Tex""

wo hours he had been assiduously practicing shuffling, cutting, and dealing. Putting them away he washed h

end to placer mining operations, rubbed elbows with more fortunate men of their own calling, who had longer purses. Two cowpunchers from a distant ranch sat next to two cavalrymen on a prized leave from the iron discipline of a remote frontier post, both typ

he cold-eyed person whose seat in the general store was well back in the corner. No one moved or spoke except under his critical observance. His cocksure confidence irritated Tex, who was strongly tempted to try the effect of a hot potato against a cold eye. He thought of his friend Johnny Nelson and grinned at how that young man's temper would steam up under such an insolent stare. Moving forward under the gunman's close scrutiny Tex dropped into the onl

since th' railroad

th' first trail herd ended

ail herd passed here," said the uncle, his remark the strongest

learing his throat. "I never saw it as dr

, that I did see it near as dry, that year I strayed from th' Santa Fe Trail, huntin' buffalers for th' caravan. We passed right through this section an' circled b

from him, anyhow," growled the nephew, introducing his pet grievance. "I run that station a cus

stin' no railroad," asserted the uncle. "It

r, his fond memory resurrecting a certain lucrative wagon haul wh

me that a rider afoot is a helpless hombre. Bein' a rider, without no cayuse, I'm

watery coffee. He cleared his throat and peered closely, but pleasantly, at the stranger. "Why, it's Mr. Jones," he sa

with it I reckon it'll suit me; but I can tell

ight?" frown

. Speakin' of railroads like we was, I reckon they ain't done nothin' very much for this town. While I'm n

' same way. Money flowed like water, an' fair-sized fortunes was won an' lost at a single sittin'. I've seen th' faro-bank busted three days hand-runnin'--but, of course, that was very unusual. Mostly it was th' other way 'round. All one summer an' fall it was like that. Then th' winter come, an' that was th' end of it so fur's Windsor was concerned. Th' Kiowa Arroyo branch line was pushed further an' further southwest until th' weather stopped it; but it went on ag'in as soon as spring let it. By th' time th' first herds

the hearts of the men who have followed them in the saddle. He looked up at Williams, a congratulatory look on his face. "Well, that shore was

tleman. Th' GW brand is known all over th' state, an' beyond.

cattle than it did by natural increase; or that a view of the original brands on the full-grown cattle would have been a matter of great and burning interest to almost every drive boss who followed a herd along the trail. Later on, when he threw his he

s mean enough and vicious enough as it was; he remember

he said. "Th' whole country, south an' west of th' Missouri is f

art of Kansas," said the ne

ed Tex. "H

ent a frien

nt. He shook his head. "Never saw him before I stepped off th' train today," he answered, looking vexed about something. "We up an' had some w

to turn another man out of a job. If it wasn't for his sister I'd 'a' buffaloed him pronto. Which reminds me, stranger," he warned with an ugly l

n th' time's ripe you'll put yore brand on her. So fur's th' job's concerned, yore uncle'll get it

to address another diner. "John, show Mr. Jones that gray when

but I shore could be in worse places than this here hotel, so I ain't worryi

illiams laughed outright. "I reckon you unders

rn his poker craft against this blowhard's invitation, to wipe from that self-complacent face its look of omniscience. "An' then, sometimes I rec

for I'm sayin' a puncher ain't nowhere near in th' prospector's class when it comes to walkin'; though I reckon th' boys will play you for th' hoss, at that, an' you'd be no better off in th' e

its to lift out of hats, but that trick was threadbare from being overworked, anyhow. He waved both hands, a smart-Aleck grin sweeping across his face. "I've rode cayuses, punched cows, an' played draw from Texas to Montanny, an' near back ag'in. So far I ain't throwed, rolled under, or cleaned out; an' I'm

ong's game--which was as his opponents played, straight or crooked, as they showed the way. He had no real wish for large winnings, for if he made his expenses as he went along he would be satisfied, and he could do that from his knowledge of psychology, a knowledge

to the exclusion of all else, for while he was Tex Jones externally, it would be Tex Ewalt who played the hands, the Tex Ewalt who as a youth had discovered an uncanny ability in sleight of hand and whose freshman and sophomore years had given so much time to developing and perfecting the eye-baffling art that every study had suffered heavily

the game. Before the evening's play was over he had renewed his knowledge of Gus Williams, and now knew him as well as that loud-voiced individual knew himself; and he had not incurred the enmity of the boss, because while Tex

red them and looked at Tex. "You an' me seem to be th' best," he said lo

he said. "It takes a lot out of a man to play ag'in' this crowd. My head's fair achin'. What you say if we let it go till tomo

none of it got inter yore system." He paused to let the words sink in, and for a reply, and none being forthcoming he la

is shoulders. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Bud Ha

different kind of a kick to make tomorrow night, for you'll be eatin' sand. I pl

liams. "He don't feel l

able, reaching for the scattered deck. "Mebby you feel like puttin' up seven hundred dollars ag'in' mine, one cu

his breath. "That's a baby game: I said poker!" he

on the wrathful Williams and the open-mouthed audience, he yawned again, muttered something to express his adieus, and clomped heavily and slowly up