Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-01
1t is not to be thought that the law will

II il not to be thought that the law will
hinder men abis If they want to play, and
often they are forever cured of play ing
when they find it doesn't pay. I dealt tho
game for twenty years, but I've quit now.
I made nothing, nor lost anything, and but
for sight ] oncessaw I should probably be
gambler still, Hereby hangs a tale. Let
me tell 1t.
''Some three years ago ran a heightened
game at certain place you probably
know, for it strikes me l saw you there. 1t
was 8 square game, as / will leave any one
to say; thriving game for l dealt for half
the bloods in town, and often l had as
many as five lay-outs at time, with too
much business on hands to even get time
to rest. One evening young chap strolled
in. with a sort of a curious stare on his face,
and concluded right there that he was
q green. He was fair-haired, and had
pair of blue eyes and clear-cut features
and innocent looking young fellow, If ever
| I saw one 1t only required a glance to
convince you that he was stranger IN
| the gambling room. He was soon at home
though, for l saw in his blue eyes 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 second card ned stack the
| limits up in blue. Take 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 almost seemed too bad I couldn't say a
word, though, and yet ked the boy. lie
had lots of the filthy, think from the day
| he began he must have dropped cool
| 800, 900 in the game, and he neve growled.
I'VE 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 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 with
out q word, and drew $500 cold, So help
me God! 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, think, on his watch and chain,
and tried his line of bets again; but his
luck was gone. My. Godl Ill never for
get the pale, haggard look that cross his
face; but he was game.
HE never uttered word, and kepted his
chair like pillar Of stone. For a moment
he seemed dazed at his reverses, but sud-
denly his eye caught the thin worn circlet
of gold on his little finger. He looked at
it little while, and q dark wave of hot
crimson blood passed over his face for hi
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 worr
old ring. What can have on thlsP he
asked. 81 don't know what its value IS,
but L II redeem it frst'of ALL 1t.might have
cost $5 when new, but it was worthless
then.
"Still passed out fifty stack in return
just to let him try again. He planked i
down in the poland then low upon the table
he laid his face on his folded arm. Well, fo
wonder, his luck changed and he wor
three times. He took no notice of me a
/ told him when the limit barred, and sc
we played $3.50 on each card. Would you
\ believe ii? TIE pot won out and never
lost! And still he lay with his facehidln hi!
arms. The deal was oct and l shook
his up but not muscel moved, and, rails
ing his face l started back in horror a
the costly expression Of hi eyes, for th'
, boy was ldead!
I've often wondered to myself since tina
night what thoughts were fitting through
his brain as he bowed his head and hiC
his face from our sight-whst pledges 0
better life, regrets for a fortune he ha(
thrown away with lavish hand, and loath
ing of his irrevocable counsel Who cal
tell2 We can but guess at them but may
never feel. His years of hell endured
in that brief game, but it was not until tn
coronor's Jury sat Ithat Il learned all
Before them was developed the facts tina
the ring which had changed his luck, as
it did his existence, was one given hin
by his dear mother years before. Pool
{ boyl never dealt again"