West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-10-13
A REMARKABLE GEM,
FoRETELLINo GOOD OR ILL LucK-IT
SUDDENLY BURSTS IN rRAa.
MENTs AND LUCK DE-
sERTs ITS OWNER
FOREVER.

Some years ago, as you are proba-
bly, aware, there was man who be-
longed to the sporting fraternity OF
Chicago named Smith Crawley. He
was professional gambler, and had
the name Of being successful one.
He always wore in his shirt bosom a
large stud with an opal settiug-the
finest gem of that kind that / have
ever seen, aud one which / was 10
anxious to possess that ] offered him
q large price for it. He would not
part with it for any consideration.
He claimed that Ire owed all his sue
cess at the gaming table to that opal;
that it was an untailing talisman,
which indicated, by its color and
brightness, what luck WIS in store
for him. He invariably consults it
before eitting down to a game oi
cards. II his luck was bad, it was a
dull red color but If success await
ed him, it sparkled with various
bright tints. / don't VI , you to
think that ] took Crawley's word for
this. Ny interest in this particular
opal was 80 great that on several oo-
cssions l accompanied him TO his re-
sorts, at his solicitation, to test the
truth OF his assertion. l found that
what he had told me was perfectly
true; that the amulet actually un-
derwent the changes he had men,
toned just in proportion az his lnck
changed. Ii it was merely coinci-
denoe the unvsrying repetition of it
was something wonderful.
One night l went with him. said
the jsweler, earnestly, TO we'll
known gambling house on Clark street.
The game had no facinstion for me,
as / never played but Orawley was
a pleasant fellow to pass leisure
hour with, and, besides, had not
quite given up the hope OF inducing
him to part With that stud. The
talisman indicated a favorable con-
dition Of things, and Crawley took a
hand in q game OF poker with the
proprietor OF the house and several
other men. stood near his chair
and watched the game, The stakes
were Unlimited and the bets ran
high. Fortune favored Crswley from
the first, just as he knew it would.
glanced frequently at the opal ) il
seemed to increase in brillianoy each |
moment. until it glowed and spsrkled |
and scintillated with q variety Of ra-
dating lights that were beautiful in
the extreme. had never seen any |
thing like Ill it's effect upon me was
something like the charm Of a scr
pent, az 1 remember, and / found it
difficult TO remove my eyes from it
for a moment. / was the only per-
son ia the room, except the owner
himself, who knew anything about |
the alleged potency Of the gem. Craw
ley never revealed the secret TO any |
Of his fellow gamblers, as that would |
have warned them against playing |
with him. He won constantly his
opponents lost heavily.
Suddenly there was a sharp snap
ping sound that was heard through
out the room. CrswIey dropped his
cards and sprsng to his feet, pale ss
death. What has happened The
opal in his bosom had burst-had
gone to pieces ike a miniature bomb
shetland out oil It's gold setting it
tell TO the floor in a dozen fragments
/ had often heard Of opsls bursting
without any apparent cause, but this
was the 6rst time / had ever been
witness to such a phenomenon. OF
course it caused a great deal Of sur
prise and curiosity among The other
players and for q while everything
was forgotten in a discussion Of the
remarkable occurrence. Crawley at.
ter recovering from the fret shock,
which seemed to almost stun him,
tried TO make light Of the matter and
to shift the conversation to other sub