Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-07
The VETERANS LAST GAME.
The Old Gentleman Was Playing His Pa
Vorite Pedro When the End Came.

The Old Gentleman Was Playing His p
vorite Pedro When the End Came.
Amt there some simpler game n this {
you drather play, gentleInenf
heard the voice down in the center of the
car and re 'eSnized it. Ii was the old man
had seen ; veral times in my travels in the
cars and At the hotels A roughly dressed
but fine 10 king. kindly fa>ed or gentleman,
With oushy gray hair and plenty of good
natured ceases around the eyes He was
forever playing cards never for money, but
always toI the genuine love OF playing, and
he played with a hearty enthusiasm which
always dr,-w around him number OF inter
ested and amused spectators.
| arOss and went back 10 where be was
play Ing nov with three other PASSENGERS and
sat on the arm OF a seat 10 watch the game.
Seven III give" the old gentleman said
as he looked at his hand '-SeveB's good, eh
Save YOU clubs Two cards. please. How
many you draw, partner, Twof Ohoi
Wen get pur seven then all right enough
Well, gentleman, there's ace for high, now
put on yoir pe,iros. All, bad it, ehf Well
now give Is the other one Nol Well. try
EN- again then, there he comes Give Us
fourteen times And as his partner marked
doSn the sore the old geurIenan's eyes
trembled and he said; 'Ain't there some
simpler gJ.me n this I YOU drather play, gen
tlemenr
Hour after hour the men played; the train
stopped a stations, passengers got on and of
occasionally a player left the car but new
nsn woult take his place ard go on with the
game. vent bscG % nav seat and adjusted
myself foi Il nap. The ear was warm and
permeare,i with the odor Of oranges and pea
nuts. A We jolred and bounded along |
sleepily Ii tened TO the hum OF conversation.
the rumble of the wheels, cracking OF the
hot stoves and the occasional whistle Of the
locomotive. Above al could still hear the
old vetert MS remarks
There's for low. Put down your pedro.
Vow take that If you can, and rhat, ami that
Amt they some simpler game n this Z you
drather lay. gentlemenF
Amid he confusion of sounds I dropped
asleep
had horrible awakening. Screams.
oaths, CT; sh!ng Of timber, Kissing Of steam
and then a sensation Of falling and dizziness
another crash, and knew no more until |
found III self lying on the ground with a
number c; Others who had heen extricared
from the wreck
was dazed. but not badly hurt. and for q
fused VA. To- realize what had happened. !
heard gro ans and exclsmatious % pain around
me. and then heard the voice os the old
gentleman
PAS" De said
He Wa l,iug clo>e t. me and sat up and
looked a him His fine old face was ashy
white. lie was terribly hurt and delirious,
and be K. ~ repeating the phrases he had used
in playing
Seven, No. hold--he quivered with
pain-''h Ia On" be sad, Il Won 'tT-another
cOnyul>iCu passed over him won't bad -
took If nv coat and placed II under his
bead. n wrIthei with paid. Take thar-if
you cam he said. and that and that! -
pa-tln., wrench convulsei his old frame
for N ,ment, then he became quiet ms
nand dr. pred 10 the ground, a peaceful.
painless .oOk came over his face. ana with
nis dying breath be >aId again.
Amt some-SiDPler game-'n this
I you-d-atheT play-g-ntlsmen .'--Detroi,
Free Pres.