Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-11-06
H u NJ 0 e


bier by profession and practice but among
the planters who frequented his faro bank
land all Of those Of any wealth or stand
ing within hundred miles of Selma took
a turn at it when they could) there was not
one who would entertain question as to
Sans honesty.
9 In.that little white cottage, almost hid
den by the surrounding grove, none but
the fairest Of the faro WAS dealt, none but
the squarest of poker was bet on. When
the chips we're bought and the cards cut,
each one felt that what fortune meant the
pack to bring him, would not be interfered
with by any manipulation of tie cards.
But alas when was humanity beyond
temptation ? Adam fell Caesar fell, War
ren fell lat Bunker Hill,) and even Beeci-
er is suspected. One day Sam was tempted
and he -. But let me give the details:
Judge Humphreys, Colonel Swain, old
Andrews (whose plantation was measured
by the thousand acres), and Sol. Lovett,
from st. Louis, were sitting in Oglivie's
front parlor playing a snug little game Of
draw. All were heavy betters when they
held the cards ; but just then the cards
were running light and so were the bets.
Sam, who cared very little for poker, had
sat by watching the game rather than join.
ing it. He held a hand, of course; but his
thoughts were rather on the lay out in the
next room than ON the cards in his hand.
Several times he had limited at abandoning
the game, but each time the others had
insisted On going on, so Sam had politely
stifed his Impotence and had kept his seat
at the table.
AS the clock was telling ten, Sam was
called from the table, and, eXcusing HIM
self for the moment, left the room. His
way through the back parlor where
lay the sleeping tiger The table with its
lay out, the case, piles Of checks, decks OF
cards, all were ready for the players. AS
he glanced carelessly over them, d sudden
thought seemed to flash through Sans
brain. A sardonic smile crept over his
thin cut lips, and his long fingers played
with his moustache, as if to hide the
twitching lips from some unseen observer.
Advancing to the card box where cards by
piled up, he busted himself for moment
in opening packs, breaking wrappers and
asserting cards, then, with an expression
of guileless innocence upon his face, but
with a ''cold deck" up his sleeve, he re-
turned to the poker table.
In few minutes it was Sans turn to
deal. His hand faltered as he lifted the
cards, a deuce spot fiuttered into his lap,
and, in picking it up, a rapid movement
OF the long, 1.-the fingers had exchange, tne
table pack for the ''cold deck"
A grain of remorse seemed to t ,ucl his
heart when he came to serve the car Is.
II can't take hand in this deal, gem
. tlemen. [ have got to step around to tie
hotel for a moment
The others acquiesced and the cards
were dealt. A good hand, one would SAY
by the action of the players. There Was d
thousand in the pot and a very obstinate
expression on the faces of the players be-
fore the drawing began.
Then singular circumstance was noticed.
The Judge only wanted one card one card
satisfied the Colonel, and one card each
took Lovett and Anderson.
Odd. thought each one, and wondered
whether they were trying to hide full or
a flush, Or were hiding fours But eacA
glanced at his own hand, and calmly wait
ed the issue, confident of his own and pity
ing the others hand.
: The cards served Sam lit his cigar and
started for the hotel. If he had waited lie
would have seen the tallest betting that
was ever done inside of that co tage. A
thousand dollars the first Let, fifteen hum
dred the second, two thousand the third
and twenty-five hundred from the Gage on
the first round. Everybody in and willing
to lap his pile. Out came check books and
and pencils, and each one rapidly cast up
in his own mind how much his credit was
good fol- among the commission merchants
of New Orleans. Check after check was
written, torn out and placed on the table,
until there was enough staked to cripple
the richest man there, if he lost.
The Judge stopped it. Why, I do not
know, unless it was that he had reached
the last check in his book. AS he filled that
ottp iiS AoIileei h0e. WILL JuulCldl gravity.
'"There is but one hand at the table that
can win that pot. Is it not big enough I
will see you colonel
Two more sights and a call brought the
game to focus. Perspiration stood on
more than one forehead, and the fingers that
held the cards frightened as the crucial mo-
ment approached Andheads had to be turn
ed to prevent the hungry eyes from feasting
too intensely upon the table.
The Colonel laid down his hand: aFour
aces, gentlemen!"
Then Andrews, with disten6ed eyes and
pursed-up lips: "Four aces for me!'' and
the cards were laid upon the table to verify
the claim.
Responsibility Lovett glanced at his COM
rades as at inhospitable barbarans from
whom the title of stranger was no pro-
lection, and blandly remarked: Excuse
me, gentlemen, but mine are aces. Fours!''
and again the cards proved the claim.
Dashlng his spectaeles from his Roman
nose to his perspiring forehead, the Judge
sank back to his seat and gazed despa IT.
ingly from face to face around the board |
AS his eye met Lovett's he partially raised
himself and said: ''Sixteen aces. as I am
a sinner" and again four aces Law upon
the board.
They waited for Sam that night, but he |