In the darkness I struck your cabin, and I reckon--I
struck somebody else! At first I thought it was one of you chaps down on
your knees praying at the rear of the cabin, but the way the fellow lit
out when he smelt me coming made me think it wasn't entirely fasting and
prayer. However, I went to the rear of the cabin, and then I reckoned
some kind friend had been bringing you kindlings and firewood for your
early breakfast. But that didn't satisfy me, so I knelt down as he had
knelt, and then I saw--well, Mr. Demorest, I reckon I saw JUST WHAT YOU
HAVE SEEN! But even then I wasn't quite satisfied, for that man had been
grubbing round as if searching for something. So I searched too--and I
found IT. I've got it here. I'm going to give it to you, for it may some
day come in handy, and you won't find anything like it among the folks
where you're going. It's something unique, as those fine-art-collecting
sharps in 'Frisco say--something quite matchless, unless you try to
match it one day yourself! Don't open the paper until I run on and say
'So long' to your partners. Good-by."
He grasped Demorest's hand and then dropped the little packet into his
palm, and ambled away towards Stacy and Barker. Holding the packet in
his hand with an amused yet puzzled smile, Demorest watched the gambler
give Stacy's hand a hearty farewell shake and a supplementary slap on
the back to the delighted Barker, and then vanish in a flash of red
sash and silver buttons.
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