Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-27
THE VETERANS LAST GAME.

The Old Gentleman Was Playing His Fa-
vorite Pedro When the End Came.
"Aint there some simpler game n this It
you drather play, gentlemen"
l heard the voice down in the center of the
car and recognized it, 1t was the old man l
had seen several times in my travels in the
cars and at the hotels. A roughly dressed
but fine looking. kindly faced old gentleman,
with bushy gray hair and plenty of good
natured creases around the eyes. He was
forever playing cards; never for money, but
always for the genuine love of playing, and
he played with hearty enthusiasm which
always drew around him number of inter
ested and amused spectators.
| arose and went back to where he was
playing now with three other passengers. and
sat on the arm of a seat to watch the game
''Seven I'll give" the old gentleman said
as he looked at his hand. "Seven's good, ehs
Save your clubs Two cards, please. How
many d. you draw, partnerl Two2 Ohol
Well get our seven then all right enough.
Well, gentleman, there's ace for high, now
put on your pedros. All, had it, eh? Well,
now give us the other one. Noa Well, try
em again then; there he comes. Give us
| fourteen times' And as his partner marked
down the score the old gentleman's eyes
| trenbled and he said Saint there some
simpler game n this It you drather play, gen
tlemen?'
Hour after hour the men played; the train
stopped at stations, passengers cotton and off,
occasionally player left the car, but new
man would take his place and go on with the
game went back to my seat and adjusted
myself for a nap. The car was warm and
permeated with the odor of oranges and pea
nuts AS we jolted and bounded along /
sleepily listened to the hum of conversation,
the rumble of the wheels, cracking OF the
| hot stoves and the occasional whistle of the
| locomotive. Above all l could still hear the
old veterans remarks.
''Theres for low. Put down your pedro.
Now take that if you can, and that, and that
Amt they some simpler game N this It you
drather play, gentlemen"
Amid the confusion of sounds dropped
asleep.
l had horrible awakening. Screams
oaths, crashing of timber, kissing of steam
and then a sensation of falling and dizziness
another crash, and | knew no more until
found myself lying on the ground with 9
| number of others who had been extricateG
from the wreck.
l was dazed, but not badly hurt, and for a
minute lay on my back trying, in a con
fused way, to realize what had happened.
heard groans and EXPLANATIONS of pain around
me, and then heard the voice of the Ole
gentleman.
"Passl" he said.
He was lying close to me and sat up and
looked at him. His fine old face was ashy
white. He was terribly hurt and delirious
and he kept repeating the phrases he had used
in playing.
'Seven! No, hold"-he quivered with
pain-"hold on" he said, 81 won't"-anothel
CONFUSION passed over him-''I won't bidr'
l took off my coat and placed it under hi
head. He writhed with paid "Take that
you canl" he said, land that! and that!'
A parting wrench convulsed his old frame
for moment; then he became quiet, hi
hand dropped to the ground, peaceful
painless look came over his face, and witt
his dying breath he said again:
'Ain't there-some-simp game-'n thi
It you-drather play-gentlemena'-Detroi
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