46 Recreations of a Sportsman 



this a jack-pot for the kid, Bill's kid what 's 

 comin', the first native son of Sierra Vista." 



" Eight you are," caine a voice out of the 

 smoke and gloom ; " and it 's a double eagle to 

 come in." 



The big, dull yellow gold pieces clinked music- 

 ally on the pine-board table, and the game was 

 about to proceed, when a rushing, sliding sound 

 was heard from above, and the door broke in 

 with a crash, allowing a man to roll out on to 

 the floor with a small avalanche of snow. 



" Come in," cried Clancy ; " don't stand on 

 no ceremony." 



The newcomer, after glancing back at the in- 

 cline down which he had shot, deliberately 

 damned it after an approved and original fash- 

 ion, then pulled himself together and stood up. 

 The unexpected visitor was a giant, and as he 

 strode up to the table something in the big, red 

 face and wonderful, yellow eyes arrested every 

 player's attention, while Clancy exclaimed, 

 "What's the matter, Alec?" 



" The kid 's come," answered the newcomer, 

 making a gesture to stop the cheers, the arrival 

 of a baby was a great event in Sierra Vista, 

 " but the woman 's dying." 



" The hell you say ! " exclaimed Clancy. 



Some of the men standing in the gloom took 

 off their hats, not knowing exactly why they 

 did so. 



