The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-08-18
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btdzing from Nlthln the lOido OF the eidDoI at
| rufies, and massive rings, of diamond
emerald anc topaz, encrcling his fat. Stumpy
fingers, as if they were many hoops to pre-
vent bursting. This prime minister OF Kin.
. Faro was slightly bald. and drew the cardt
from an elegant silver box with deliberate
grace of movement which was almost rhyth
mical in its regularity. Ace wins queen
losen!' Front seats about the table were all
occupied by players. A red-faced, Scotch
looking parsonage, with heavy moust che OF
brlstly red hair over each eyebrow. back cd
the five spot heavily and persistently, and ;. "
his stacks of reds swept off by the hairy jew
eleds hand of the dealer, without sigh OF re-
gret save a frmer compression Of the biistered
lips bank clerk, something Of an artist in
the culinary line-that Is TO say, in the way
of cooking the books-fed considerable
amount Of the bank capital into the yawning
jaws of the tiger with Z rollicking disregard
Of expenses, all the time holding half con-
sumed cigar between his dainty lips and
putting volumes of smoke into the face Of the
red-faced and eXasperated ScotcLman, with
the moustaches over his eyes \ drunken
politician from the rural districts was seeing
the tiger as well as the elephant ut the rate OF
I fifteen dollars a minute. \ score Of dead
beats masscd themselves heavily about the
semi-circle Of bttters, on the lookout for an
opportunity to borrow IA ''adW-buck from
any acquaintance who might strike a lucky
streak, and eternally vgilant in the matter Of
"sleepers. Brandy and cigars on the side
board, and the savory fumes Of an elegant
supper floating through open door which
led into az adjoining room. Is the seven
dead!" 'Iut them checks on the tray for
me, if you please!' Pay the six. Hold
ola there! Thcm's my chips on the jack :"
:" 7; at no sleeper, d-n you'll
Toby, PUT NE \ HUNDRED d THE ACE
The magnitude Of the bet attracted the at
tcntiom Of the players. The benevolent deal
er looked up from his work, and pecring
through the carefully polished lenses Of his
gold trimmed spectacles recognized fashiona-
bly, dressed young man with aristOcratic
and slightly aquiline nose, jet black eyes.
black, close cut bristly mUustache, ard Il
smooth clear olive complexion
Jim Saunders was young man who had
seen little of the bright side of life until the
death of a stern, hard old father had put him
in possession Of a considerable fortune. The
transition from one extreme to another was
easy, and the young man spent his grasPing
parents accumulated dollars with u lavish
hand. He drank, and gamblcd, loaned
money TO dead beats and was generous in the
matter of jewelry to certain females whose
moral complexion was Of that high color,
which, if not exactly scarlet promise soon to
become so. But the sands Of the sen are
numbered and jim began u see the end of his
pile. lie applied himself stuiiously to faro
with the hope Of winning back his losses
Luck H,pSt turn in his favor. reasoned Jim.
But it didn't, The cursed cards seemed in,-
bued with maleyoIent spirit. and the genial
dealer continued to exchange his ivory chips
for Jim grcenbacks, and then win back the
chips. On the night in question NIr Saun-
ders strolled into this ante-cnamber Of hell
with a thousand dollars in his pocket-the
proceeds of a sale Of a fast horse and the last
Of the fortune which old Saunders had left him.
He was coolly and desperately determined to
let the hair 60 with the hide or make Il
raise.
The ace won. 1t won again Then hc
coppered it and won again. lie shifted his
bets, and always Won He had struck
streak of luck He took enormous risks and
won. The self-posed old cut-throat with the
gold spcctacles lost his equilibrium and his tenn
per He fgeted, and perspired, and cursed
the ''nigger luck" which had go unaccountably
fallen upon jim Saunders. AS for that gem
tlcman, still cool and impassive he continued
to make and win heavy bets, and pass in great
stacks of chips, receiving greenhAcks III eX-
change. The bank was weakened by an aw
ful hemorrhage. The speculative Scotchman
with the bristly moustaches over his eyes, the
other players and dead beats suspended oper-
ations and crowded about Jim Saunders,
watching the desperate struggle between that
young man and his mortal enemy. Young
man. you're in luck; suggested the Scotch
man; you've won enough to start daily
newspaper. Now you'd better quit By
Cd, III break the bank" said Jim Saun-
ders.
However, he made rapid inventory Of his
winnings while the dealer substituted a new
pack o: cards. He ahead nearly twenty
thousand dollars. There was some sense in
the old Sawneys suggestion. He would win
enough to make it even twenty, jump the
game, 60 into business, forswear gambling,
become an honest man, and perhaps
He laid five hundred on the ten, and it lost
He doubled the amount, and it lost again.
Again he doubled, and again lost. lively
calm succeeded the stormy anxiety which had
corrugated the benevolent features Of the
dealer. The old villain felt that his ally. he
devil, had come to his rescue. Mr.. Saunders
lost his temper and his judgment, though
there was no ign Of it in the stony serenity ci
his handsome face. He continued TO bet and
lose, until all his winnings were gone. The
thousand dollars still in his pocket. His
good angel telegraphed Il rapid order TO leave
the accursed den, and go into sCme small bus
mess with his thousand dollars The devil
at lis elbow said no, He might as well be
dead broke as with Il pitiful thousand dollars
in his pocket-he who had been cutting it so
fat, spending, frequently. as much in a single
night to stufthe hides Of worthless vaeahouds
with choice game suppers, and make them
drunk on champagne
lie bought hundred dollars Of chips He
would bet carefully now. They were gone in
moment Another hundred followed, and
SO, II, half Of his thousand was gone. lie bi,
his lips until the blood came. Then he
took five hundred in chips. 1t was near the
close of the deal. He put half on the nine
and the other half on the king, which he cop
pered. The dealer slipped the cards, and the
order in which they came was nine, king.
''Whipsawed by God," said Jim Saunders.
The countenance of the henignant dca or
was illuminated with a genial smile Have
some more chips, Mr. Saunders.
Not tonight said jim.
He walked 10 the sideboard and turned
tumber Of brandy down his throat Then he
helped himself to handful Of cigars, one of
which he lighted, Taking one or two turns
up and down the richly carpeted room, chat
ting nonchalently with acquaintances. he
stepped in front Of large pier glass, and sur
veyed himself. TIE glass reassured aim
His smooth, placid countenauce gave not the
slightest indication Of the fact that he was
rins,- 10 An,