Desert Dust

RAND

street the throng and noise had increased rather than diminished at the approach of dusk. Although clatter of dishes mingled with the cadence

s, and the like; other men white skinned, clean shaven except perhaps for moustaches and goatees, in white silk shirts or ruffled bosoms, broadcloth trousers and trim footgear, unarmed, to all appearance, but evidently respected; men of Eastern garb like myself-tourists, maybe, 73 or merchants; a squad of surveyors in picturesque neckerchiefs, and revolver girted; trainmen, grimy engineers and firemen; clerks, as I

w necked, short skirted, around the smooth waists snake-skin belts supporting handsome little pistols and dainty poignards. Contrasted there were women of other class and, I did not doubt, of better repute;

mering, barking, scuff of feet, trample of horses an

, pulling his hat over his eye

y find something of interest right in the open.

ose?" I

. Ke

ger to the go

gru

or a small stake. So do

ed. The odor of liquor saturated the acrid dust. Yet the genuine shops, even of the rudest construction, were piled from the front to the rear with commodities of all kinds, and goods were yet heaped upon the ground in front and behind as if the merchants had no time for unpac

Colonel swept off 75 his hat, with elaborate deference, to a woman, but I looked in vain for My Lady in Black. I did not

exclamation there arose the appeals o

rthwith veering aside he crossed the street in obedience to a s

t shoved back upon his bullet head-a youth in galluses and soiled shirt and belled pan

oolo sports! Give us a bet! A bet! Rondo coolo-oh! Rondo coolo-oh! Here

h," the Colonel flung

or, saving the absence of pins, a tivoli table such as enjoyed by children. But across one end there w

pool, at the opposite end; and just as we arrived they had been propelle

u may place your bets in various ways, on the general run, or the odd or the even; and as the bank relies, suh, only on per

g balls expectantly. A part of the balls ent

according to a system which I failed to grasp, except that it comprised the number of balls pocketed, he

gents," he intoned. "It's rondo coolo-simpl

avily 77 breathing Colonel. "I am new here and I c

ough," Bill growled. "Easy pickin', too. But come on

ppeared to have the passion, for our course led from one method of hazard to another-roulette, chuck-a-luck where the patrons cast dice for prizes of money and valuables arrayed upon numbered squares of an oilcloth covered board, keno where nu

uh, there's nothing like monte, where any man is privileged to match his

ok him for a gudgeon, and get the price of a meal. Our friend will join us in

plain cheap table with folding legs-and three playing cards. Business was a trifle slack. I thought that his voice crispe

e is the winning card. You are to locate the ace. Observe closely again. It's my hand against your eyes. I am going to throw. Who will spot the ace? Watch, everybody. Ready! Go!" The backs of the cards were up. With a swift movement he released the three, spreading them in a neat row, face down, upon the table. He carelessly

l you, for the benefit of my f

t, his black hair combed flatly in a curve down upon his damp forehead, a pair of

d and shown the ace. "You should have bet. You would have beaten me, sir. You've got the eyes. I think you've seen this game before. No? Ah, but you have, or else you're born lucky. Now I'll try again. For the benefit of these three gentlemen I will try again. Kindly reserve your bet

slightly, and I clearly saw the ace land. The cards fell in

gh to make it interesting. Five dollars from you, sir?" He looked at me direct. I shook my head; I was sternly res

with you, Colonel

honor of the grand old Empire State we will let our friend

ir, sir, when I am riski

ed. "It is just a sporting propos

you don't spot the ace," the dealer baited.

nsist, there's the ace." And I

his time." He gathered the cards. "I'll play against you all, this gentleman included. And if I lose, why, that's life, gentleman. Some of us win,

o be suspicious of my company. Their minds trended entirely toward gambling; to

d. "Another time, but not now. I wish to eat an

ake don't break your winning streak with eatin' and washin'. Fortu

d at me, but

supper with me at some good place--" I sug

bjected. "That is a human impossibility. Let us libate,

er," Bill declared. "That brand of a

n a sudden who should come tripping along but My Lady of the Blue 82 Eyes-yes, the

o companions bowed. My hat was off in a twinkling, with my best manner; the Col

stared after

w the lady?" the C

We were passengers

h, you mean?"

d to get on toge

nel. "We were not aware, suh, that you had a

fortune! It mounted to my h

recommend a good eating place, and be my guests at supper, after that, as I have said, I must be excuse

ruding, suh, does your engagem

ailed to get

shy eyes hardened upon me a

ntertain you; and you conceal your irons in the fiah under your hat, suh. Do we look green, suh? What is your vocation, suh? I belie

at my affair with My Lady and the Big Tent, howsoever they might take it, was

with us later, and if there's somethi

again darting a glance in our direction. I accepted the glances as a token of inclinati

turn of head as if not expe

l, s

ed foolishly, "g

left you

y my friends I rather question. They ha

sir, you would be better off alone. I know the gentleme

ut in that I had no hand," I replied.

. And you put

y, madam. W

tter, no worse. Had you stayed with them and suffered them to persuade you into betting, you would soon have been fleeced as clean as a shaved pig. T

sed me of being a 'capper,'" I answe

hat cau