The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-12-10
HIS VERY LAST DEAL.


rbss5rills CliForicls.l
ssI never dealt the game again. I've
dealt the game for twenty years, bit I've
quit now. ] made nothing end lost Moth
ing, and but for a sight / once saw. I
should probably be a gambler still
Hereby hangs tale. Let me tell it:
Some three years ago | ran high
toned game at certain place you prob
ably know, for 1t strikes IRE that / saw
you there. Il was d square game. as ]
viii leave anyone to say-a thriving game
for / dealt for half the bloods in town
and often had as many as Eve layo1its at
time, with two much business on hand
TO even get time to rest. One evening
young chap strolled In, with a sort OF
curious stare on his face, and I concluded
that right there he was green. He
was fair-headed, and had q pair Of
blue eyes and clean-cut features-an In
nocent-looking young fellow, If I ever
saw one. It only required a glance to
convince y0ti that he was d stranger In
the gambling room. He was soon at
home, though, for I saw in his blue eyes
the love of play, and after that evening
lie was q constant visitor. He PLAYED
bis pile right up and never gfowled If his
luck was hard--sometimes the hardest |
think ever saw I've known him to
lose at single deal seven double shots.
Business for me, of course, but some
how it almost seemed too bad. I couldn't
say word though, and yet I liked the
boy. He had lots Of the filthy. think
from the day lie began he must have
cropped cool 500, 900 on the game and
hs never growled.
1--WE both quit gambling the same
night-he, poor lad, for sufficient rea-
sons, and / because I loathed the game
1t was in this wise:
His coin gave cut in deal or two,
and he put up diamond ring, Just to
see his ill-luck out. you know. The chips
soon went He had pin, flaming
stone in massive metal. He passed that
in without word and drew $50 in gold.
So help me Godl I wished him luck as
heartily as any player there; but no, his
last stake went my way on losing acee
He drew $500 more. / think, on his
watch and chain, and Tried his line bets
again, but his luck was gone. Ny God
I'll never forget the pale, haggard look
that crossed his face, but he was game.
He never uttered a word and kept his
chair like pillar of stone; for moment
he seemed dazed at his reverses, but
suddenly his eye caught the thin worn
circlet Of dull gold ON his little finger.
He looked at it for q little while, and
dark wave of hot crimson blood passed
over his face, for the circlet seemed to
cling even faster than the flashing gem
he had passed in before. He at last
stripped it off his finger and handed it to
me. 1t came reluctantly, this worn, old
ring. What can I have on this?' he
asked. 4 don't know what its value is.
but I'll redeem it first of all. It might
have cost IS when new, but it was worth
less then.
"Still, passed out a fifty stack in re-
turn, just to let him try again. He
planked it down in the pot, and then low
upon the table he laid his face on his
folded arms. Well, for 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 be
lieve it? In the deal the pot won out
and 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 expression
of his eyes, for the boy was dead"