- . - I I' I . 1 .T < lrl ' f" ' 11 - II" I 1 ! < U1f" - .
.
r : : s f ; ; L ts ; , , -
I Written for The Repohlican hy Harry B. ( , , "rd.
_ _ I -AS ] - IIL. _
HI tell you I saw him ! lIe
fumbled the cards , jhen pretended
to accidently drop them. After
he had picked them up and put
them in the case again , luck I
turned and the bank wQn right '
along. 'l'here s a skin game I
goin' on , boys , bet your life on
that. Speak up , Call You saw
him drop the cards ? "
"Yes , I did , " admitted Cal ,
"but don't it strile you , B1 1cjay ,
that it really was an accHlcnt ?
Derned if it didn't look to me as
though he was rattled. "
"h attled , nothin' ! " growled
Blucjay. "He's a slick worker ,
that's what he is , an' the sooner
we have an' unc1erstanc1in' with
the gentleman the belter it'll be
for all hands. This is a blamed
nnhealthv climate for tin-horns , .
as Mr. Brislins and that mysterious -
ious femnle of his will find out
before long. "
" , Look here , BJuejay , you don't
intend harmin' thc woman , do
you ? asked one of the group.
"Don't intend harrnin' nobody -
body , at present , " returned the
other. "I only want to find out
if he played us dirf , that's all.
As for the woman , I guess it'll
be middlin' hard work to find her ,
as nobody in this gang has ever
clapped eyes on her. Well , how
many of vou are with me"J :
"If it's only an investIgation ,
I don't mind chippin' in , " said
Cal , "but I'll be cussed if I make
war on a woman. "
The other five , seemingly of
the same opinion , walkcd slowly
away , headed by Bluejay and
Cal.
'
* * *
It was ab ut 2 o'clock 'in the
morning of Christmas day and
the : main street of Ore presented
a decidedly lively appearance.
'l'he variety theatre , saloons
and dance halls were still in
full blast. , From the theatre
came 'ounds of violin , cornet ,
piano and drums. On the stage ,
a beefy rerio-comic was telling
the half-shot audience , in a voice
very much out of repair , that
she wol1lc1 be true to her sailor
-
- - - - - - - - _ . - - . - .
hoy. As this was her third ape
pearance during the course-of the
evening , she was favored with
little attention , the main part of
the audience occupying itself in
'smoking rank cigars and buving
stale beer , at $1 per bottle. , for
the other female artists.
'rhe manager of the establishment -
ment stood near the bar at the
front of the house , talking to
the city marshal , who had just
left an upper box , after dispensing -
ing liquid refreshments to a few
lady friends.
" 1 hear there was sOllle kick
over at the Sapphire , tonight.
OtiC of the bovs . told me Brislin
tried a cold ( leal and madc a
regular Huke of it. How did it
happen ? " asked thc manager.
" 011. , I don't believe it amountd
to much , " carelessly answered
the marshal. "Although , he
cer.tainly did drop' the deck and
turned as while as talquc.
T en" a ter the cards were in t.he
box agam , he commenced Wl11-
ning lika the deuce and kept it up
un ll o'clock , when he closed
the game. That's what makes
the boys so sore. "
"Who is this Brlslin , anyhow ?
You ought to Imow more about
him than anybody in town. "
"Perhaps I do ; but even that
doesn't amuunt to such an awful
. Only two people have seen
his wife-and I guess she really
is his wife. One is Mills , the
tage driver , and the other is
Pat 'Gowley's ' old woman , who
washes for them. Mills says she
l ys over anything tha 's ever
been in this part of t1.le country
and mother GowlcV says she is
an angcl. When that old' ' dame
puts in a good word for anyone ,
they must be possessed of ex-
traordiuary qualities. Well , as
you know , the two struck town
four weeks ago last night and
went to house keeping in Dick
Flynn's shack. 'l'he man went
over to the Sapphire , gave his
name as Burt Brislin , rented a
faro layout from Pap Wrayburn
and immediately started up in
busi nesss. "
- - " "
, ! I- _ -
"One ' " continued
thing' : mrl ! ,
the marshal , "the man deals
better faro than half the cral'k
ShMPS in the state , and as near
as 1 can see , runs a perfectly
straight game. Up to a week
ago , all the boys that tried to
stay with the gaiue , went br ltei
but after that , luck changed a11
of a sudden , and if it hadn't becn
for that little occurrencc this
evening , the bank itself would
ha vc gone brolte. "
'l'hc marshal , in an absent
minded way , took a cigar from
the manager's vest pocket nibbled -
bled off the cnd , drew a match
across the leg of his trou3ers ! and
commenced smoking. 'l'hensaid :
" ' ' '
1'hat's about as far as my
knowledge extends , except , 1
know they camc from Dcnver
here. " Moving in the direction
of the door , pe conhnued :
"ntuejay and Cal , with a scatler-
ing of other disreputables , have
organized themselves into a
committee of investigation and
inte d asldng a few qucstions.
Think I'll stroll down that. way.
1'c11 Cleo to shale that box party
and get into her street clothes ;
I'll come back in a httle while. "
* * *
The members of the con niltee
had arrived at their destination
and were now gathered around
the door of a small log cabin.
A faint light glimmered from the
four-paned window , but no sound
of life came from within. Somehow -
how , the committee seemel to be
nervous and not in its usual
spirits. It shufl1ed its fourteen
feet and shoved its fourleen
hands into so many poclfCts.
Finnlly , Cal gave an impatient
grunt and turned to Blul'jay.
"Go Oil ! " he whispered. in a
hoarse voice. " 'rhe thing has
come to a showdown ; as you wele
so allxious a Ii t tie while a go to
I call the hand , you can takc the
lead now. "
Btucjay looked indignaltly at
his companions , pulled himself
together and gave a double knock
at the door. As the sound
echoed and re-echoed through
the still early morn l-1g air , every
iRJlividual man of the seven
smvered , then felt like kicking
himself for it , afterward. However -
ever , they were not kept waitin '
long , for the door suddenly
opened and the gambler pre.
sented himself. His face might
have been that of a corpse for all
the color ilJ had , and his eyes
. .
4tt - . . . . . l - " 1 L , . ,
,
i ii i i i 3ii
. w
. A nIS OUNT OF , TEN PER ENT i
ffl - -
- - - ' ,
fIc'
P .
I j , M _ ' . .c -
, . , w
ON ALL PURCHASES OF i
M
,
w w
I Holiday. Goods I
s
j i AMOUNTIl\TG TO $1 AND OVER i
.
i. i A Discount of 1 0 per'cent ' I
J' ' I will be given until Jan. 1 I
AT THE
I Racket Store. I
*
E. REYNER ' " co. , i
Hout h ( laRt corn er Hquorse , Broken Bow.
m
'r- I
" " -
t/i
I SEE THIS STOCK i
BEFORE PURCHASINC !
, , , , . m
G * * * * * * * * * f. f
. _ . .
-
W "I 11.'W- ' " - - ' \I
, , - . " . . .
. , I
, . . - - : - ' " . .11II . - - . " , , , . - - . - , - _ d. ' . ' " ' 'D- . . . . . . - . : : - . - . - - - . : " . " . . . c. J I
- "t""t"1"'tt't"t""t" " " " " " " " " " " " ' " " ' ' " " " " " " " " " , " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " ' " " " " " " " " " ' I
- -
- -
- - - . - - -
-
-
-
ISanta I - Claus at I . :
-
- - I
-
-
I Lee's Drug Store I :
-
-
- -
-
-
- -
-
-
-
-
] ? 01' Inonths , vc have been plnnlling' rOI' 3
our Chrislnas Display nnd nrH rcady to 3
have you comc uncI puss judglnent. '
- -
- -
-
-
I OME EARLY AND OFTEN I :
-
-
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
= = Let the children comc nnll scc our displny. A child should see the :3 :
E differen toys and beautiful Christmas articles. I t is educutionnl. = =
- -
Come , even if you ; 10n't intend to make IHlrchnses , as a visit ho1' ( ' 3
E : will of IeI' to yom' mind valuable suggest.ions . us to snitnble presents- = =
E. - It is hardly necessary to urge t.he . advantnges , of eHrly = - =
= = selections. You fully renli e t.hat. . . this ulways pays. = =
E : Art.icles-on . which a smull payment is made as a = =
e : g'uarantee of good faith-will be lnid aside for you. = =
E - \Vill also pack and ship goods to be s nt distant f1' ends = - =
- -
- -
A LARGE LINE OF MIRRORS
- -
- -
E of all styles , on whch I llave a SPJ CIAL PH.I UIJ ! , as ' :3
E , [ hought a special cleun-up lot , and I intend to give :3
E customers the benefit of the great bargain I secured. 3
- . = -
E .A.1'WC C I .A. . 3'
- -
= = I have a far more complete line of lPancy Uhinn than = =
ever , specially in l-laviland and , J avanese for gifts. 3
- -
g : THE BUSY 3
G IJ , - . L 88 , DRUGGIST
- -
: E3F1.C : > E ; : E3C > VV , EBFI. : : .
- -
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111
-
"
-
, seenicd , t go through evcr ) ' man
in font of him.
"Good ev ning , boys , " he said ,
in a quiet voice. "I don't think
I shall have to search very long
for the object of your visit , at
this time of day , or night , as you
will. I am sorry not to be able
to invite JOU all in ; but as you
know the dimensions of my one
room , it is needless to apologlze.
Diuejay and Cat' ' , you arc better
known to me t1.1an the rest ;
will you two represcnt your
fricnds ? "
ll'eeling sure from the man's
demeanor , there was no trap ,
the two cntered the cabin and
the door was closed. The room
was smalJ , plainly furn ! : .hed and
cleaner than thc majority of
homes in that vicinity. Brislin
and his guests were apparently
the only ones present , although
a calico curtain wa strung
across one end of t he room , concealing -
cealing a small alcove or corner. '
The dealer did not afTer chairs ,
butl stood looking at them for
some time.
"So you thought I 11 ied to
wring in a cold deal , eh ? " he
finally asked , in a low tone.
111'hat's the way it looked to
us. pardner , " Bluejay answered.
"You've always been so handy
with the paste boards , you know ;
so when you spra wled all over'em ,
lik you did. it looke ( too blamed
awkard to be real. So we just
thought we'd come over and ask
your reason for doing it. "
Here Bluejay gave a triumphant
look at Ca ! .
IIYou have asked for the
reason and shall have it , " replied -
plied Brislin , as he started for
the other end of the room. 'l'he
miners showed an inclination to
follow , but he turned , with an
ugly glitter in his eyes.
"Stay where you are , please. "
lIe then took hold of the
curtain and drew it , lside. Both
men started and involuntarily
took their hats ofT. On a bcd ,
which had been concealed bv . the
curtain , lay the dead body.of a
young woman , so nat.ural in
death , that one could almost
imagine her aslcep. With a
caressing movement , Brislin
tenderly plaed ( : his hand on tll
I white : fcrehead , then faced his
guests again.
I " 1'his is my reason , " he commenced -
menced , almost in a whisper.
1"1 married her six months ago ,
and swore at the time , never tot
touch anot her card ; bu t I got
t mixed up in a wild-cat mining
deal at Granite aud went com.
- . . -
.
pletely brolw. r had to do something -
thing ; so I took what little she
had , came here and opencd a faro
gamc , intending to get cnough
ahead , if possible , to start in some
other business. But luck went
against me this last weelj my
wife , vas growing worse , she had
been ill when we arrived , and
finally , at supper to.night , this
cursed high altitude got in its
work iltld Idlled her iust one hour
before I started 'for the Sapphire
saloon. Previous to my dropping
those cards , during the deal , it
Hashed through my mind if the
bank lost I would not have
enough to pay her funeral cx-
pcnses. It was then I lost my
. nerve and let them slip through
lay fingers. I don't care a con-
I tinental what ) 'OU think of me ,
nor am I afraid of any disaster-
ous results ; all I ask for is time
enough to place my little dead
partner along side of her mother
at Denver. " Here Brislin dropped -
ped on his knces beside the body
of his wife and buried his face
on the dcad bosom.
Something secmed to be the
matter with llluejay's throat.
After clearing it repeatedly. he
at last blurteclout :
"Mr. Brislin. I beg your
pardon for cussill' at such a timc ,
but I want to say ri ht here that
this committee happens to be
a select company of dal11fools
and I'm ll.e biggest one of the
lot. What mon y you've won
{ rom the gang is yours to start
in somethin' else. 'l'he body of
your wife will be taken to Denvcr
and buried at the expense of the
citizens of Oro. 'l'hat goer- ! "
'l'he figure at the b dside
trembled , then a lI1ufl1ed , unsteady -
steady voice replied :
"Thank you , boys. "
Bluejay and Callooked at ellch
other for a moment , nodded , then
tiptoed out of the room , Roftly
closing the door behind them
Five per cent Premium for Checks on
.
Custer County Banks.
Improve ) 'OUI' heards of hogs
by purchasing a male frol11 the
CURter County Hcrd of Duroc-
Jerseys , 8 miles west of Broken
Bow. 'rops of 200 head , heavy ,
large bone , have been fed with
the view of growing bone and
muscle so desirable in breeding
stock.
Five per cent discount for pay-
I ment by checl { on any bank in
Custer county , or for cash.
'I JOIlN HEESE , Owner ,
'J Broken Bow , Nebr.
, .
- - - -
,
en O CXIacnz :
F i > : IQrn CI '
. . . % > C :
= = z : : ! . . .
> . . . . . . . " 00'- . . .
( ) '
n : I : : : : j > C' ) .
: . z : . : I : UI rrJ _ . : ; :
, " -CII' ( / ) . or
z-t I :
-
: Z"
.g
a. -
.Z
flit . .
rr-
- 8 I
20 . . . . .
C . . :
-ca-i "
- ;
: t " -
f11 ! : : 111 Z
= O
z Z '
- III
fnCl ) -
C)2 : . .
o . .
C/ )
( It
; ; : < j
: z
tN 0' " ,0 5. ; i : : c _
B . . .
" \ tn en ' < C
VI > . . . . . -t . . s > > " -I -
2. . O c : : . . " ' 1c..8
' 0 tn . . . . . < B "Os 0 > > r
S' < ; B
:
CD ' n
r ' B
t s'
t " 0 '
2 n tr' B
oq
E. f1 0:1 : . (
IN CAMP OR FIELD-AT
MOUNTAIN OR SHORE
There Is always II chance
ta enJoy some shooting
TO SIIOOT WELL YOU MUST DE EQUIPPED WITU
A RELIABLE fIREARM : the only kind we have
been makIng ror upwards of fifty years.
Our Llno : RIFLES , PSTOLS ! , SHOTGUNS ,
RIFLE TELESCOPES , ETO ,
ANle 3'ollr Ih'/II'r. / 1I11l1 111S1Ht IIn the
S'l'J Y ] XS. , nlCru Jlut 1i01l1 113' ltu-
tnlleroi. wo &hl1' dlroct. f"lXllrORIl Ilro-
alll. " 1'11 ' recoilit of Cntuto ! ; 11 rico.
H.'n.1 . . .r 11 . , a . ' ' IIlo.trot. . . .
. , ntu' " , : , , ' \ hllll..c..hlo . 1'1:0 1..1 < . . .t
r..ndy . 'cl rcn't'I nJl' 111101 bu , '
.hunlt'ro. .lUnU. . . . n.r lIIau , i ( 'cat. , . .
. . . . . . . . ,
.tulIIl' h.cuv.'r ' .lIull' . U'nntJful
" ' " ( 'ulur . . t'lI'wur" , , " '
"u "nKer r
.111 < . . . . . . , . I" . ' 1011I. . . .
J. S'l. "J XS .Ut31H . \ : ' ! 'OOI. CO.
1' . O. lIox .a007
Chlcopco rillb.
l\U8H. , U. H. A.