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Show THE SOUTH CACHE CITIZEN, HYRUM, UTAH f? Ugly FAY GRAVEL Copyright by TTie Bobba-Merrf- fl Co. "EASY" In the late SYNOPSIS. sum- mer of 1816. Peter Dinsdale, on his way to the Black s, hills to of join the throng makes the acquaintance of the Deadwood gambling keeper of a Juan Joe. who is rehouse, San Deadwood. On their turning to canyon Dinsway through Redmeet a young dale and Joe of woman running from a party on takes her Indians Dinsdale two men ride his horse and the killing through her pursuers, Carl, several. The girl is Lottie Near no relatives. has and she Deadwood they overtake a prosas old pector whom Joe hails At Deadwood "Iron Pyrites. in the City San Juan Joe, popular enthusicommunity, is given an extended astic welcome, which is tells Joe to Dinsdale. Dinsdale of the robbery of a Union Pacific train at Ogalala, and theJoegambler takes informs the crowd. Dinsdale and Lottie to the house town, Kitty the of of a woman Joes mistress, the Schemer, intended where the gambler had Dinsdale reto install Lottie. fuses to allow it, taking Lottie to a house where she will be Dinsdale saves an safeguarded. gold-seeker- d individual, apparently known as Scissors, from mistreatment at the hands of a "bad man, Bandy Allen, who vows vengeance on Dinsdale. Scissors nickname is derived from his and ability to cut, with paper scissors, remarkable likenesses or anything that of persons, strikes his fancy. Dinsdale takes to him. Iron Pyrites arrives in San Juan Joe hints to town. Dinsdale that the town is sizing r, or him up as a road-ageand advises him to go with Pyrites on a prospecting trip. He also hints of coming profitable work in which he can interest Dinsdale. At a midnight plans are meeting of made to rob one of the treasure-coache- s. Dinsdale acquires a reputation as a reckless spender and an expert gunman. San Juan Joe, believing Dinsdale to be a r, warns him of the Union coming of Jim Omaha, Pacific detective, and again ada to take him vises prospecting trip with Pyrites. Dinsdale apDinsdale kills pears reluctant. Allen. He then takes to the hills with Pyrites. While prospecting, Dinsdale blunders onto a large log cabin, deserted, but evidently recently occupied. In a cellar Dinsdale finds a store of jewelry, gold dust and nuggets, obviously the proceeds of robberies. A man enters the cabin. Dinsdale knocks He makes his him senseless. way back to Pyrites. half-witte- nt road-agen- train-robbe- ts train-robbe- CHAPTER VII Continued. 'Still youve tried hundreds of times to make a flush. If we dont find that gold in the old shaft then some ones been ahead of us. Im too sleepy to argue, yawned Dinsdale. The hotel did an excellent business In catering to those passing north and south over the stage road. Another place of varied entertainment was Calvins eating-housThe proprietor bought gold. Next to the eating-hous- e was a gambling-hall- . This, also, was owned by Calvin. The homeless man finds the easiest way to satisfy his insatiate desire for excitement is to bet on a card or a rolling ball. Calvin further stimulated such craving by providing a pretty French girl to deal Twenty-one- . There was Chippewa blood somewhere In her ancestry, but she was vivacious, musical of voice and possessed an undeniably pretty face. The report that Calvin was soon to lose her and that Deadwood City was to acquire her graceful presence brought men in from the outlying diggings to make a wager before she went away. Her favor with the miners was due largely to her rule that none of the gambling fraternity 'could The game was play at Twenty-one- . for the miner and tenderfoot exclusively. She was uncanny in her ability to detect a professional. Let him masquerade as miner or teamster or business ma'n and, after one glance from her cool, dark eyes, the delighted spectators would hear her musical voice saying: Hsieu Is mistake. Take up ze gold. This ees not for ze gambling man. sil M'sieurs, attendez-vous- , vous plait. Make ze game. And the favored victims would bundle the intruder aside and with additional stakes prove their loyalty to a game that frowned on the professional. One man aroused the curiosity of the girl. He kept aloof, yet watched the game. His figure was erect and graceful and the gay tie hinted at dandyism, but it was the white cloth around his head and covering some hurt that held the girls interest. As there was no doubt that the fellow had been drinking it was also possible, she feared, he would create a disturb anee. It was his propensity for song which led to the conclusion. ' When drunk, men sang in Rapid City just as they did in Deadwood, just as they sang in the days of the first drink, But to walk alone in the street In the sunshine and sing, albeit the voice was a rich tenor, proved the fellow was fair befuddled. He did not seek acquaintance with any of the habitues of the place, and none knew whence he came, whether from north or south, by stage, horseback or on foot. Three times had he sung before the noon hour and, next to the girl. Scissors the picture-ma- n displayed the most interest in him. Scissors was well known in Rapid City although this was but his second visit there. Scissors stood behind the Twenty-on- e table and made an outline of the fair dealer and timidly placed it beside her hand. She pushed a chip toward him, but be refused, murmuring: Let me give it. It pleases me. I can always get dust from the men. To prove his assertion he walked over to the stranger and began: Its a feift. Always could do it. Preserve your likeness in paper, the only man in the world who can do it. Can make your likeness as exact as any artist can draw it. Do it all in outline, profile preferred. Im wakan A mystery man. Wakan-tankvvitshasha. the big sun mystery, smiles on me and gives me my medicine. Bee. Pyrites eyed him shrewdly and hazarded : I reckon your conscience wouldnt trouble you a heap if there was enough money in a game. Not a bit, promptly admitted Dinsdale. Gamblers cheat and its all right if they dont get caught. The main thing is don't get caught. Lots of men are honest because theyre hfraid theyll get caught if they go crooked. Pyrites chuckled at this line of cynical philosophy and agreed. "Lots of truth in your talk. But It happens that gold is what Im keen I about. Im more interested in tracing z to the mother-vei- n than Pd be in the best herd of hosses ever run off. A hoss thief would ride hold ! over a crack that held the He began whirling the paper and price of a hundred hosses. Id turn mahipulating the scissors. The strangthe hosses loose and dig down into er watched him closely, alert and "that crack-S- au did not halt by the door, but swung down tlie room and darted a lively glance at the girl. He halted and abruptly pushed his way to her table and thrust his hand In his pocket for some money or dust. No, no, M'sieu. Not here. Ze game ees not for you." He slowly drew forth his hand and swung his gaze about as If searching for some one who might be smiling over his repulse. More to spare the dealer a scene than from fear of the stranger the men continued grave of face. With a shrug of his shoulders the man passed on to the monte table, looked on sardonically for a minute, then bruskly asked?: Whats the limit? Fifty dollars," answered the dealer without bothering to glance up. How much behind your bank? Two thousand dollars. Now the dealer deigned to look up. Bet you two thousand dollars the next card is red. 'The dealer dropped the pack before him and rapidly darted his appraising gaze over tlie challenger. Head hurt, partly intoxicated; yet drunken men and fools are proverbial for luck. This is a monte bank. I know. B(H you two thousand the next card is red." Probably is. Probably you got a glimpse of it," .sneered the dealer. Leave the deck as It Is. Let any one here cut the cards. Bet you two thousand he cuts a red card. "All right. Youre on. The bank pays you two thousand if you call the right color." Red is my color. Shuffle them up, but dont bend any of them. Go ahead. Tlie dealer ran the cards together a few times and squared them up and left them on the table. Any one in particular youd like to make the cut? asked the dealer. Tlie stranger bent down to satisfy himself the dealer was not forcing a cut by bending the cards, then straightened and glanced about until his gaze rested on Scissors. Motioning him to approach he caught him by the shoulder and pushed him forward and directed : Cut the deck, Paper Dolls. You're big medicine, you know. Cut a red card. Scissors stared stupidly as if not unThe stranger repeated derstanding. his command, now speaking sharply. Scissors timidly advanced a hand and seized the cards. The dealer bowed his head to catch an early glimpse of the color and drew a deep breath and held it. Scissors cut deep and held out his hand. He had cut the ten of hearts. The dealer rose and from a drawer In the table counted out two thousand dollars in dust and currency and motioned for the winner to use the scales. The stranger finished counting the money and then weighed the bags of dust in his brown hands. They heft like they are enough, Game closed? he said. Closed until I get another stake," said the dealer, placing the meager residue of cash and dust in a bag to a, float-quart- slam-ban- g Juan Joe would quit the best pay gravel in these hills just to draw a busted flush. But how we talk! I wish we could take time to ork up toward the Box Elder. Those Wgh bars and narrow flats are just loaded with gold. 'But I know I can find something thats bettern anything Ive struck I never failed to do it in other diggings. Now theres silver! Theres Bear butte. Judas! but theres a y et. country for you. If Crook would ever with the soldiers so we could sot up there Id show you some silver Indications that would bulge your eyes, dnjuns say thats where their thunder god lands when he drops down to icarth for a little visit. They reckon tlie ghosts of all dead Injuns are taken there to look at the rainbow stones and pretty shells and other rubbish before going to live in the real come ghost land. A gentle snore Informed him that Dinsdale was asleep and had missed niuch of his talk. Shaking the of- fenders shoulder he advised: If you cant keep awake when a man s telling you how to find a fortune youd better crawl Into a tent. City boasted Itself to be the Denver of the Black hills, ' but as jet played second fiddle to Deadwood, although Its location made it the logical distributing center for the southern section of the gold country. "Keep your hands away from that I'll he sharply commanded. deck, take that bet, but some one besides you must turn the deck over. Pick whoever you please In this room. D n youl" softly murmured the dealer. advanced toward them, Pyrites shouting in a raucous voice: By Hugh Pendexter His eyes widened as he puzzled. glimpsed the growing outline. When it was completed and extended between the points of the scissors the pietureman said : Four bits. Its dirt cheap. The stranger stared at the cut-ofigure in amazement. He noted that not only was the characteristic pose cunningly caught but that even the bandage about his head was indicated. With an inarticulate sound he snatched the paper and tore it to bits. Scissors lips opened to make a protest at such wanton destruction of art, but before he could speak the man was thrusting a dollar into his hand and was commanding: Clear out ! That silly stuff doesnt interest me. Then as he realized how deeply the table was group at the Twenty-on- e interested in the scene he added: Youre spoiling my luck. Now I dare bet must have a drink before on a card. He did not patronize the short bar at the end of the hall but strode into the street and made for And as he walked the eating-houshe obeyed his musical impulse and began singing in a rich, rollicking e. voice : T used to love a gr&l there; they called her Sally Black. I asked her for to marry me, she said it was a whack. But, says she to me; Joe Bowers, before we hitch for lf e You ought to have a little home to keep your little wife. It was generally believed along Rapid creek that once the Scissors watched the man enter the supremacy the Sioux was broken there would eating-housand then wandered aimbe a general exodus froiq Deadwood lessly about the room In , search of Gulch, and that the city below the customers. After hnlf an hour the InK canyon would benefit thereby. stranger returned, and this time he e, Tick your man! snapped Dinsdale. 'Til ask the young lady to turn the back. Pardon, Msieu, but eet ees not for a gambling man. Take your money." But I am not a gambling man, protested Dinsdale. You have ze gambling look, Msieu. Pardon, if j mistake. Ze monte bank will be running ver1 soon. The stranger laughed boisterously and in response to Dinsdale's questioning glance announced: The young lady sees the same brand on the two of us, mister. And Ive just tapped the monte bank. Im banker and dealer. House limit is fifty. That doesnt interest me. And monte is a slow game." Banker and dealer, both, eh? mused Dinsdale, smiling pleasantly. And whats your idea of a good game? The stranger estimated Dinsdale rather shrewdly, and with a drop of the lids glanced at the two big belt-guns. Color of the card. Five hundred guess." Get to your table. Ill help you pass the time, said Dinsdale. La la! Oh, no! Msieu is not ze gambling man! trilled the Twenty-on- e dealer. a Pyrites at the bar was taking his second drink and talking volubly to the patient bartender. A new deck was brought to tlie monte table and thoroughly shuffled. How did you tap the bank?" carelessly asked Dinsdale as he felt for his money. Bet two thousand a card would be red. Short and sweet. Red ought to be some lucky, mused Dinsdale, producing a stack of greenbacks. Theres five hundred. Give them a cut, please. I call red. Black came up. The stranger smiled and remarked: When Im in luck it sticks clear through. Some paper money youre toting. You ought to be the greenback man Ive been hearing so much about. Deal a card! Red, called Dinsdale. , Black came up. I dont ' think The dealer said, youve got enough of the green to last till all these dark cards run out. But of course the deal ends when either color is exhausted." That wasnt specified, but let it go Red." Red came up a diamond. Dinsdale swept In the money and asked: "How did you hurt your head? Think I'm a newspaper? queried the dealer, smiling frostily. Were playing at gambling. Red. A club showed. Pyrites was showing the effect of his hurried drinks and was now leaning his back against the bar, glass in hand, and beaming joyously on the monte table. Impartially taking tlie whole room into his confidence he boasted of his discoveries and reached the glass over his shoulder to be refilled. While he talked two dark and two red cards showed. Red! barked Dinsdale. He won. Red! Im even, Again he won. he said as the dealer waited for him to name the color. And quitting? sneered the dealer. Dinsdale shook his head. Its slow. It tires me. Two thousand on a single card. What say? The other stared up into the steady eyes for a fraction of a minute, then shrugged his shoulders and lightly said : All in a lifetime. Ill go you. ne counted out two thousand dollars in greenbacks. With a dry laugh Dinsdale observed : They'll be calling you the greenback man next. But Ill be mighty Never could get glad to get them. enough greenbacks. Tlie stranger took the deck in his left hand, poised thumb .and finger ready to deal a card. Dinsdale quietI couldnt help ly Informed him: seeing the bottom card. Im sticking they reminded Dinsdale of the yellow orbs of Sitting Bull, owl, and for a moment he seemed to hesitate. Then he slowly turned the top card. It was the ace of diamonds. With his left hand Dinsdale pulled in tlie money, his gaze never quitting the set face .across the table. Pyrites, growing noisy at the bar, alone broke the breathless silence of the room. Leaning back and clasping his hands before him the dealer said: I dont mind your winning. Id rather win, but it doesnt give me heart trouble to lose. But I do mind your telling me you know the bottom card. I thought it right I should fell you, serenely returned Dinsdale, now standing erect, the money still clutched In his left hand, his right hand hovering over a gun. It was the same as saying I was thinking of dealing the bottom card, continued the dealer, speaking very Now just to prove what kind slowly. of a bluffer you are Til bet fifteen hundred, about my whole pile, that you cant name the bottom card." te Not Here. Ze Game Ees Not for You. You tapped the bank take with him. to the limit. Its yours to run if you wish it till I can get another stake. Maybe Ill wait till you get another stake and then tap the bank again. r Straight monte, with limit, warned the dealer as he turned to go. Tlie stranger walked with him to the door and broke into Joe Borers from He sang only two lines, his Pike. attention being attracted by two 'men He approaching from the eating-housstepped back inside the hall and in a minute Pyrites and Dinsdale entered. Dinsdale gave him a quick look and observed tlie bandaged head, and table. walked down to the Twenty-on- e Pyrites, never given to gambling, hurried to the short bar at the end of the room, proclaiming his desire for strong drink. Dinsdale watched the girl from lids for a minute beneath fifty-dolln- half-lowere- d t deck over, called out the dealer a loud voice. two and then threw down a green- to red. And his hand fell to his side. The strangers eyes dilated until No, No, Msieu. had ttaroo sons. Thera was an old woman, Joshua, James and John. ar CHAPTER VHl lines drew Dinsdale's face Into a snarL In Josh was hung and James was drowned. And John was lost and never was found. howled Pyrites. Excuse, coldly refused the French girl. Here you. Paper Dolls! Turn this after this limn has named the card, hoarsely called the dealer to Scissors. deck over And that was the end of the three eons, Joshua. James and John. Scissors timidly sidled to the table, his eyes blinking 'nervously. The bottom card is the seven of spades," spoke up Dinsdale. Taking great care not to touch the cards with his hands Scissors inserted the points of his scissors under the deck and tipped the pack over. Dinsdale had nnmed it correctly. The stranger pushed back his chair and said: If you had offered me ten thousand, or a million to name it, I couldnt have done it. There was an old woman, Joshua, James and John, The Trap at Mato Tipi. Dinsdale was very curious for the latest news from Deadwood City, but Scissors galloped ahead until they were clear of the town and defeated all attempts at conversation. When slackened his pace it the picture-ma- n was to ask: You are still carrying considerable money with you? hundred more About thirty-fiv- e than I had when I left Deadwood. Took that much from the fellow with the busted head. Im remembering that I owe you a prize for tipping the deck. I wasnt thinking of that. I knew youd treat me all right. Any one could have tipped the deck, but a wakan witshasha is better than a common man, gravely said Scissors. I've learned things from being around gambling places. Only a road agent, or a gambler would bet so much money on one card like that man did. I bet like he did, reminded Dinsdale, his eyes glinting. Youre no road agent, promptly You havent any declared Scissors. partners up here. You may be a train robber. Its no business of mine If youre one or the other. But that man bnck there worries me. He's no gambler or I'd have seen him In Dead-wooA man willing to bet as he did d. had three eons. roared Pyrites, slapping a hand on the dealers shoulder and waving a hand at Dinsdale. The ferocity slowly left the strangWith a reckless laugh he lifted his head and commenced singing: ers face. I used to love a gal there, and they called her Sally Black. Hangtown and Spanish Dry DigFall of fifty-one- ! rejoiced But you aint old enough Pyrites. to have been out there at that singgings. ing. But a certain old man is, who still sings those songs and taught them to me, said the stranger. Springing to his feet he said to Dinsdale, Youve cleaned me out. Is there any fighting blood between us? If so, we can step outside." Shame for two young fellows to Let spill blood, protested Pyrites. every one be happy. Dinsdale voted for peace by saying: Dont take my talk too seriously. Youre a stranger to me. I was only doing what you probably would have done. If tlie house will join me? The house advanced as a man. Im called Pete Dinsdale by those who know me the longest, he continued as he and the stranger followed the crowd to the bar. Those who know me the least call me 'greenback man. My Black hills handle Is Easy. Easy come, easy go, you know. Im Id have glad we dont street-fighto kill you then. Im a whale with a gun." So am I, heartily retorted Dinsdale. I never met up with as good a gun fighter as I am. Lucky both of us prefer whisky. One or both would sure be killed. If youre broke Ill stake you. Thanks. Im nearly broke, but not enough so to take from the man who won from me. When we meet again Im coining after your hide. I dont want any favors standing between us. Wherell I find you when I get ret. lined? Deadwood City. San Juan Joes Come heavy loaded. Their glasses traveled to them over the heads of the first comers. While he was drinking Dinsdale was conscious of someone tugging his arm. turned impatiently and looked down Into Scissors innocuous face. "No pictures now, old man, lie curtBut Im remembering you ly said. did me a favor. I owe you a rich stake. Ill settle later. San Juan said to give it to you the first time I caught you alone. Guess you wont ever be alone, and Ive been waiting here away from my business for two days, whispered place. Scissors. All right. Hand over. Its in your With right-han- d pocket. that Scissors backed away. Taking advantage of the boisterous merriment Dinsdale fell back a few steps and pulled a paper from his coat pocket. He opened it and read : Everything o. k. Come back with Scissors. Job ready very soon. S. J. J. Dinsdale got Pyrites by the collar and dragged him to one side. Are you too drunk to understand plain English? he asked. e Im sober enough to locate within rod of here fifty diggings blindfolded, proudly assured the prospector. Dinsdale growled in disgust, See hqre. Try to remember this when you wake up tomorrow morning. Im off for Deadwood City. Word from San Juan Joe. Z make you a present of the Lay off that whisky." I hate to have you go! Lord! Stay till tomorrow and we boys will have some fun tonight. That new cuss knows the same old songs that two-ounc- grub-stak- I e. do There was an old woman, Drop it! Listen to had three aona me carefully. Keep your mouth shut. The Sober up. man who calls himself Easy Isnt as easy as he pretends. Im positive hes the man I cracked over the head with my gun barrel up on the divide." Dincdale Counted Six. wouldnt hang around Rapid City, drinking Calvins whisky and singing his foolish songs. Not being a gambler, nor a miner, he must be an agent. As robbing folks is bis business he wont knuckle down to losing so much money, nor letting you get away with what was your own. If I was a card-ma- n Id bet we'll be held up inside the next ten miles. Dinsdale was frankly concerned, although lie tapped his guns and grimly declared : Let them come. You just lay low and when they heave in sight leave it to ine to receive them. My old owl would know better than to make such talk. Hed know the agents would never give you a chance to pull a gun. The man with the sore head will tell his mates and he has men within call that itll be dangerous to give you a show. Were fools to be following this road to be overtaken. Dinsdale glanced over the winding back trail, then said: Im not a fool even if I do wear two belt-gunWell swing one side if you think best. I have quite a lot of money on me in greenbacks and a decent pot of gold. Whats more, San Juan Joe is in a hurry to see me on a business deal. I can run just as smart as I can fight. Good! Now you make a medicine talk ! cried Scissors ; and within the next quarter of a mile they turned down a narrow gorge that ran east. They followed this for less than two miles and then swung back until they were moving parallel to tlie stage road and separated from it by a long ridge. Pointing to the ridge Scissors announced : From the top of that one can look down on the stage road. If we had time to spare we could get up there and see if the soreheaded man and his friends are after us. Well take time. I'd like to be sure if thats Mr. Easy's game, declared Dinsdale. Scissors turned In toward the ridge and galloped to a clump of spruce and secured his horse. Dinsdale did likewise. As they neared the crest Scissors directed : Take off your hat and play Indian. Just below us the road narrows. Stage drivers call it the bottle. Maybe Sorehead hasnt had time to fetch his friends along. Maybe theyre taking it comfortable and planning to jump us after weve camped. Well see. They cautiously lifted tlielr heads and pulled aside the grass. They watched for a minute and then beheld some objects rapidly advancing into the middle distance. They were horsemen and riding furiously. Dinsdale counted six. From their elevated position it was impossible to distinguish one from another except the man who rode next to the leader. He wore something white about his head. Dinsdale is now in for a series of adventures with Scissors. Whats your idea of this Scissors? (TO BB CONTINUED.! |