Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-10-15
ROCKVILLE. Maryland FRIDAY MORNING. OCTOBER Is 1880
The Last Deal.
81 never dealt again |"

Inc Last Deal.
81 never dealt againw
These words fell from the lips of gentle
man well known in Leadville, yet few re-
cognized in the elegant, easy going man who
now commands the respect of his fellow
citizens the once cool-headed, imperturbable
gambler, who in his day, figured promi-
nently along the Pacific coast, and was al
most universally recognized as the shrewd-
est faro dealer in the West
AS for the games morality, that's neither
here nor there. When dealt upon the square
it us much like any other game. 1t is not to
be thought that the law will hinder men a
bit If they want to play, and often they are
forever cured of playing when they find it
doesn't pay. Idealt the game for twenty
years, but I've quit now. l made nothing
nor lost anything, and, but for sight once
saw, should probably be a gambler still
Hereby hangs a tale. Let me tell iii
Some three years ago run high-toned
game, a certain place you probably know, for
1t strikes me | saw you there 1t was q
square game, as will leave any to say
thriving game, for l dealt for half the
bloods in town, and often had as many as
five-layouts at time, with too much bust
ness on hand to even get time to rest. One
evening young chap strolledin, with a sort
of curious stare on his face, and concluded
right there that he was green. lie was fair
haired, and had pair OF blue eyes and clean
cut ieatures--an innocent looking Young fell
low, if ever saw one. 1t only required a
glance TO convince you that he was stranger
in gambling room. lie soon was at home,
though, for saw in his blue eyes the love
of play, and after that evening he was a
constant visitor. He played his pile right
up and up and never growled If his luck
was hard, and on every card he'd stack the
limits up in blue. Take it altogether, his
luck was hard-sometimes the hardest, |
think, | ever saw. I've known him to lose
ut n single deal seven double shots
Business for me, Of course, but somehow
it almost seemed too bad, couldn't say
word, though, and yet liked the boy. He
had lots of the filthy. l think from the day
he began he must have dropped a cool $780,
900 on the game, and never growled.
1--WE both quit gambling the same night
he, poor lad, for sufficient reasons, and
because | loathed the game, 1t was in this
wise:
% Iiig rpin Oo In N Iaal al
he put diamond ring, just to see his i'll luck
out, you know. The chips soon went. He
had pin, flaming stone in massive metal.
He passed that in without word and drew
$500 cold So help me God wished him
luck as hearty Vs. any player there; but no,
his last stack went my way on losing ace
He drew $500 more, think on his watch
and chain, and tried his line of bets again
but his luck was gone. My God! I'll never
forget the pale haggard look that crossed his
face, but he was game. He never uttered
word, and kept his chair like pillar of
stone. For moment he seemed daZed at
his adyerses, but suddenly his eye caught
the thin, worn circet Of dull gold on his lit
tie finger, He looked at it little while,
and Il dark wave of hot crimson blood passed
over his face, for this circlet seemed TO cling
even faster than the flashing gem he had
pissed in before. lie at last stripped il off
his finger AMI handed it TO me. 1t came re-
luctanty, this worn, old ring. What can
have on thisY he asked. 4 don't know
what its value Is, but I'll redeem ii first of
ALL ltmight have cost 50, new, but it was
worthless then. Still | passed out fifty
dollar sack in return, just to let him try
again. lie panked it down in the pot and
then low upon the table he laid his face
upon his folded arms Well, for n wonder
his luck changed and he won three times.
He took no notice of me as told him when
the limit barred, and so we played two fifty
on each card. Would you believe IL? In
the deal the pot run out and he never lost !
And still he lay with his face hid in his arms.
The deal was out and shook him up, but
not muscle moved, and, raising his face,
started back in horror at the CLASSY expires
sion of his eyes, for the boy was dead
ave often wondered TO myself since that
night what thoughts were fitting through
his brain as he bowed his head and his face
from our sight, what pledges Of better life
regrets Of a fortune he had thrown away
with lavish hand, and loathings Of his ire.
yocable course. Whocan tel2 We can but
guess at them, but can never feel. Ills face
showed years Of hell endured in that brief
game, but II was not until The the coroner's
jury sat that learned all. Before them was
developed the fact that the ring which had
changed his luck, as it did his existence, was
one given him by his dead mother years be-
fore. Poor boy never dealt again.