The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-10-09
THE LAST Deal.
I never dealt aesip

i never dealt againr
tlsmsn we'll knova in Lesdville yet
few Tscognizs In the elegant. easy
going man xho now commands the
deep respect OF his fellow citizens the
oocs cool hesasd, impsstarb>oie gam
bier. Who. IN his day. figured promi-
nen'l ly along the Pacific Coast. and vas
almost universally recognized ss one Of
the shrevest faro dealers in the West
As for the genes morality, that's
neither here nor there. When dealt
upon the square il 10 much like any
other game. II 10 not ~ be thought
that the lav wall hinder men bit If
they waut to plsy. snd often they are
for ever cured Of playing when they
find it doesn't pay. I've dealt the
game for 20 years, but I've quit nov.
made nothing. aud Lost nothing. and
but for . eight / once saw / should
probably be . gambler still And
hereby hangs tale. Let me tell it:
Some three yssrs ego / ran . high
toned game at n certain place you
probably know. II was q square game
As will leave anyone to say-s thirty
ing game. TOT I dealt for half the
bloods in town. and often had as many
as Eve l.yoats st time. with too much
business On hand TO even get time 70
rest
One evening . young chap strollsd
In. with sort Of curious stare on his
face. and concluded right there that
be Was green. He was fair haired, and
had pair Of blue eyes and clear cut
fsatufes-an innocent looking young
felio~. If ever l cav one. Il only
required . glance to tell you that he
was . strsns er in the gambling room.
He SION Vas st home though, for saw
In his blue eyes the love OF play. and
after that evening he Was . constant
visitor. He played his pile up and
never once growled if bis luck was
hard--somstimes the hardest l think !
ever aw. I've ksown him TO lose at
single deal seven double shots.
Business for me Of course. but some
how 1t seemed too bad. I couldn't say
. word tbough. and yet / liked the
boy. He had lots Of the filthy. !
thick from the day be began he must
have dropped cool $l0O. 900 on the
game. and be never grovled.
We bsth quit gambling the same
nisht-be. poor lad, f~r sufficient reas-
ons. and because loathed the game.
II WAS in this wise:
His coin gave out in deal or two.
and he put up dismond ring. Just to
zee i'll luck ont you know. The chips
soon went. He had . pin. flaming
stone iu massive metal. He passed
that in without word and drew fifty
dollars, cold. SO help me Godl /
wished him luck a. heartily ss any
player there; but, no. his last stake
went my way on q losing ace. He drew
three hundred dollars more / ,hink. on
his watch and chain, and tried his line
of bets again. bot his luck was gone.
Ny God! I'll never forget the pale.
hsggard look that crossed his face. but
he vas game. Hehsver uttered . word
and kept his chair like pillar a. stone.
For noment he seemed dAzsd at his
reverses. but suddenly bis eye caught
the thin circlet Of gold on his little
finger. He looked ut it little while.
and dark wave Of bot, crimson blood
passed over his face, for sihis circlet
seens4 70 cling even faster than the
flashing gen he had passed in before.
He at last stripped il of his 6nger and
pa,s~d It to me. Il came reluctantly.
this uoSa old ring What csnI have
on thu p he aak0d. Il don't know