The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-05
HIS LAST CARD.
How Noted Gambler Played the Seven
of Spades and Won in Death.

81 was Just reading" said Denver sport
to Denver News reporter. about a man
winking his eye after his head was cut off.
Now, l know that have seen something just
as strange Twenty years ago there were a lot
of us took trip to Old Mexico to see what
we could scoop inland went TO bucking
heavy OH every game we could strik. One
of our gang-Bill Brewster-was q rafting
dealer a good hand at short cards, and always
had pCcketful of money till he got stuck on
Mexican monte.
Talk about your greasers infatuation for
the game. | never saw one of them that
could hold a marker to Bill. He'd get
broke. Then he'd get pack of cards and
deal himself. He'd turn the cards for any
body or for anybody when he was busted.
Sometimes he'd make raise and quit and
go TO playing faro, where he was, as a rule,
lucky. But no sooner did he get big stake
than the would tackle monte, and would
invariably get downed. Us boys tried to
persuade him to stick to a white mans
game, but no, he wouldn't have it. and was
almost all the time in a state of impecuni-
osity.
lone day Bill had established himself in a
pulque shop with his cards and was turning
them for anybody who wanted TO wager
cent. There was party of Mexican bloods
in the room, and finally they sauntered over
to Bills table, and one of them asked if he
would turn for 800. Bill said he would,
though he didn't have but SO in the bank.
The fellow slaps down his money and Bill
wins That made the Mexican mad and he
slsps down another. Bill wins again. The
third time and Bill scoops the pile.
THE Mexican asked Bill if he would turn
for him for 81 600 and Bill told him it didn't
make any difference if he made it 81 100000,
as the bank was able to pay ten times that
amount. The Mexican bet and lost. Then
he accused Bill of cheating. Bill called him
a liar
II was standing right to one side of Bill.
He had the cards in his left hand and had
hold of the bottom card with his right hand.
The Mexican's hand was on his gun.
Hold on said Bill; don't you draw till
/ make this turn. I'll bet you 81, 900 to 500
that it's the seven of spades
Done says the Mexican, who threw 500
on the table.
"Bill commenced pulling the card ont
slowly. The Mexican was watching There
were two black spots showed up, and Bills
hand stopped. Duck as flash the Mexican
drew his gun and fired Bill never moved in
his chair, but his right hand kept irs slow
motion until the card was drawn from the
pack and held up TO view. 1t was the seven
of spades The hand moved slowly back
again and the card was laid on the table.
Bill then leaned back in his chair and shut
his eyes.
I'VE were all so excited when the shot was
fired that we didn't know what to do, and,
as Bill continued TO turn the card, we sup
posed he hadn't been hit, but We fonnd out
differently when we examined him. He was
shot directly through the heart.
Now, / reason that thing out this way:
Bill was determined to convince that Mex
lean that he didn't know as much as he
thought he did. That thought was in his
mind when shot, and, though killed instantly,
his wishes were carried out after death. Bill
was game, too, and believe that if he hadn't
realized hat he was dead man when shot,
and hadn't wanted to win the Mexicans
money, he would have grabbed his gun and
done some execution with it.
That's why Il say man can do a thing af-
ter he is dead"