We stepped apart
from the listeners. “When you
play, follow the lead of Jim.
He’ll not lose, and I intend that
you shan’t, either. But you
must play, for the sport of it.
Everybody games, in Benton.”
“So I judge, madam,” I assent
ed. “Under your chaperonage I
am ready to take any risks, the
gaming table being among the
least.”
‘ 4 Prettily said, sir, ’ ’ she com
plimented. 4 4 And you won’t lose.
No,” she repeated suggestively,
“you won’t lose, with me look
ing out for you. Jim bears you
no ill will. He recognizes a man
when he meets him, even when
the proof is uncomfortable.”
“For that little episode on the
train 1 ask no reward, madam,”
said I.
“Of course not.” Her tone
waxed impatient. 4 4 However,
you’re a stranger in Benton and
strangers do not always fare
well.” In this she spoke the
truth. “As a resident I claim
the honors. Let us be old ac
puantances. Shall we walk 7 Or
would you rather dance?”
“I’d cut a sorry figure danc
ing in boots,” said I.
“Therefore I’d really prefer to
walk, if all the same to you.”
“Thank you for having mercy
on my poor feet. Walk we will.”
“May I get you some refresh
r ment?” I hazarded. “A lemon
ade—or something stronger?”
“Not for you sir; not again,”
she laughed. “You are, as Jim
would say, ‘fortified.’ And I
shall need all my wits to keep
you from being tolled away by
greater attractions.”
-- ♦ --
Company Union Plan.
From the Minneapolis Journal.
Federal District Judge Dickinson in
Pennsylvania now formally declares,
what was perfectly well-known be
fore, that the Railroad Labor Board
has no power to enforce its decrees,
save that derived from the power
of public opinion.
When Congress established the
board it refused to clothe the new
agency with power of enforcement,
though perhaps it could have done so,
in the light 61 its own interference
with rail wages through the Adamson
Law.
But even if cougress had created
enforce its findings, long llgltation
would doubtless have ensued to de
termine the constitutionality of such
a delegation of power.
The refusal of Judge Dickinson to
assume jurisdiction was occasioned
by the efforts of the Brotherhood of
Clerks, Ffeglht Handlers and Satlon
Employees to force the Pennsylvania
railroad to recognise Its delegates as
representatives of the employees In
wage conferences.
The Pennsylvania has broken away
from brotherhood control and has co
operated with its own employees in
organising “company unions." Dur
ing the shopmen’s strike this plan
proved satisfactory to both the com
pany and the men, and because of
continuity of service, to the public.
It has since approved Itself by the
malntenace of friendly relations and
amicable settlement of all contro
versies.
The national brotherhoods are na
turally much concerned. If the Penn
sylvania plan should spread. It would
mean their own approaching death.
But the Pennsylvania’s own employ
ees seem well content with the plan.
The have complete freedom to choose
their own representatives, and are
not obliged to confide their Interests
to outside labor leaders who may be
more concerned about labor politics
than about a favorable settlement.
It is found that controversies are
much more easily settled, when the
confrees are all Pennsylvania men,
representing management and em
ployees in fair fashion, and all Inter
ested for the prosperity of tlio enter,
prise in which theyare engaged .
“ 'Ome.”
From the Chicago News.
I
At the English golf club, after several
Indifferent rounds, they were discussing
the new member.
"I suppose he Is very wealthy?" re
marked one member.
"Yea," replied the other, "but he hasn't
a place he calls ‘home’.”
"What, with all his money?"
"Yes, Its only too true. He calls K
’ 'ome'." _ _ _
Dr. l>. E. Dickson, professor of math
ematics In the University of Chicago,
was awarded the prime of |l,000 offered
by the American Association for the
Advancement of Science for the most
valuable oontrlbutlon to science, pre
sented during the recent meeting at
Cincinnati.
'
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*
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Disappointed
“Aunt Hannah hailed from the Mid
dle West, and had never seen the sea.
Her nephew, who was doing well in
the East, Invited her to spend a
month at his Asbury Park cottage.
Bhe accepted the invitation, of course.
“Well, as soon as she arrived, her
nephew took her down to the board
walk and showed her the boundless
acean, with its white foam and crash
ing breakers and fresh, sait-laden
winds.
“ ‘There!’ he said. ‘There, Aunt
Hannah, is the Atlantic. What do
you think of it?’
“ ‘Humph,’ said Aunt Hannah, ‘1
thought It was larger.’ ’’
Novice Gets Names Mixed
An experienced golfer, in a fit of con
descension, Invited a novice to a game.
The novice, to the golfer’s dismay and
disgust, plowed up the ground all
«round the ball at every stroke.
The golfer stood It for a while, but
after one particularly vicious dig into
the tee, he remarked:
“You’ve revoked.”
“We’re playing golf, not whist,” said
the novice.
“Yes,” replied the golfer, “but yo\
have just played a spade where yoi
should have played a emu."
Not in His Line
"An elderly Scot was standing in r
railway station when a traveler tro<
heavily on his foot.
“ ‘Hoot mon!’ groaned the Scot,
‘Canna ye take care? Ye’ve nearly
killed me. Hoot, mon! Hoot, hoot!’
"The traveler looked the suffer In
Scot up and down.
“ ‘Hoot yourself,’ he said. I’m s
drummer, not an auto.’”
Che less said about a fuss thf
bat tea
A man is generous to a fault wher
he falls to correct it.
What We Forget
Between
15 and 50
Schools teach, and nearly every home applies
the rule against coffee and tea for children.
When middle age comes, a great many
people remember the facts about the caffeine
drug of coffee and tea, and how its regular use
may disturb health. Often they have cause to
remember what it has done to diem.
How much better it would be not to forget—
and avoid the penalties!
Postuin is a pure cereal beverage—delightful,
and safe for any age—at any time. Good for
breakfast at home, for all the family; good for
lunch at the club or restaurant; good with the
evening meal; good with a late night dinner
good on any occasion. Postum satisfies* and it
never harms.
Why not be friendly with health, all the time?
Postum
for Health
“There's a Reason
Your grocer sells Postum in
^ two forms: Instant Postum
ftn tins} prepared instantly in
the cup by the addition ol
boiling water. Postum Cereal
(in packages] for those who
prefer the flavor brought out
by boiling fully 20 minutes.
Ine cost of either form is
about one-batf cent a cup.
