The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-05
CONvERSE'S LAST HAND.
A Game of Poker with Dishonor as the Stake
and Death as the Result.


A Game of Poker with Dishonor as the Stake
and Death as the Result.
Chicago Herald.
BY all odds the most interesting game
ever saw was played on the Belle Lamar, in
1897. There were circumstances connected
with 1t which made it an all-absorbing event
to the few people who understood what it
really meant. The players were two only
They are both dead, and probably all their de-
scendants have followed them to the grave
so L may mention their names and tell you
about the train of events which led to that
game and its attendant tragedy. In 1856
there lived in small town in Kentucky a
beautiful girl named Alice Crayton. She had
number of suitors, but of all of them
two only seemed to meet with passing
favor in her eyes. One was rich Young
planter named Horace Ellison, and the
other young lawyer, recently from
the North, named Converse. Ellison
had the advantage of his rival in looks
and accom- plishments. He had travelled ex-
tensively, was well read, polished, and bore
the reputation of being a daredevil in af
fairs OF gallantry, and was said to be not over
upright and honorable in his affairs with
women He was the sort of man to attract
most girls. But Miss Crayton preferred Con-
verse a plain young fellow, and finally mar
rled him. Ellison, after swearing to be
revenged, went abroad. In the course of a
year Converse and his wife went to New Or
leans TO live. Two years after their mar
riage Converse, returning home on the Belle
Lamar, after business trip North, discovered
his old RIVAL Ellison, among the passengers
All feelings of resentment had died out in
his heart, and he greeted Ellison heartily,
the latter returning his handshake with we'll
simulated warmth. For day the two men
chatted together agreeably, to all appear
ances good friends. The next evening Ellison
nTOnnSld q M rxrhil fbo
monotony of the voyage. Converse readily
assented, and they started the game in a
large state-room. Four or five others were
present, but they didn't join it, At first the
ante was tritling. As Converse steadily lost
he insisted on raising it with each deal, and
began drinking, a rare thing for him to do.
His ill-fortune continued, and after a seance
OF Two hours he began to borrow money from
his friends in the room, having lost all of
his own to Ellison. The latter was cool and
firm as a rock. He seldom spoke, and then
in cutting accents which added to the fast
growing enmity his opponent felt toward
him.
Perhaps if Mr.. Converse would finger his
glass less and his cards more, his game would
be more interesting and less easy to beat"
Ellison remarked.
Mr. Converse can take care of himself I'M
uder all circumstances, Converse retorted
Yes, he demonstrated his facility for
ago, when he won great stake, but not by
fair play"
L saw Converses face flush. He understood
the allusion to the old rivalry between him
and Ellison and its covert insinuation. He
started as though to say something but
stopped. The game went on, and soon after
Converse had lost every penny and his watch
and diamond-pin.
Ellison laughed sneeringly "Mr. Con-
verse should apply his methods in loye-mak-
ing to card-playing," he said.
What do you mean, sir?''
What you please Shall we continue the
gamer
Converse was white with fury The gam
bling spirit, mingled with hate and rage, was
on him. As if in answer to his unspoken
thoughts, Ellison said in his cold, exasperat-
ing tones: You lack a stake. | will hazard
all my winnings against the night-key of
your house. We will play three hands in
five for it,"
This monstrous proposition struck us all
dumb. Converse bounded from his chair
and gasped. He was speeches. In fact
the emotions of this great experience had
deprived him of the power of words. Ellison
alone was unmoved. He sat quietly tossing
the pile of gold before him with his white
fingers.
DO you consent?' he asked.
The loss Converse had sustained he could
not replace. Ruin was before HIM. On the
other hand, the privilege he was invited to
hazard meant, if he lost it, dishonor worse
than death, What thoughts passed through
that mans mind in a few seconds will never
be known. He grasped the back of his chair
stared wildly around and hoarsely muttered
YES"
You may imagine how breathlessly we
bent over the players now. They shuffled
the cards in silence. Ellison won the first
two deals. The next Converse won. The
fourth time, amid silence in the room deep
as the tomb, Ellison dealt and gave Converse
two queens, a jack and two nine-spots. The
latter drew one card and announced himself
ready. Ellison glanced quickly at him and
laid down four aces always though he had
stocked his hand.
you have won the key" said Converse.
He drew it off the ring, and then, quick as
lightning, crowded it into the barrel of his
revolver, Take it," and pulled the trigger.
Then he turned the weapon upon himself,
and fell dead upon the corpse Of his antago-
MIST whose brains bespattered the cards
which had destroyed their fortunes and honor
and lives.