Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-15
SIXTEEN ACES.
An Old Time story Of n Game of
Draw I'm Alabama

Sam ogIfvie was a gambler BY profession and
pracucei but among the planters whe frequent
Cd his faro bank (and all Of those of any weslth
or standing within q hundred miles OF Selma
took turn At IL when they could) there was NOT
one who would entertain question as TO Sans
honesty. In mat little white cottage, almost
hicden by the surrounding grove, none but the
laIest OF faro was dealt, none but the 81 uarest
OF POKER was bet on. When the chips wers
hought ana the cards cut, each one felt that
what fortune meant the pack 70 bring him
would not be interfered with by any manipuls-
ton of the cards.
But, alas, when was humanity beyond tenpta-
ion" Adam fell, Caesar fell, Warren fell AT
Bunker hill,) and even Bsecher is suspecteI
One day sam was tempted and he,-. Bat let
Judge Humphrey, Colonel Swain, Old An.
drews whose plantation was measured by the
Thousand acres and Spl. Loyett, from St
Louis, were sitting in Oglivie's front parlor
playing q snug little game OF draw. All were
heavy betters when they held the cards; but
just then the cards were running light, aud 80
ere me bets. sam, who cared very little FOR
poker, had sat by watching the game rather
than going In il. He held hsnd, OF course; but
his thoughts were rather on the layout in the
next room than on tue cards in his hands. Sew
eTal times he hsd limited at abandoning the
game, but each time the others had insisted on
going on, so IAN had politely stiried his impa-
tence and bad kept hls seat at the table.
AS the clock was telling ten, Sam was called
from the table, and eNcusing himself for the
moment, left the room. His way was through
the back psrlor where lay the sleeping tiger.
nc ldblos WIN lay out, the case, piles of
checks, decks of cards, ali were ready for the
players. AS be glanced carelessly over them q
succen thought seemed to fash through Sans
brain. A Sardonic smile crept over his thin cut
lips. and his long fingers played with his mus
tache, AS If 20 HOE the twitching lips from some
unseen observer. Advancing 20 the card-box,
Where CARDS by the dozen packs, in unbroken
packages, lay piled up, he busted himself for a
moment In opening packs, breaking wrappers,
and asserting cards, then, with an expression of
guileless innocence upon his face, but with a
N is E1a l,a
poker-tabe.
In a few minutes it was Sans turn to deal.
His hand faltered as he lifted the cards, a deuce
SPOT hDttered into his lap, aud. ip picking il up
a rapid movement of the long 1.-THE fnpers
deck"
A grain of remorse seemed TO touch his heart
when he came to serve the cards.
. can { take hand this deal, gentlemen. 1
have got to step around 70 the hotel for a mo-
meDt."
The others scqUiesced, and the cards were
uealt. good hand, one would say, by the &C
tons of the players. There was thousand ia
t E pot ana very obstinate expression on the
faces OF the players before the drawing began.
Then singular Circumstance was noticed.
The Judge only wanted one card: one card
satisfied the Colonel, aud one card each took
Lcvett and Anderson. Odd, thought each one
and wondered whether they were trying to bite
q fuil or flush, or were hiding fours. But
each glanced at his own hand, and calmly
ing the others hand.
The cards served, Sam lit his cigar and started
LOT the hotel. III he had waited he would have
seen the tallest betting that was ever done
inside Of that cottage. a thousand dollars tue
first bet, fifteen hundred the second, two thou-
sand the third, and twenty-five hundred from
the sage" on the first round. Everybody In and
willing to lap his pile. Out came check-books
and pencils, and each one rapidly cast no in his
own mind how much his credit was good for
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,
The judge stopped IT, WHY, I don't know
unless it was that be had reached the last check
III his book. AS be filed that out be remarked,
With tud icial gravity:
There is but enc hand at the table that can
WIN that pot. gentlemen; amt 1t about bIg
CROUCH? will see you, Colonel"
IhiS checked the game. The pot was big
enough IN all conscience, and some OF them
remblec little as they thought of the thou
sends piled and how POOR the call was 20
make three OF their comrades.
Two mure sights and a call brought the game
TO focus. Precipitation stood out upon more
than one forehead, and the Il ngers that griped
the cards nahtened perceptibly as tue crucial
turned to prevent the hungry eyes from Teasing
too intensely upon the pile on the table.
Tie venerable colonel hardly looked up as he
uemen!"
Then Andrews, with distsnded ewes and
pursed-up lips: "Eour aces for mel" and the
cares we've laid upon the table 70 verify the
claim.
Reproaehfully Lovett glanced at his COM
rades as at Inhospitable bsroarians from whom
the title OF stranger was no protection, and
blanoly remarked Excuse me, bat mine are
aces. Fours" and again the cards proved the
claim.
Dsshing his spectacles from his Roman nose
TO ms perspirtng forehead, the judge sank back
IN his seat and gsZed despairIngly from face 20
face around the board. AS has eve met Low
etts he partially strsi ghtened himself and said:
"Stxteen aces, as am a sinner" and again
four aces lay upon the table.
They waited for Sam that night, bat be did
not return TO the cottage.