News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-12-17
THE TURN OF THE ACE.
A FORTUNE AND A LIFE LOST ON A
CARD.
A Story Told as True of the Early Days OF
Mexico.

|
A Story Told as True of the Early Days o,
Mexico.
"There used to be in the neighbor-
hood of Camargo," said an old frontier
lawyer, San old and wealthy ranchman
named Refugio Garcia. He was de
voted monte player. and his idiosyncracy
was the ace of diamonds. He had a
tremendous reverence for that card under
all conditions, but when it lay face up
ward on the&able, fanked on either side
by spade or club, his faith in it knew
no bounds He was said to have OBJ
tanned his superstition from dream of
his dead wife, who was scalped by
Lipans three wears before ] knew him
The most singular part of it was that 1t
rarely won. He had wasted away many
a fat COW on it when first saw him, but
threw away more afterward. When the
! first gambling booth was opened, and
before the trainmen had fairly prepared
for their opening night, Refuglo was
there, gazing patiently at the dealer, and
waiting for the game to commence.
| l knew him, as | said, when he had
money. l was with him during part
of his long chase after fortune, and was
to be with him at the death The train,
under the command of Juan Nandez,
arrived at Camargo and pitched its tents.
1t was big one, and brought lots OF
! goods and money.
There were several gamblers con-
nected with it. in fact, they were nearly
all gamblers by instinct, but the loudest
and the wealtmest ond the fanciest, the
man with the finest booth and the great
est quantity of money spread on the
table before him, was a Frenchman
named Antoine. He was the first man,
too, who was ready for business, and,
of course, he caught Refugio. I had
learned that he old man had sold his
last ranch Rw weeks before, and he
was supposedT3 have the money with
him. He entered the tent STOPPING low
at the entrance, and | followed him.
When he Strengthened up in the glare of
the lamps, I sa%-that his face was very
pale. His lips Switched nervously, and
his hands shook as he dived beneath his
vest and unfastened broad belt. He
spilled few gold coins on the table and
carefully replaced the remainder.
will play only little tonight, ,
he said: but Antoine, l dreamed of
Juliana last n gin, and shall win from
you
"The Frenchman showed his white
canine teeth and said in sibilant Spanish :
"Glad, very glad to see you, Senior
Garcia. The fair has only commenced.
We will have a long sitting. In two
weeks time you should win back all
H.
THE deal began, the ace of diamonds
rustled to the table, Garcia played his
money on it-and lost. Contrary to my
expectation, he arose and strolled list
lessly from the tent.
SO will play no more tonight, " he
said. You may not believe it, but am
directed
81 saw no more of him for a few days,
but learned that he had lost a few gold
pieces every night, waiting patiently for
his loved ace of diamonds, seeing the
money swept in by the happy fingers Of
the dealer, and then turning quietly
away. On the last night of the fair I
walked over to Antoine's tent. On every
side the hum of trade, the flashing of
lights, the swapping of castan cts, and
twang of guitars were accumulated by
the sense that on the morrow the vast
caravan woulGAea Ssne and the great
prairie lie bald and bleak in its loneliness
Inside the large booth excited players
were grouped round the table, and the
clink of dollars was incessant. Antoine
was dealing, and his usually mpas i've
face was flushed with mescal. Refugio
sat almost in front of him, with strange
drawn look on his features aud his great
heavy belt in front of him.
81 have here, he whispered, patting
it excitedly, the bill of sale to 500
mares and 800 gold eagles, Sill, 900 in
all. am waiting for my fate, and
shall win
Antoine glanced across the table at
him nervously, l thought, and raked
together his cards for fre,h deal His
fingers trembled as they felt Refugio's
eyes on them. The cards we're shufIled,
cut by the right hand man, and the first
az O s'.ss ~ nee. hoy
clubs. A few pesos were placed on the
deuce, and, turning his pack face down
ward, the dealer drew the bottom card,
and with slight graceful motion tipped
it on the table 1t was the fateful dia
mond ace. Refugio reached over and
showered handful of gold pieces upon
it. The next card was the four of spades,
and it futtered down by the ace. lie
fugio's painted shibboleth was fianked
on either side by the club and spade.
"'Do you take tapp he said to An
tome.
''Bet all you like, said the latter. saw
agely; and, pulling out drawer of his
table, he showed the ranged columns of
coin.
"' Eleven thousand pesos on the ace,'
said Refugio, emptying his belt
1.-The game paused, while slowly and
quietly Antoine COUNTED the money. He |
examined the bill OF sale carefully. ex.
pressed his satisfaction, said the money
was correct, and, while the black and
blue eyes Of the assembled Mexicans and
Americans were fastened on his wiry
fingers with an eager interest, resumed
the deal. You know Mexican monte, of
corsef In placing his money on the
ace, Refugio simply wagered that, the
deck being turned face up and the top
cards removed successfully and placed
on the table, an ace would show up be-
fore four. Tho tent lamp fickered fit
fully, the figures around the green cloth
seemed carved of stone, and the deal
went on. Refugio sat with his face hid
den his he ID resting on his hands The
urly F e4chman showed no emotion.
Suddenly, a. the cards sunk one by one
to the boards, there was an universal ex-
clamation from the watches. The top
card slipping down disc osed an ace.
You have won,' said Antoine, and
he counted out the money. 1t left his
drawer and table bare lam a ruined
man, he added simply, and walked out
OF the tent A moment lateIwe heard
pistol shot W.Aound HIM not ten
PAGES from the spot of his ruin, a bullet
in his heart. A tiny jewelel pistol, a
woman's weapon, lay neal his out
stretched and nerfeIess hand On the
handle was chaseasn letters o. silver the
single word, 'Julims'
Had he known. Refugio's vife2"
81 think not. fs.nply coincidence"
A SHERIFF (utWltted. {
A correspondelkf the Dexter {Me.) :