The Riverman

The rest drifted away full of good intentions, but did not show up again. Orde himself was busy up to the last moment, but finally

or trouble?" he gree

ater Street, their steel caulks bit

l mills, and factories. Then came a strip of unimproved land, followe

n, Ludington, had their "Pens," "White Rows," "River Streets," "Kilyubbin," and so forth. They supported row upon row of saloons, alike stuffy an

o or three hundred dollars to "blow" as soon as possible. The pickings were good. Men got rich very quickly at this business. And there existed this great advantage in favour of the dive-keeper: nobody cared what happened to a riverman. You could pound him over the head with a lead pipe, or drug his drink, or choke him to insensibility, or rob him and throw him out into t

as nails and as strong as a horse; the continual demand on his agility in riding the logs kept him active and prevented him from becoming muscle-bound; in his wild heart was

quences--to himself or others--of anything he did,

en and women, the shuffle of feet, the noise of fighting, the shrieks of wild laughter, curses deep and frank and unashamed, songs broken and interrupted. Crews of men, arms locked, would surge up and down the narrow sidewalks, their little felt hats cocked one side, their heads back, their fearless eyes challenging the devil and all his works--and getting the challenge accepted. Girls would flit across the lit windows like shadows before flames, or stand in the doorways hailing the men jovially by name. And every few moments, above the roar of this wild inferno, would s

than a hilarious mood. Old friends of the two drives were getting together for a friendly glass. The barkeepers were listlessly wiping the bars. The "pretty

iably, "glad to see you back.

nk would mean a dozen paid for. But t

. "Them's no river-jacks! Them'

ured and generally effe

ther turn to the right brought him into a very narrow street. Facing this street stood a three-story wooden

reet, a figure detached itself from the shado

Newmark?"

young man. "I want t

ome of these thugs haven't held you up long ago! I'll

mark, "I want to

lained Orde. "You're

if you can," r

ly. "However, it's your fune

he riverman and the shanty boy generally graduated penniless, and perhaps unconscious, to the street. Now, your lumber-jack did not customarily arrive at this stage without more or less lively doings en route; therefore McNeill's maintained a force of fighters. They were burly, sodden men, in striking contrast to the clean-cut, clear-eyed rivermen, but strong in their experie

with a great deal of noisy card-slapping that proclaimed the game merely friendly. Eight or ten other men wandered about idly, chaffing loudly with the girls, pausi

the rest, a wide, good-

ted the roulette man, tossing down a bill. "Dropped agai

on to the

es, pardner," he said. "

-card monte men. The rest of his party, who had according to instructions

lay-out is this?

d up the three

eye have you go

now. A pretty

t the jack when I throw them ou

She's t

ence of disgust, "damn if you didn't! I b

lied Orde. "Put

permitted to

got here," claimed the dealer admiringly. "Here, Dennis,"

lost. By this time the men, augmented by the idl

em, bub," en

t Orde might be led to plunge, or whether, more simply, they were using him as a capper to draw the crowd i

cked him at

uttered. "Quit it! I never saw anyb

ing excitement, while an HABITUE of the place, probably

ed this man. "Keep out of what

his game, anyway?" Orde lea

lers spoke s

you want to b

or five hundred do

of the nearest player. A moment later the chairs at the two tables scraped back. One of them fell violently to the floor. Their occupants joined the tense group about the monte game. All the girls drew near. Only

eyes running over the group before him. A small door i

money?"

?" counte

atisfied, th

f I lose," said he.

in the group of men standing about had realised quite how much money f

the gambler, tak

ied Orde. "Wh

ssured him. "I'm with the house. I gues

I'm putting up my good money, and I exp

amblers yielded. A canvass of the drawer, helped out by the bar and the other game

still held their positions. Of these, the rivermen were scattered loosely back of Orde, although Orde's own friends had by now gathered compactly enough at his shoulder. The mercenaries and gamblers had divided, and flanked the table at either side. Newmark, a growing wonder and

nquired the ga

" replied Orde wi

e his passes. With equal coolness and not the slightest hesi

e announced, looking

he dealer. "Well, turn

e. "YOU TURN OVE

e up his mind that an open scandal must be avoided. Force and broken bones, even murder, might be all right enough under colour of right. If Orde had turned up for a jack the card on which he now held his fist, and then had attempted to prove cheating, a cry of robbery and a livel

s game is played," said

ard the bet." He reached over and dexterously flipped over the othe

nted the gamble

pocketing the stakes with the other hand. Th

e other car

outstretched, as though he were going to turn also this one face up. Then, quite deliberately he looked to

ver the unexpected trick; the employees of the resort whispered apart; the gambler expl

e bar!" ye

eir drinks. Orde poured his on the floor and

r, Tim," said he. "No knock-

nd some one orde

e'll pull out. I've a thousand dollars on me, and they'll s

tood safely on the lighted t

Orde. "Go easy, and sho

oward the main part of th

st of the evening I've been thinking you the worst fool I ever saw, but you can take care of yourse