Desert Dust

by Edwin L. Sabin

  CHAPTER V

  ON GRAND TOUR

  The sun had set and all the golden twilight was hazy with the dustsuspended in swirl and strata over the ugly roofs. In the canvas-facedmain street the throng and noise had increased rather than diminished atthe approach of dusk. Although clatter of dishes mingled with the cadence,the people acted as if they had no thought of eating; and while aware ofcertain pangs myself, I felt a diffidence in proposing supper as yet.

  My two companions hesitated a moment, spying up and down, which gave meopportunity to view the scene anew. Surely such an hotch-potch neverbefore populated an American town: Men flannel shirted, high booted,shaggy haired and bearded, stumping along weighted with excess of beltsand formidable revolvers balanced, not infrequently, by sheathedbutcher-knives--men whom I took to be teamsters, miners, railroad graders,and the like; other men white skinned, clean shaven except perhaps formoustaches and goatees, in white silk shirts or ruffled bosoms, broadclothtrousers and trim footgear, unarmed, to all appearance, but evidentlyrespected; men of Eastern garb like myself--tourists, maybe, ormerchants; a squad of surveyors in picturesque neckerchiefs, and revolvergirted; trainmen, grimy engineers and firemen; clerks, as I opined, dapperand bustling, clad in the latest fashion, with diamonds in flashy ties andheavy gold watch chains across their fancy waistcoats; soldiers; men whomI took to be Mexicans, by their velvet jackets, slashed pantaloons andfilagreed hats; darkly weathered, leathery faced, long-haired personages,no doubt scouts and trappers, in fringed buckskins and beaded moccasins;blanket wrapped Indians; and women.

  Of the women a number were unmistakable as to vocation, being lavishlypainted, strident, and bold, and significantly dressed. I saw several inamazing costumes of tightly fitting black like ballet girls, low necked,short skirted, around the smooth waists snake-skin belts supportinghandsome little pistols and dainty poignards. Contrasted there were womenof other class and, I did not doubt, of better repute; some in gowns andbonnets that would do them credit anywhere in New York, and some, ofcourse, more commonly attired in calico and gingham as proper to thehumbler station of laundresses, cooks, and so forth.

  The uproar was a jargon of shouts, hails, music, hammering, barking, scuffof feet, trample of horses and oxen, rumble of creaking wagons and Concordstages.

  "Well, suh," spoke the Colonel, pulling his hat over his eyes, "shall westroll a piece?"

  "Might better," assented Bill. "The gentleman may find something ofinterest right in the open. How are you on the goose, sir?" he demanded ofme.

  "The goose?" I uttered.

  "Yes. Keno."

  "I am a stranger to the goose," said I.

  He grunted.

  "It gives a quick turn for a small stake. So do the three-card androndo."

  Of passageway there was not much choice between the middle of the streetand the borders. Seemed to me as we weaved along through groups of idlersand among busily stepping people that every other shop was a saloon, withdoor widely open and bar and gambling tables well attended. The odor ofliquor saturated the acrid dust. Yet the genuine shops, even of the rudestconstruction, were piled from the front to the rear with commodities ofall kinds, and goods were yet heaped upon the ground in front and behindas if the merchants had no time for unpacking. The incessant hammering, Iascertained, came from amateur carpenters, including mere boys, here andthere engaged as if life depended upon their efforts, in erecting morebuildings from knocked-down sections like cardboard puzzles and fromlumber already cut and numbered.

  My guides nodded right and left with "Hello, Frank," "How are you, Dan?""Evening, Charley," and so on. Occasionally the Colonel swept off hishat, with elaborate deference, to a woman, but I looked in vain for MyLady in Black. I did not see her--nor did I see her peer, despite the factthat now and then I observed a face and figure of apparentattractiveness.

  Above the staccato of conversation and exclamation there arose the appealsof the barkers for the gambling resorts.

  "This way. Shall we see what he's got?" the Colonel invited. Forthwithveering aside he crossed the street in obedience to a summons of whoopsand shouts that set the very dust to vibrating.

  A crowd had gathered before a youth--a perspiring, red-faced youth with abilly-cock hat shoved back upon his bullet head--a youth in galluses andsoiled shirt and belled pantaloons, who, standing upon a box forelevation, was exhorting at the top of his lungs.

  "Whoo-oop! This way, this way! Everybody this way! Come on, yourondo-coolo sports! Give us a bet! A bet! Rondo coolo-oh! Rondo coolo-oh!Here's your easy money! Down with your soap! Let her roll! Rondocoolo-oh!"

  "It's a great game, suh," the Colonel flung back over his shoulder.

  We pushed forward, to the front. The center for the crowd was a table notunlike a small billiard table or, saving the absence of pins, a tivolitable such as enjoyed by children. But across one end there were severalholes, into which balls, ten or a dozen, resembling miniature billiardballs, might roll.

  The balls had been banked, in customary pyramid shape for a break as inpool, at the opposite end; and just as we arrived they had been propelledall forward, scattering, by a short cue rapidly swept across their base.

  "Rondo coolo, suh," the Colonel was explaining, "as you see, is animprovement on the old rondo, foh red-blooded people. You may place yourbets in various ways, on the general run, or the odd or the even; and asthe bank relies, suh, only on percentage, the popular game is strictlysquare. There is no chance foh a brace in rondo coolo. Shall we take aturn, foh luck?"

  The crowd was craning and eyeing the gyrating balls expectantly. A part ofthe balls entered the pockets; the remainder came to rest.

  "Rondo," announced the man with the short cue, amidst excited ejaculationsfrom winners and losers. And according to a system which I failed tograsp, except that it comprised the number of balls pocketed, he deftlydistributed from one collection of checks and coins to another, quicklyabsorbed by greedy hands.

  "She rolls again. Make your bets, ladies and gents," he intoned. "It'srondo coolo--simple rondo coolo." And he reassembled the balls.

  "I prefer not to play, sir," I responded to the heavily breathingColonel. "I am new here and I cannot afford to lose until I am betterestablished."

  "Never yet seen a man who couldn't afford to win, though," Bill growled."Easy pickin', too. But come on, then. We'll give you a straight steersome'rs else."

  So we left the crowd--containing indeed women as well as men--to theirinsensate fervor over a childish game under the stimulation of theraucous, sweating barker. Of gambling devices, in the open of the street,there was no end. My conductors appeared to have the passion, for ourcourse led from one method of hazard to another--roulette, chuck-a-luckwhere the patrons cast dice for prizes of money and valuables arrayed uponnumbered squares of an oilcloth covered board, keno where numbered ballswere decanted one at a time from a bottle-shaped leather receptaclecalled, I learned, the "goose," and the players kept tab by filling inlittle cards as in domestic lotto; and finally we stopped at the simplestapparatus of all.

  "The spiel game for me, gentlemen," said the Colonel. "Here it is. Yes,suh, there's nothing like monte, where any man is privileged to match hiseyes against fingers. Nobody but a blind man can lose at monte, byGeorge!"

  "And this spieler's on the level," Bill pronounced, sotto voce. "I vote wehook him for a gudgeon, and get the price of a meal. Our friend will joinus in the turn. He can see for himself that he can't lose. He's got sharpeyes."

  The bystanders here were stationed before a man sitting at a low tripodtable; and all that he had was the small table--a plain cheap table withfolding legs--and three playing cards. Business was a trifle slack. Ithought that his voice crisped aggressively as we elbowed through, whilehe sat idly skimming the three cards over the table, with a flick of hishand.

  "Two jacks, and the ace, gentlemen. There they are. I have faced them up.Now I gather them slowly--you can't miss them. Observe closely. The jackon top, between thumb and forefinger. The ace next
--ace in the middle. Theother jack bottommost." He turned his hand, with the three cards in atier, so that all might see. "The ace is the winning card. You are tolocate the ace. Observe closely again. It's my hand against your eyes. Iam 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 thethree, spreading them in a neat row, face down, upon the table. Hecarelessly shifted them hither and thither--and his fingers weremarvelously nimble, lightly touching. "Twenty dollars against your twentythat you can't pick out the ace, first try. I'll let the cards lie. Ishan't disturb them. There they are. If you've watched the ace fall, youwin. If you haven't, you lose unless you guess right."

  "Just do that trick again, will you, for the benefit of my friend here?"bade the Colonel.

  The "spieler"--a thin-lipped, cadaverous individual, his soft hatcavalierly aslant, his black hair combed flatly in a curve down upon hisdamp forehead, a pair of sloe eyes, and a flannel shirt open upon his bonychest--glanced alert. He smiled.

  "Hello, sir. I'm agreeable. Yes, sir. But as they lie, will you make aguess? No? Or you, sir?" And he addressed Bill. "No? Then you, sir?" Heappealed to me. "No? But I'm a mind-reader. I can tell by your eyes.They're upon the right-end card. Aha! Correct." He had turned up the cardand 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 youhave, or else you're born lucky. Now I'll try again. For the benefit ofthese three gentlemen I will try again. Kindly reserve your bets, friendsall, and you shall have your chance. This game never stops. I am alwaysafter revenge. Watch the ace. I pick up the cards. Ace first--blessed ace;_and_ the jacks. Watch close. There you are." He briefly exposed the facesof the cards. "Keep your eyes upon the ace. Ready--go!"

  He spread the cards. As he had released he had tilted them slightly, and Iclearly saw the ace land. The cards fell in the same order as arranged. Tothat I would have sworn.

  "Five dollars now that any one card is not the ace," he challenged. "Ishall not touch them. A small bet--just enough to make it interesting.Five dollars from you, sir?" He looked at me direct. I shook my head; Iwas sternly resolved not to be over tempted. "What? No? You will waitanother turn? Very well. How about you, sir?" to the Colonel.

  "I'll go halvers with you, Colonel," Bill proposed.

  "I'm on," agreed the Colonel. "There's the soap. And foh the honor of thegrand old Empire State we will let our friend pick the ace foh us. I havefaith in those eyes of his, suhs."

  "But that is scarcely fair, sir, when I am risking nothing," I protested.

  "Go ahead, suh; go ahead," he urged. "It is just a sporting propositionfoh general entertainment."

  "And I'll bet you a dollar on the side that you don't spot the ace," thedealer baited. "Come now. Make it interesting for yourself."

  "I'll not bet, but since you insist, there's the ace." And I turned up theright-end card.

  "By the Eternal, he's done it! He has an eye like an eagle's," praised thedealer, with evident chagrin. "I lose. Once again, now. Everybody in, thistime." He gathered the cards. "I'll play against you all, this gentlemanincluded. And if I lose, why, that's life, gentleman. Some of us win, someof us lose. Watch the ace and have your money ready. You can follow thisgentleman's tip. I'm afraid he's smarter than me, but I'm game."

  He was too insistent. Somehow, I did not like him, anyway, and I wasbeginning to be suspicious of my company. Their minds trended entirelytoward gambling; to remain with them meant nothing farther than the gamingtables, and I was hungry.

  "You'll have to excuse me, gentleman," I pleaded. "Another time, but notnow. I wish to eat and to bathe, and I have an engagement following."

  "Gad, suh!" The Colonel fixed me with his fishy eyes. "Foh God's sakedon't break your winning streak with eatin' and washin'. Fortune is afickle jade, suh; she's hostile when slapped in the face."

  Bill glowered at me, but I was firm.

  "If you will give me the pleasure of taking supper with me at some goodplace----" I suggested, as they pursued me into the street.

  "We can't talk this over while we're dry," the Colonel objected. "That isa human impossibility. Let us libate, suhs, in order to tackle ourprovender in proper spirit."

  "And no lemonade goes this time, either," Bill declared. "That brand of adrink is insultin' to good victuals."

  We were standing, for the moment, verging upon argument much to mydistaste, when on a sudden who should come tripping along but My Lady ofthe Blue Eyes--yes, the very flesh and action of her, her face shieldedfrom the dust by a little sunshade.

  She saw me, recognized me in startled fashion, and with a swift glance atmy two companions bowed. My hat was off in a twinkling, with my bestmanner; the Colonel barely had time to imitate ere, leaving me a quicksmile, she was gone on.

  He and Bill stared after; then at me.

  "Gad, suh! You know the lady?" the Colonel ejaculated.

  "I have the honor. We were passengers upon the same train."

  "Clean through, you mean?" queried Bill.

  "Yes. We happened to get on together, at Omaha."

  "I congratulate you, suh," affirmed the Colonel. "We were not aware, suh,that you had an acquaintance of that nature in this city."

  Again congratulation over my fortune! It mounted to my head, but Ipreserved decorum.

  "A casual acquaintance. We were merely travelers by the same route at thesame time. And now if you will recommend a good eating place, and be myguests at supper, after that, as I have said, I must be excused. By theway, while I think of it," I carelessly added, "can you direct me how toget to the Big Tent?"

  "The Big Tent? If I am not intruding, suh, does your engagement comprisethe Big Tent?"

  "Yes. But I failed to get the address."

  The Colonel swelled; his fishy eyes hardened upon me as with righteousindignation.

  "Suh, you are too damned innocent. You come here, suh, imposing as astranger, suh, and throwing yourself on our goodness, suh, to entertainyou; and you conceal your irons in the fiah under your hat, suh. Do welook green, suh? What is your vocation, suh? I believe, by gad, suh, thatyou are a common capper foh some infernal skinning game, or that you are aprofessional. Suh, I call your hand."

  I was about to retort hotly that I had not requested their chaperonage,and that my affair with My Lady and the Big Tent, howsoever they mighttake it, was my own; when Mr. Brady, who likewise had been glaring at me,growled morosely.

  "She's waitin' for you. You can square with us later, and if there'ssomething doin' on the table we want a show."

  The black-clad figure had lingered beyond; ostensibly gazing into a windowbut now and again darting a glance in our direction. I accepted theglances as a token of inclination on her part; without saying another wordto my ruffled body-guards I approached her.

  She received me with a quick turn of head as if not expecting, but with aready smile.

  "Well, sir?"

  "Madam," I uttered foolishly, "good-evening."

  "You have left your friends?"

  "Very willingly. Whether they are really my friends I rather question.They have seen fit to escort me about, is all."

  "And I have rescued you?" She smiled again. "Believe me, sir, you would bebetter off alone. I know the gentlemen. They have been paid for theirtrouble, have they not?"

  "They have won a little at gambling, but in that I had no hand," Ireplied. "So far they have asked nothing more."

  "Certainly not. And you put up no stakes?"

  "Not a penny, madam. Why should I?"

  "To make it interesting, as they doubtless said. The Colonel, as all thetown knows, is a notorious capper and steerer, and the fellow Brady is nobetter, no worse. Had you stayed with them and suffered them to persuadeyou into betting, you would soon have been fleeced as clean as a shavedpig. The little gains they are permitted to make, to draw you on, is theirpay. Their losses if any would have been restored to them, but not yoursto you."

 
"Strange to say, they have just accused me of being a 'capper,'" Ianswered, nettled as I began to comprehend.

  "From what cause, sir?"

  "Madam," I Uttered Foolishly, "Good Evening."]

  "They seemed to think that I am smarter than to my actual credit, for onething." I, of course, could not involve her in the subject, and indeedcould not understand why she should have been held responsible, anyway."And probably they were peeved because I insisted upon eating supper andthen following my own bent."

  "You were about to leave them?" Her face brightened. "That is good. Theywere disappointed in finding you no gudgeon to be hooked by such rawmethods. And you've not had supper yet? Promise me that you will take upwith no more strangers or, I assure you, you may wake in the morning withyour pockets turned inside out and your memory at fault. This is Benton."

  "Yes, this is Benton, is it?" I rejoined; and perhaps bitterly.

  "Benton, Wyoming Territory; of three thousand people in two weeks; inanother month, who knows how many? And the majority of us live on oneanother. The country furnishes nothing else. Still, you will find it notmuch different from what I told you."

  "I have found it high and dry, certainly," said I.

  "Where are you stopping?"

  "At the Queen--with a bath for every room. I am now awaiting the turn ofmy room, at the end of another hour."

  "Oh!" She laughed heartily. "You are fortunate, sir. The Queen may not beconsidered the best in all ways, but they say the towels for the baths aremore than napkin size. Meanwhile, let me advise you. Outfit while youwait, and become of the country. You look too much the pilgrim--there isEastern dust showing through our Benton dust, and that spells of other'dust' in your pockets. Get another hat, a flannel shirt, some coarsertrousers, a pair of boots, don a gun and a swagger, say little, make fewimpromptu friends, win and lose without a smile or frown, if you play (butupon playing I will advise you later), pass as a surveyor, as a railroadclerk, as a Mormon--anything they choose to apply to you; and I shall hopeto see you to-night."

  "You shall," I assured, abashed by her raillery. "And if you will kindlytell me----"

  "The meals at the Belle Marie Cafe are as good as any. You can see thesign from here. So adios, sir, and remember." With no mention of the BigTent she flashed a smile at me and mingled with the other pedestrianscrossing the street on diagonal course. As I had not been invited toaccompany her I stood, gratefully digesting her remarks. When I turned fora final word with my two guides, they had vanished.

  This I interpreted as a confession of jealous fear that I had been, inslang phrasing, "put wise." And sooth to say, I saw them again no more.