The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-02-07
.THH YAKIMA HERALD.
n. Wiard Teak a Hand.

cards. Poor who was In the Gus |
ter affair, and / were on our way to the
front to be at the death. We were both
captains In the same regiment, and he |
was quarternaster. We had Just left
Washington, and sat quietly smoking
when two men in the car asked rs to
make up euchre table OF course, the
game drilled into poker in q short time,
and after losing all 1 cared to risk Iquietly
dropped out and gave my whole attention
10 watching the two strangers, who, sus-
pected, were systematically cheating, but
whom could not detect in any unfair
play. The hands ran small and thegame
dragged. Once, when all three were in,
one Of the strangers bet fifty dollars, and
when the captain refused to call, exposed
q worthless hand on the table with an
evil laugh. / noticed, though, that the
other stranger did not indulge in like
folly, neither showing his hand nor call
ing. The next deal the captain received
four queens and q small card. There was
lively betting before the draw, and then
he drew king. l saw the king as he
picked Il up. The dealer drew cards, how
many / do not remember, and the other
stranger, after some clumsy hesitation,
declined to stand his hand, holding the
age Presently the dealer, the man who
had once bet fifty on . worthless hand,
raised the captain q hundred, and the
age man who had stood his hand, drop
ped out. Then the storm that had been
brewing broke; the dealer made no dis
guIse Of consulting with his mOneyed
partner, and the captain no longer tried
to look g IL he were blufIing. Out Of
their combined funds the strangers man
aged to make q raise Of q thousand dol
lars. Their cards lay on the table in
front Of each, the dealers arm lying
across the pack as he looked triumphant
ly at his adversary. The strangers had
evidently gagged the captains resources
to . fine point. As the train stopped Il
leaned over him and whispered . word q
warning, while the seape across the table
scowled a. II he would like 70 plck quar-
rel with me for interfering.
clay down such q hand as that ?
Nonsense was all the satisfaction l got
from the captain; but he held up his
hand for my inspection, and assure you,
sir, on my honor - gentleman and an
officer, that in place Of the stray king l
had seen him draw was an ace, an ace Of
diamonds, sir, aanking his four queens.
OF course the hand was not intTinsically
worth more than before, but the where
abouts Of that floating king had become
an important factor, and when the cap
tain asked me 70 lend him money, de-
termined TO see the thing out, and emptied
my pockets as eagerly rs be DID, UniOr--
tunately, had but seven hundred dol
lars. and, all told, we could only muster
eight hundred.
80 Not enough, " sneeHd his opponent,
with an insolence that made me IN turn
long for the row he evidently sought.
"'will you take my watch and chain
for the balanceF asked the captain.
Not much; we amt pawnbrokers.'
And his companion added, Wen show
you what we are, Il you want to know
bad, when the game Is DONE
The pair had thrown OF all disguise,
and looked just what they were-twO
iOurth-rate sharps.
4 call . sight for the money on the
table, and the captains voice showed the
seli-cOntrol 81 an angry man.
The two gamblers broke into Q loud
laugh, and TIE dealer reached for the
money.
stop, sayi Il Is q call for that
snm, by thsfules Of the game
The hit b! We don't play no
such child's game. It's play, pay or
travel
Just here, benevolent, pious-lOok-
ing patriarch Across the aisle, who had
watched the game with . sort Of minister
lal interest in original sin, quietly handed
q roll of bills 10 the captain, saying, in Q
sing-song nasal tone:
Friend, II thee will gamble, thee
may use my money 10 thy salvation
The captain hesitated; but the gam
bling fever conquered, and the peaceful
calm On the face Of his new ally reassur-
ed him. His face fell, however, as be
toand only the needed two hundred-not
enough to teaeh the gamblers their own
lesson. With an air Of disappointment
he flung the bills on the board. With an
insOlent lssr the gambler turned his cards
face up with one hand, while with the
other he reached TO draw in the money
reached only half way, though, for his
jaw dropped and his face grew white with
rage and astonishment as be saw his own
cards facing him. Three secs and two
kineBl The wandering king had found
shelter, and the ace Of diamonds was Q
hostage Of war with the captain.
Jim, you're q fool, . -iOolp Kissed
the dealer pal. How did Ii happen"
"'Happenp shouted Jim. I'D take
ten year TO know who happened III
'Tweren't yOu,' he said to my friend, who
sat astonished ct the outburst, but watch.
full Of the money; or you, he said to me,
yer don't know enough; but the cards
was oil right until Curse me, II l
don't believe that canting old Quaker
played Il on Us. Who are ye, anyway
and Jim started toward the old gentle