Read Online The Gentleman Outlaw and Me-Eli by Mary Downing Hahn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mary Downing Hahn
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well dressed, and dangerous. If he were to step off the train in Tinville, someone would run for the sheriff straightaway.
I felt as edgy as a dog in a thunderstorm, but if Calvin was rattled, he didn't show it. Without hesitating, he went into his routine of fast shuffling.
The gentleman's sharp eyes followed every move those hands made, but Calvin kept his patter going and then stood back to let the gentleman try his luck.
The gentleman studied the cards intently. Sunlight sparkled on the golden eagle he'd laid on the box. It was so quiet I thought I heard the fleas on Caesar's back hopping from one spot to another.
Finally the gentleman leaned over the crate and
picked a card. Quick as a wink, he held up the ace of hearts. Everyone in the audience gave a huge sigh of relief to see my good fortune.
Except me. I knew full well there was no ace among those three cards. It was up Calvin's sleeve. When the gentleman leaned over the crate, he must have slipped an ace out of his own sleeve.
It seemed Calvin had met his equal in tricks, maybe even his better. From the look on his face, the Gentleman Outlaw was no doubt thinking the same thing.
Taking a matching gold piece from Calvin, the gentleman turned to me with a smile and handed me the two coins. "Put these someplace safe," he said, eyeing Calvin. "The money's yours and yours alone, boy."
"Thank you, sir." I dropped the gold eagles into my overalls pocket, gazing into the gentleman's dark eyes all the while. It was a little like matching stares with a deadly snake.
Although I expected him to denounce Calvin as a fraud, he didn't utter a word. He simply stood there watching the Gentleman Outlaw begin his spiel again. Calvin's forehead was beaded with perspiration, but his fingers were as quick as ever and his voice didn't shake.
I admired his nerve. Doc Holliday himself couldn't have been more composed under pressure than Calvin Featherbone.
After a while, I remembered I was supposed to lie low till it was time to board the train late at night. If folks saw me with Calvin, they'd guess I was his accomplice. There was no telling what kind of ruckus that might cause.
I looked back once. The tall gentleman was still watching Calvin. I don't think either he or Calvin noticed my departure.
Using my silver dollar, I bought supper for Caesar and me and went over to the depot to wait for Calvin. A pretty little crescent moon smiled down at me from the starry sky, but the night air was cold. I was grateful to have Caesar beside me, big and warm.
To pass the time, I pulled my harmonica out of my pocket and began playing. Just for myself, not for money, enjoying the happy sounds I was making. No sad tunes tonight. We were rich, Calvin and me. Tomorrow we'd be on our way to Tinville.
All of a sudden, a tall figure in black stepped out of the shadows and sat on the baggage cart beside me. It was the mysterious gentleman, my benefactor. He'd moved so silently I hadn't even heard his footsteps.
'You play very well," he said in a voice honeyed by years in Dixie. "Tell me, do you know 'Shenandoah'?"
"Sure." I played the song nice and slow, bringing out all its sadness, and he sat beside me, smoking
one of those long, skinny cigars, a melancholy expression softening his bony features.
When I was done, he thanked me and asked if I still had the two gold eagles he'd given me.
I touched my pocket to feel their outline under the cloth. "'Course I do."
"I'm glad to hear it, boy," said he. "Because that's just about all you've got in this world."
I stared at him, thinking of the hundreds of dollars Calvin had collected from the townsfolk. I realized too that he knew there was a connection between Calvin and me. My mouth dried up and my heart beat faster. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "Where's Calvin? Has he been robbed?"
"The fool lost every cent at the faro table," the gentleman said. "I warned him the game was as rigged as three-card
I felt as edgy as a dog in a thunderstorm, but if Calvin was rattled, he didn't show it. Without hesitating, he went into his routine of fast shuffling.
The gentleman's sharp eyes followed every move those hands made, but Calvin kept his patter going and then stood back to let the gentleman try his luck.
The gentleman studied the cards intently. Sunlight sparkled on the golden eagle he'd laid on the box. It was so quiet I thought I heard the fleas on Caesar's back hopping from one spot to another.
Finally the gentleman leaned over the crate and
picked a card. Quick as a wink, he held up the ace of hearts. Everyone in the audience gave a huge sigh of relief to see my good fortune.
Except me. I knew full well there was no ace among those three cards. It was up Calvin's sleeve. When the gentleman leaned over the crate, he must have slipped an ace out of his own sleeve.
It seemed Calvin had met his equal in tricks, maybe even his better. From the look on his face, the Gentleman Outlaw was no doubt thinking the same thing.
Taking a matching gold piece from Calvin, the gentleman turned to me with a smile and handed me the two coins. "Put these someplace safe," he said, eyeing Calvin. "The money's yours and yours alone, boy."
"Thank you, sir." I dropped the gold eagles into my overalls pocket, gazing into the gentleman's dark eyes all the while. It was a little like matching stares with a deadly snake.
Although I expected him to denounce Calvin as a fraud, he didn't utter a word. He simply stood there watching the Gentleman Outlaw begin his spiel again. Calvin's forehead was beaded with perspiration, but his fingers were as quick as ever and his voice didn't shake.
I admired his nerve. Doc Holliday himself couldn't have been more composed under pressure than Calvin Featherbone.
After a while, I remembered I was supposed to lie low till it was time to board the train late at night. If folks saw me with Calvin, they'd guess I was his accomplice. There was no telling what kind of ruckus that might cause.
I looked back once. The tall gentleman was still watching Calvin. I don't think either he or Calvin noticed my departure.
Using my silver dollar, I bought supper for Caesar and me and went over to the depot to wait for Calvin. A pretty little crescent moon smiled down at me from the starry sky, but the night air was cold. I was grateful to have Caesar beside me, big and warm.
To pass the time, I pulled my harmonica out of my pocket and began playing. Just for myself, not for money, enjoying the happy sounds I was making. No sad tunes tonight. We were rich, Calvin and me. Tomorrow we'd be on our way to Tinville.
All of a sudden, a tall figure in black stepped out of the shadows and sat on the baggage cart beside me. It was the mysterious gentleman, my benefactor. He'd moved so silently I hadn't even heard his footsteps.
'You play very well," he said in a voice honeyed by years in Dixie. "Tell me, do you know 'Shenandoah'?"
"Sure." I played the song nice and slow, bringing out all its sadness, and he sat beside me, smoking
one of those long, skinny cigars, a melancholy expression softening his bony features.
When I was done, he thanked me and asked if I still had the two gold eagles he'd given me.
I touched my pocket to feel their outline under the cloth. "'Course I do."
"I'm glad to hear it, boy," said he. "Because that's just about all you've got in this world."
I stared at him, thinking of the hundreds of dollars Calvin had collected from the townsfolk. I realized too that he knew there was a connection between Calvin and me. My mouth dried up and my heart beat faster. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "Where's Calvin? Has he been robbed?"
"The fool lost every cent at the faro table," the gentleman said. "I warned him the game was as rigged as three-card
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