made, if the kyards come his way, well an' good. Silver Phil does
nothin' but garners in results. When the kyards start to show ag'in
him, however, that's different. In sech events Silver Phil draws in
his breath, sort o' takin' in on the hoss-ha'r, an' the copper comes
off the bet. When the turn is made, thar's Silver Phil's bet--by
virchoo of said fraud--open an' triumphant an' waitin' to be paid.

"Cherokee gets posted quick an with a look. As sharp as winkin'
Cherokee has a nine-inch bowie in his hand an' with one slash cuts the
hoss-ha'r clost up by Silver Phil's belt.

"'That's a yoonique invention!" observes Cherokee, an' he's sarcastic
while he menaces with the knife at Silver Phil; 'that contraption is
shorely plenty sagacious! But it don't go here. Shove in your chips.'
Silver Phil obeys: an' he shows furtive, ugly, an' alarmed, an' all of
'em at once. He don't say a word. 'Now pull your freight,' concloods
Cherokee. 'If you ever drifts within ten foot of a game of mine ag'in
I'll throw this knife plumb through you--through an' through.' An'
Cherokee, by way of lustration lets fly the knife across the bar-room.
It comes like a flash.

"'Chuck!'

"Thar's a picture paper pasted onto the wooden wall of the Red Light,
displayin' the liniaments of some party. That bowie pierces the
picture--a shot in the cross it is--an' all with sech fervour that the
p'int of the blade shows a inch an' a half on the other side of that
individyool board.

"'The next time I throws a knife in your presence,' remarks Cherokee to
Silver Phil, an' Cherokee's as cold an' p'isonous as a rattlesnake,
'it'll be la'nched at you.'

"Silver Phil don't say nothin' in retort. He's aware by the lib'ral
way Cherokee sep'rates himse'f from the bowie that said weepon can't
constitoote Cherokee's entire armament. An' as Silver Phil don't pack
the sperit to face no sech flashlight warrior, he acts on Cherokee's
hint to _vamos_, an fades into the street. Shore, Cherokee don't cash
the felon's chips none; he confiscates 'em. Cherokee ain't quite so
tenderly romantic as to make good to a detected robber. Moreover, he
lets this Silver Phil go onharmed when by every roole his skelp is
forfeit. It turns out good for the camp, however, as this yere
experience proves so depressin' to Silver Phil he removes his blankets
to Red Dog. Thar among them purblind tarrapins, its inhabitants, it's
likely he gets prosperous an' ondetected actio