Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-16
WITHOUT LIMIT.
ReCOlleCtiO1S of Some E0aU
Poker Games by an
Old Stager.
Tragic Ending of a Same.

Chic,go Herald.
"But by all odds the most interest.
ing game / ever saw was on the Belle
Lamar, In 1857. There were circum-
stances connected with 1t which made
1t IN all. absorbing event to the few
people who understood what 1t really
meant. The players were two only.
They are both dead, and probably all
their descendants have followed them
to the grave, 30 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 q small town In Kentucky a
beautiful girl named Alice Crsyton
She had o number of sultors, but Ct
all of them two only seemed to meet
with passing favor In her eyes. One
was a rich young planter named Hor-
ace Ellison, and the other q young
lawyer, recently from the north,
named Converse. Ellison had the
advantage of his rival 10 looks and
accomplishments. He had travelled
extensively, was well read, polished,
aud bore the reputation Of being q
dare devil In affairs OF gallantry, and
was said to be not over upright or
honorable In his affairs with m
He was the sort of a nan to attract
most girls. But Miss Crayton pre-
ferred Converse, plain young
fellow, and ioslly married
him. Ellison, after swearing
to i. be revenged, went abroad.
In the course of a year Converse and
wife went to New Orleans to live.
Two years after their marriage Con.
verse, returning home on the Bale
Lamar after o business trip north, dis.
covered his old rival, Ellison, among
the passengers. All feelings CT resent.
ment had died out in his heart and
he greeted Ellison heartily, the latter
returning the hsndshake with well
simulated warmth. For q day the
two men chatted together sgreeably,
to all appearances good friends. The
next evening Ellison proposed q little
game of draw to while away the mo-
monotony of the voyage Converse
readily %assented, aud they started the
game In q large state room, Four or
five others were present, but they
didn't join 1t. At frat the ante was
trifing. Az Converse steadily lost,
he insisted or raising 1t with each deal,
and began drinking, a rare thing for
him to do. His IL. fortund continued,
and alter o sesnce of two hours he be-
gan to borrow money from his friends
in the room, having Loaf all of hid own
to Ellison. The latter was cool and
firm IA a rock. He seldom spoke, ana
then in cutting accents, which added
to the fast growing enmtty his oppo-
nent felt toward him.
"'Perhsps If Mr.. Converse would
finger his glass less and his cards moro
his game would be more interesting
and less cary to beat Ellison re-
marked.
"'Mr. Converse can take care Of
himself under ell circumstances Con-
verse retorted.
eyes, he demonstrated his facility
for Looking after his own interests two
years ago, when be won a great stake,
but not by fair play
N "a Converse's face flush. He
understood the allusion 10 the old riv.
airy between him and Ellison, and its
covert insinuation. He started, as
though to cay something, but stopped.
The game went on, and soon Converse
had lost every penny, and his watch
and diamond pin.
ELLISON laughed sneeringly. 'Mr.
Converse should apply his method
In love making to card playing he
said.
"What do you mean, sir2'
"What you please. Shall we con.
tinue the game2'
"Converse was white with fury.
The gambling spirit, mingled with hate
and rage, was on him. As II in answer
TO his unspoken thoughts. ELL
son said In his cold, exasperating
tones:
"'You lack o stake. I will hazard
all my winnings against the night key
of your house. We will play three
hands In five for It,
"This monatrous proposition struck
rs all dumb. Converse bounded
from his chair and gasped. He waa
~speechless. 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 hin
with his white fingers.
"'Do you CONSENT he asked.
"The loss Converse had sustained h,
could not replace. Ruin was befor,
him. On the other hand, tho privi-
lege he was invited to hazard meant, 4
he lost IL, q dishonor worse thar
death. What thoughts ran through
that mans mind in 4 few seconds will
never be known. He grasped the bacl
of his chair, stared wildly around ans
hosrsely muttered YES
"You may imagine how breathlessl,
we bent over the players now. They
shufled the cards In silence. Ellison
won the first two deals. The mex
Converse won. The fourth time
amid q silence In the DON deep as tn,
tomb, Ellison dealt and gave Convers,
\ two queens, a jack and two nine.spots
The latter drew one card and an
nounced himself ready. Ellison glance'
quickly at him and laid down fou
aces. 1 always thought he hst
stocked his hand.
"'You have won the key sal
Converse. He drew 1t off the ring
ana then, quick as lightning, crowde
1t into the barrel of his revolver
Take It, and pulled the trigger
Then he turned the weapon upo
himself, and fell dead upon tn
corpse of his antagonist, whose brain
hrnnnAAnrrL Ahn nnrIn nhinh hnA A.