Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-07-29
THE LAST DEAL.
The Confession of u Reformed Gambler
Sight that Made Him .'Swear
Off" Forever.

THE LAST DEAL.
The Confession of u Reformed Gambler
Sight that Made Him .'Swear |
Off" Forever. ..
From the Leadville Chronicle.
81 never dealt again!"
The words fell from the lips Of a
gentlemen well-known in Leaiville,
yet few recognize In the elegant, easy
going man who now commands the
deep respect of his fellow-citizens, the
once cool-headed, imperturable gam
bier, who in his day, figured promi-
nently along the Pacific coast, and was
almost universally recognized as the
shrewdest faro dealer in the west.
"As for the games morality, that
neither here nor there. When dealt
upon the square it is much like any
other game. 1t is not TO be thought
that the law will hinder men q bit if
they want to play, and often they are
forever cured of playing when they
find it doesn't pay. 1 dealt the game
for twenty years, but I've quit now
I made nothing, nor lost anything,
and bet fer sight L once saw /
should probably be gambler still.
Hereby hangs a tale. Let me tell it:
''Some three years ago ran high
toned game at certain place you
probably know, for it strikes me 1
saw you there. 1t was a square game,
as will leave an."one to say, a thriv-
| ing game, for l dealt for half the
bloods in town, and often 1 had as
many as five lay-outs at time, with
too much business on hand to even
get time to rest. One evening a
young chap strolled in with curious
stare on his face, and I concluded
right there that he was green. He
was fair-haired, and had a pair of
blue eyes, and clear cut features, an
innocent looking fellow, if ever saw
one. 1t only required glance to
convince you that he was stranger
in the gambling room. He soon was
at home, though, for l saw in his
blue eyes love of play, and after
that evening he was constant player.
He played his pile right up and up
and never growled if his luck was
hard, and on every second card he'd
stack the limits up in blue. Take it
altogether, his luck was hard, some
times the hardest, l think, ever saw.
have known him to lose at single
deal sevel double shots.
Business for me, Of course, but
somehow it almost seemed too bad.
l 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
500, 900 on the game, and never
growled.
"We both quit gambling the same
night-he, poor lad, had sufficient rea
sons, and l, because I loathed the
game. 1t was in this wise:
His coin gave out in Il deal or two
and he put up diamond ring, just t.
see his i'll luck out, you know. Th.
chips soon went. He had a pin,
flaming stone in massive metal. III,
passed that in without word ant
, drew $500 cold. So help me God
, wished him luck As heartily as an,
player there; but no, his last stacl
went my way on losing ace.' H.
drew $500 more, / think, On his watcl
;, and chain, and tried his line Of bet
y again, but his luck was gone. NJ
God! I'll never forget the pale, hag
gard look that crossed his face, bu
. he was game. He never uttered
- - "lid kept his chair like pilla
For moment he SCENE
1t his reverses, but suddenl
caught the thin, worn circle
l on his little finger. He locke
little while, and dark wsv
crimson blood passed over hi
Or this ciiclet seemed to clin
,ster than the flashing gem b
assed in before. He at las
d it Off his finger ard handed
1t came reluctantly, tn
BID ring. 'What can I have O
aie asked. Il don't know VIII,
lie is, but I'll redeem it first
t might have cost Sc when new
was worthless then.
passed out a fifty stack
!. just to let him try again. Il
a it down in the pot and the
Son the table he laid his face {
led arm. Well, for q wonde
* changed and he won thr,
sic took no notice of me as
>ea the limit barred, al
I'D two fifty on each car
believe it? In the de
IN out and never lost! Al
y with his face hid in /
The deal was out and l shoe
;, but not a muscle move
ng his face | started ba
/ at the CLASSY expression
for the boy was dead!
ten wondered to myself sin
1t what thoughts were iiitti
his brain as he bowed
J hid his face from our sigl
igcs of better life, regr,
iune he had thrown away wi
ad, and loathing of his irl
course. Who can tell? '
up lean but guess at them, but may ne,
ar feel. His face showed years of b
he endured in that brief game, but it v
w. no, until the corners jury sat that
he learned all. Before them was dev
NIB oped the fact that the ring which b
changed his luck, as it did his exi
- ence, was one given him by his d.
a dead mother years before. Poor bt
- I never dealt again"