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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1924)
I writhed to the words. “ And that felJow Jirnt’’ I asked. “He’s jest a common roper. He alluz wins, to encourage suckers like you. 'Tisn’t his money he plaj'8 with; he’s on commish. Begiimin’ to under stand a*h’t you?” r ^‘But the Ibent card?” I in sisted. ‘'That is the mystery. It was the quere. What became “W the queen?” "Ho hoj” And again he laughed. ”A cute trick, shore. That j what we got for bein’ so plumb crooked ourselves. Why, o’ course it was the queen, once. You see ’twas this way. That she-male and the capper in cahoots with her tolled you on straight for Montoyo’s table; teased you a lectio along the trail, no doubt, to keep you in terested.” I nodded. “They promised you winnin’s, easy win tiiu’s. Then at Montoyo’s table the game was a lectle slack; so one capper touched him on the (.boulder and another marked the o rd. O’ course a gambler like *un wouldn’t be up to readin’ ILs own cards. Oh, no You &orta were the smart ones.” ‘‘How about, yourself?” I retorted, nettled. ‘Me? I know them tricks, Bat I reckoned I was smart, too Then that capper Jim led out and we all made a small win ning to prove the system. And Montoyo, he gets tired o’ losiu’ —but still he's blind to a card that everybody else can see, and he calls for real play so he can go broke or even up. I didn’t look for much of a deal on that throw inyself. Usu'ly it comes less promise ’.vus, with the gudgeon stakin’ the big roll, and then I pull out. But you-all slapped down the stuff in a stampede, sartin you had him buffaloed. On his last shuffle he’d straightened the queen and turned down the eight, usin’ an extra finger or two. Them card sharps have six fingers on each hand and several in their sleeve, and Le was slicker'n I thought. He might have refused all bets and got your mad up for the next pass; but you’d come down as handsome as you would, he fig ured. So he let go. ’Twas fair and squar’, robber eat rob ber, and we none of us have any call to bowl. But you mind my word: Don’t aim to put some thing over on a professional gamblin’ sharp. It can’t be done. As for me, I broke even and I nllux expeet to lose. When I look to be skinned I leave most my dust behind me where I can’t get at it.” Now I saw all, or enough. 1 had received no more than I de served, Such a wave of nausea •nrgcd into my mouth—but he wax continuing. ‘‘Jest why he struck his woman I don’t know. Do you?” ‘‘Yes. She had cautioned me and he must have heard /her. And she showed which was the right card. I don’t understand that.” ‘‘To save her face, and egg yoa on. Shore! Your tw’enty dollars was nothin'. She didn’t know you were busted. Next time she’d have stercd yott to the the tune of a hundred or two and cleaned you proper. You hadn’t bov u worked along, yet, to the right pitch o’ smartness. Mouto yo must ha’ mistook her. She encouraged you, didn’t she?” ‘‘Yes, she did.” I arose un steadily, clutching the table. “I you’ll excuse me, sir, I think I'd b«K go. I-— I—I thank you. I or*^ wish I’d met you be fore. You . jre at liberty to re 4 a sapbead. Good ■. «u: riold on. Sit down, sit down, man. Have another drink ” ‘‘I have had enough. In fact, I since arriving in Benton I’ve had more than enough of every thing.” But I sat down. “Where were you going?” “To the hotel. I am privileg ed to stay there unil to-Morrow. Thank Heaven I was obliged to pay in advance.” r‘Alluz sufer,” said he. “And then what?” “To-morrow ?” “Yes. Tomorrow.” “I don’t know. 1 muat find employment, and earn enough to get home with.” To write -for lands was now invisible through very shame. “Home’s tho only place for a person of my greenness-” “Why did you come out clear to end o' track?” he inquired. “I was ordered by ray phy sician to find locality in the Far West, high and dry.” I gulped at his smile. “I've found it and shall go home to report.” “With your tail beween your legs?” He clapped me upon the shoulder. “Stiffen your back. We all have to pay for eddica t?on. You’re not wolf meat yet, by a long shot. You’ve got your hair, and that's more than some men I know of. You look purty healthy, too. Don't turn for home; stick it out.” “I shall have to stick it out until I raise the transportation,” I reminded. “My revolver should tide me over, for a begin ning.” “Sell itt" said he. “Sell your breeches fus, either way you’d be only half dressed. No!’’ “It would take me a little way. I’ll not stay in Benton— not to be pointed at as a dupe.” “Oh, pshaw!” he laughed. “Nobody’ll remember you, specially if you’re known to bo broke. Busted , you ’re of no use to the camp. Let me make you a proposition. I believe you’re straight goods. Can’t believe anything else, after seein’ your play and sizin’ you up. Let rae make you a proposition. I’m on ray way to Salt Lake with a bull outfit and I’m in need of another man. I’ll give you a dollar and a half a day and found, and it will be good honest work, too.” “You are teaming west, you mean?” I asked. “Yes, sir. Freightin’ across. Mule-whackin’.” “But I never drove spans in my life; and I’m not in shape to stand hardships,” I faltered. “I’m here for my health. 1 have-” “Stow all that, son,” lie inter rupted more tolerantly than was my due. “Forge your lungs lights and liver and stand up a full-size man. In my opinion you’ve had too much doctorin’. A month with a full train, and a diet of beans and sowbelly will put a linin’ in your in’ards and a heart in your chest. When you’ve slept under a wagon to Salt Lake and l’arned to sling a bull whip and relish your beans burned, you can look anybody in the eye and tell him to go to hell, if you like it. This roarin’ town life—it’s no life for you. It’s a bobtail, wide open in the middle. I’ll be ouly too glad to get away on the long trail my self. So you come with me,” and he smiled winningfly. “I hate to see you ruined by women and likker. Mule-skinnin ’ ain’t all beer ad skittles, as they say; but this job’ll tide you over, anyhow, and you’ll come out at the end with money in your pocket, if you choose, and no doctor’s bill to pay.” “Sir,” I said gratefully, “may I thiuk it over tonight, and let you know in the morning? Where will I find you?” “The trails camped near the wagon trail, back at the river. "Vou can’t miss it. It‘s mainly a Morman train, that some of ua Gentiles have thrown in with. Ask for Oap’n Hyrum Adams’ train. My name’s Jenka— Gewfa* Jenks. Yon ’ll find me there. I’ll hold open for you till ten o’clock—yes, til noon. I mean that you shall come. It ”11 bo tke uiakin’ of you.” I arose und gave him my hand; shook with him. ‘‘And I hope to come," I as serted with glow of energy. “You've set me upon my feet, Mr. Jenks, for I was desperate. You're the first honest man I’ve met “in Benton,” ‘‘Tut, tut,” he reproved. ‘There are others. Benton’s not so bad as yon think it. But you were dead ripe; the buz zards scented you. Now you go straight to your hotel, unless you’ll spend the night with me. Not Then I’ll see you iu the rnorain’, I’ll risk your gettin’ through the street alone.” ‘‘You may, sir,” I affirmed. ‘‘At present I'm not worth fur ther robbing.” "Except for your gun and clothes,” he rejoined. “Jtat ff you’ll jise the one you’ll keep the other.” Gazing naither right nor left I strode resolnt 1y For the exit. Now I had au anchor to wind ward. Sometimes just one word will fact; a man about when for Icok of that mere word he waa drifting. Of the games and people I wished only to be rid forever; but at the exit I was halted by a hand laid upon my pjni, and a quick utterance. “Not going t You will at least say good-night.” I barely paused, replying to her. "Goodnight.” Still she would have detained me. “Oh, no, no! Not this way. It was a mistake. I swear to you I am not to bo blamed. Please let me help you. I don’r know what you’ve heard—I don’t know what has been said about me—you are angry-” I twitched free, for she should not work upon me again. With such as she, a vampire and yet a woman, a man’s safety lay not in words but in unequivocal action. “Good night,” I bade thickly, half choked by that same nau sea, now hot. Bearing with me a satisfying but somehow an noyingly persistent imprint of moist blue eyes under shimmer ing hair, and startled white face plashed on one cheek withh viv id crimson, and small hand left extended empty, I roughly stalk ed on and out, free of her, free of the Big Tent, her lair. All the way to the hotel, through the garish street, 1 nursed mv wrath while it gnaw ed at me like the fox in the Spar tan boy's bosom; and once in my room, which fortuitously had no other tenants at this hour, I had to lean out of the narrow win dow for sheer relief in the cool ness. Surely pride had had a fall this night. There “roared” Benton—the Benton to which, as to prosper ity, I had hopefully purchased my ticker, ages ago. And here cowered I,—pillaged, dishonored, worthless in even this communi ty; » young fellow in jaunty frontier costume, new and brave, but really reduced to sackcloth and ashes; a young fellow only a husk, as false in appearance as the Big Tent itself and many another of those canvass shells. The street noises—shouts, shots, music, songs, laughter, rattle of dice, whirr of wheel and clink of glasses—assailed me discordant. The scores of tents and shacks stretching on ir regularly had become pocked with dark spots, where lights had been extinguished, but^the street remained ablaze and the desert without winked at the stars. There were moving gleams at the railroad yards where switch engines puffed back and forth; up the grade and the new track, pointing westward, there were sparks of camp-fires; and still in other directions beyond the town oth er tokens redly flickered, where overland freighters were biding till the morning. Two or three miles in the east (Sir. Jenks had said) was his wagon train, camped at the North Platte River; and peering between the high canopy of stars and the low stratum of spectrally glowing, earthy—yes, very earthy—Benton, I tried to focus upon the haven for com fort. I had made up my mind to ac cept the berth.' Anything to get away. Benton I certainly hated witk the rage of the defeated. So in a fling I drew back, wres tled out of coat and boots and belt and pantaloons, tucked them in hiding against the wall at the head of my bed and my revolver underneath my stained pillow; and tried to forget Benton, all of it , Avith the blanket to my ears and my face to the wall, for sleep. When once or twice X waken ed from restless dreams the glow' and the noise of the streets seemed scarcely abated, as if down there sleep avhs despised. But when I finally aroused, and turned, gathering wits again, full daylight had paled every thing else. Snores sounded from the oth er beds; I saw tumbled cover ings, disheveled forms and shab by heads. In my oAvn corner nothing had been molested. The world outside was strangely qui et. The trail was open." So with no attention to my room mates l hastily Arashed and dressed, buckled on my arma ment, and stumped freely forth, down the somnolent hall, down the creaking stairs, aud into the silent lobby. Even the bar was vacant. Be hind the office counter a clerk sat sunk into a doze. At my ap proach lie unclosed Mank, heavy eyas. “I’m going out,” I said short ly. “Number Three bed in Room Six.” “For long, sir!” h« stammer ed. “‘You’ll be baek or are you leaving I” ^ “I’m leaving. Yon’ll find I’m paid up.” “Yes, sir. Of course, sir.” He rallied to the problem. “Just a moment. Number Three, Room Sir, you say. Pulling your freight, are you?” He scanned the register. “You’re the gen tleman from New York who came { ir. yesterday and met with mis fortune?” “I am,” said I. “Well, better luck next time. We’ll see you. again?” He quickened, “Here! One mom ent. Think I have message for you.” And reaching behind him into a pigeonhole he ex tracted an envelope, which he passed to me. “Yours, sir?” I stared at the fine slanting script of the address: Please deliver to . Frank R. Beeson, Esqr., . At the Queen Hotel. Arrived from Albany N.Y.. CHAPTER X I Cut Loose "I nodded; rebuffing his at tentive eyes I stuffed the envel ope into my pantaloons pocket. "Good-bye, sir.” "Good luck. When you comet back remember the Queen.” | “I’ll remember the Queen,” said I; and with the envelope! smirching my flesh I stepped, out, holding my head as high as though my pockets contained something of more value. The events of yesterday had hardened, thank Heaven; and so had I, into an obstinacy that de fied this mocking Western coun try. I was down to the ground aud was going to scratch. To make for home like a whipped dog, there to hang about, prob ably become an invalid and die resistless, was unthinkable. Al ready the Par West air and vig or had worked a change in me. In the fresh morning I felt like a fighting cock, or a runner re cruited by a diet of unbolted flour and strong red meat. The falsity of the life here I looked upon as only an inci dent. The gay tawdry had fad ed; I realized how much more enduring were the rough, un couth but genuine products like my friend Mr. Jenks and those of that ilk, who spoke me well instead of merely fair. Health of mind and body should be for me. Hurrah! But the note 1 It could have been sent by only one person— the superscription, dainty and feminine, betrayed it. That woman was still pursuing me. How she had found out my name I did not know; perhaps from the label on my bag, perhaps through the hotel register. I did not re call having exchanged names with her—she never had proffer ed her own name. At all events she appeared determined to keep a hold upon me, and that was disgusting. England Is feeling more, cheerful. MacDonald, the labor leader, praises the Prince of Wales and his "re spected father, the king," and says the British empire is all right. It is probable, that able Englishmen, i from the king down, trained to think through centuries and to give way gracefully, will give the labor gov ernment a fair chance. Even the London stock market 3a' cheerful, with _ the railway strike' settled, and labor sitting In the hlgh| places without any earthquake oi, tornado sweeping away Buckingham Palace. One-hundred and ten little Pomer anians—very small fluffy pet dogs— were exhibited In New York city last week. Each dog had a nicely dressed lady, nurse or owner, watching; the dear little .creature, affectionately and faithfully. Those dogs are worths more than (100,000. ' .. i ... — I The "disaster" bird is back la* Dantzlg. It's the allk-tailed thrush. The superstitious say that it has not) been seen In Dantzlg since 1014.1 when the war began. They fear; trouble. Not far away, In an Institutional, ward, you can find 110 human babies, three or four nurses taking care of a: whole lot. And all the babioa puv together are hardly worth ten cent*' In fact, they are a liability. Moral: Be born a Pomeranian. If you want to go through life com fortably in thla cIvHImtlon. The position of President Coolidge in the oil scandal is not pleasant or easy. He will do his duty thoroughly In" his own way, there Is no doubt about that. Byt the men Involved through official connection with ths matter, whether gnlity or innocent^ of an illegal act, are the appointee* of President Harding. President Coolidge is obligated to act mors cguttousty and circumspectly then would be the easy If, tte men wars his own apyalu tees. - \ One thing is certain. It Is fortunate for the people that they have la congress such met as Caraway ana to watch the corruptionists, and not afraid to demand ths truth and ths right punishment. NERVOUS & HALF-SICK WOMEN Relieved by taking Lydia E.Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound These Three Letters Prove It Lowell, Mass.—**I am sending you i a few lines to letyou know what good your medicine has done for me. I want you to let every one know that it has helped me in nervous troubles. I have four children and you know there is a lot to do where children are. They would come in from school and they wonld start telling me about their little troubles but I could not stand it. I had to send them away. I could not even walk on the street alone I was so nervous. I found one of your books and read it and then I ■aw in the paper about Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. I fot it and had taken one bottle when saw a change in myself. I was sur prised. The children can talk all they want to now and it does not bother me. I am still taking the Vegetable Compound."—Mrs. Joseph Lemere, 84 South Street, Lowell, Mass. Felt Like A New Woman Springfield. Missouri.—"For four or five months I was run-down, ner vous, my back ached and I did not feel like doing a thing. Sometimes my legs ached and felt like they would nreak and I had a hurting in my sides. I had been reading in the newspapers the letters of other wo men who had taken Lydia E. Pink ham’s Vegetable Compound and the advertising of it appealed to me so I bought some and saw results in al most nd time. I bad hardly been abU to do my own work and alter taking the Vegetable Compound I felt like a new woman. I recommend it to my friends who have troubles like I did, and hope they will find the same re sults.”—Mrs. M. Carpenter, 607 W. Chase Street, Springfield, Missouri. > 40 Years Old, Feels Like 20 Hagerstown,Md.—“I was very bad off with backache, a bearing-down feeling in my body and a pain in my left Bide. I could not be on my feet at times and once I was so bad I walked bent over to one aide for three weeks. My sister read of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound and St me a bottle. I got so much relief at 1 took more until I was well. I am 40 years old and feel like 20. I am sure this medicine will help all women.’*—Mrs. Mary E. Sandy, 436 W. Franklin Street, Hagerstown,Md. Over 100,000 women have so far replied to our question, “Have you received benefit from taking Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound?” 98 per cent of these replies are “Yes.” That means that 98 out of every 100 women who take this medicine for the ailments for which it is recom mended are benefited by it. Atl druggists are having increased sales of this medicine. Hard Pressed Mrs. Newlywed—Why did you tell the neighbors that you married me because I whs such a good cook, when you knew I couldn’t even boll a po tato? Mr. Newlywed—1 had to make some excuse, my dear. Those who nplidd a particular law the most vdtlferously are those whom It doesn’t squeeze. Not Guilty An old negro went to the office' ft the commissioner of registration in a Missouri town and applied for regis tration papers. “What Is your name?" asked tha official. “George Washington," was the reply. “Well, George, are you the man who cut down the cherry tree?" "No, suh. I ain’t de man. I ain’t done no work for nigh onto a year.” i SAY “BAYERN when you b\xy-^0#uwne Proved safe by millions and prescribed by physicians for Colds Headache Neuralgia LumEago Pain Toothache Neuritis Rheumatism ft i -22iy “Ba^er” package which contains proven directions. W' Handy “Bayer” boxes ef 12 tablets Also bottles of 24 and 100—Druggists. 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To avoid imitations, always look for the signatuae of Proven directions on ^aeh package. Physicians everywhere recommend it. Disordered Stomach Take a good dose of Carter’s little liver Pills —then take 2 or 3 for a few nights sifter. You will relish your meals without fear of trouble to follow. Millions of all ages take than for Btitoudbeas, Dizziness. Sick Headache, Upset Stnnndi and for Sallow, Pimply, Blotchy Skin. Thtg tnJ tht mbeiy if Ccmtlpatktu fcnlPB;tnJIPw;8—M Mae