Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-25

assented and they started the game in
large state room. Four or five others were
present but they didn't join it. At first
the ante was trifing. AS Converse steadily
lost he insisted on raising it with each deal
and began drinking, 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, hav-
ing lost all of his own to Ellison. The
| latter was cool and firm as rock. He
seldom spoke, and then in cutting accents,
| which added to the fast growing emnity 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
under all circumstances Converse retort-
| ed.
eyes, he demonstrated his facility for
looking after his own interests, two years
| ago, when he won great stake, but not by
fair play
81 saw Converse's face flush. He under
stood 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 af
ter Converse had lost every penny, and his
watch and diamond pin.
ELLISON laughed sneeringhly. 'Mr
Converse should apply his methods in love
!. making to card-playing,' he said.
"'What do you mean, sir?
"'What you please. Shall we continue
the game?
Converse was white with fury. TIL
, gambling spirit mingled with hate ant
rage, was on him. As if in answer to hi
unspoken thoughts. Ellison said in hi
cold, incorporating tones, You lack
stake. L will hazard all my winning
against the nightkey of your house. w
will play three hands in five for it.
, This monstrous proposition struck u
9 all dumb. Converse bounded from hi
chair and gasped. He was speechless. L
{ fact the emotions of this great experienc
/ had deprived him of the power of word:
{ Ellison alone was unmoved. He sat quietl
. tossing the pile of gold before him wit
t his white fingers.
'Do you consents" he asked.
'The loss Converse had sustained b
, could not replace. Ruin was before hin
On the other hand the privilege he was in
|. vited to hazard meant, if he lost it, dis
/ honor worse than death. What thought
. | pdSSCO LldI H1dA ulAu III d 10
: seconds will never be known. He graspe
J the back of his chair. stared wildly aroun
9 and hoarsely muttered, yes
! you may imagine how breathlessly W
r bent over the players now. They shuttle
r the cards III silence Ellison won the frs
: tive deals. The next, Converse won. Th
t fourth time, amid silence in the roof
d deep as tomb, Ellison dealt and CAV
d Converse two queens, a jack and two nine
: spots. the latter drew one card and al
d nounced himself ready. Ellison glance
n quickly at him and laid down four ace
@ l always thought he had stocked his han'
70 "sYou have won the key said Convers
s He drew it off the ring, and then, quick a
g lightning, crowded it into the barrel of hi
l. revolver. Take it, and pulled the trie
n ger. Then Re turned the weapon upo
Y himself, and fell dead on the corpse of h
o antagonist, whose brains despatched tt
n cards which had destroyed their fo rtunt
n and honor and lives"