The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-08-26
THE LAST DEAL.
The Confession of a Reformed Gam
hler-a Sight that Made Him
Swear of Forever.
Leadville Chronicle.

Leadville Chronicle.
Il never dealt againr'
Those words fell from the lips OF
a gentleman well known in Leaville,
yet few recognize in the elegant,
easy-going man who now com
mands the respect OF his fellow-cit-
izens, the once cool-headed, imper-
turba hle gambler, who, in his daN,
figured prominently along the Pa
cific coast, and was almost univer-
sally recognized as the shrewdest
faro dealer il the West.
"As for the games morality,
that's neither here nor there.
When dealt upon the square it is
much like any other game. 1t is
not to be tho ught that the law will
hinder men bit if they want to
play, and often they are forever
cured of playing when they end it
doesn't pay. | dealt the game for
twenty years, but I've quit now. l
made nothing, nor lost anything,
and, but for a sight l saw once, l
should probably be a gambler still.
Hereby hangs tale. Let me tell it:
Some three years | ran high
toned game at certain place you
probably know, for it strikes me i
saw you there. 1t was a square
game-as | will leave any one to
say-a thriving game, for l dealt
for half the bloods in town, and
often had as many as five lay-outs
at time, with too much business
on hand to get even time to rest.
One evening young chap strolled
in, with a sort of curious stare on
his face, and l concluded right
there that he was green. He was
fair headed, and had pair of blue
eyes and clear cut features. an inno-
cent looking young fellow if ever l
saw one. 1t only required a glance
to convince you that he was a
stranger in the gambling room. He
soon was at home, though. for l
saw in his blue eyes the love of
play, and after that evening he was
constant visitor. He played his
pile right up and never growled if
his luck was hard, and on every
card he'd stack the limits up in
blue. I axe it altogether, his luck
was hard-sometimes the hardest,
think, l ever saw. I've known him
to lose at single deal seven double
shots.
! Business for me, of course, but
somehow it seemed almost 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 100000 on the game and he
never grOwled.
1--WE both quit gambling the same
night-he, poor lad, for sufficient
reason, and l, because / loathed the
game. 1t was in this wise:
"His coin gave out in a deal or
two, and he put up a diamond ring
/ just to see his i'll luck out, you
know. The chips soon went. He
had a pin, flaming stone in mas
sive metal. He passed that in
without a word and drew $500 cold.
So help me God! l wished him luck
as heartily as any player there; but
no, his last stack went my way on
a losing ace. He drew $500 more,
l think, on his watch and chain, and
tried his line of bets again, but his
luck was gone. My God! ri
never forget the pale, haggard looh
that crossed his face, but he wa:
game. He never uttered a word
but kept his chair like a pillow o
} stone. For a moment he seemed
dazed at his reyerses. but suddenly
, his eye caught the thin, worn circle
} of dull gold on his little finger.
, He looked at it little while an(
dark wave of hot crimson blood
: passed over his face, for this circle
, seemed to cling even faster thai
, the flashing gem he had passed il
) before. He at last slipped it OF
: his finger and handed it to me. l
came reluctantly, this worn old ring
What can / have on thisp b.
! asked. i don't know what it's val
= ue is, but I'll redeem it first of all.
! 1t might have cost So new, but i
= was worth less then. Still L passed
4 out fifty stack in return, just t,
, let him try again. He planked i
t down in the spot, and then loV
: upon the table he laid his face upol
!. his folded arms. Well, for a won
} der, his luck changed, and he VOL
| three times. He took ho notice o
2 me as l told him when the limi
: barred, and so we played two tift.
, on each card. Would you believ
, it? In the deal the pot won on
! and never lostl And still he la.
( with his face in his arms. Th
} deal was out and / shook him up
] l started back in horror at tn
r CLASSY expression of his eyes, 70
e the boy was dead!
"I've often wondered to mysel
: since that night what thought
e went fitting through his brain as b
r bowed his head and hid his fac
from our sight, what pledges of
better life, regrets for fortun
! thrown away with lavish hand, an
s loathing of his irrevocable course
$ Who can tell? We can but CUES
: at them, but may never feel. Hi
: face showed years of 5ell endure
. in that brief game, but it was nc
! until the coroner's jury sat that
learned all Before them was dc
IN - - MA