The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-12

thousand dollars in American notes lay
in front of each of us. 1t was i've
sixths of my little fortune-tive-sixths
of all had in the world, and though /
knew that l must win, gave sigh of
relief as Col. Jackpotts quietly re-
marked:
81 guess I'll see your swagger hand,
mister"
laid my flush sequence to the ace
upon the table with triumphant smile.
"Thunderation!'' crieG Col Jsckpotts.
Then he suddenly stretched out his
great paw and spread the cards out.
And 10! there were sir cards-ace, king,
queen, knave, ten of spades, and the
eight of hearts.
81 am sorry for you, mister" re-
marked Col. Jabez Jackpotts, with a
benignant smile; that's foul hand.
Hand over them chips"
had lost.
How it happened I could not tell.
at must have occurred in the dealing, y
/ thought.
appealed to the bystanders; l Of.
fered to refer the matter to we'll
known American diplomatist, who was
looking on.
You have lost" he said, calmly:
''you should have examined your cards
more carefully. The laws of poker,
like those of the Modes and Persians,
alter not"
Col. Jabez Jackpotts carefully count
ed my great pile of notes, and they
went into his capacious pocketbook.
Then the party broke up.
That night opened my soul TO Mr..
Persimmon. 81 am ruined man, sir,
said; Il have lost all had in the
world except five thousand dollars.
had intended, Mr.. Persimmon, to ask
you for your daughters hand. That's
all over now, through my absurd folly;
shall never forgive myself, and I've
got to begin the world again
"Was Party fond of you, hoyP" he
asked, laconically. He did not give me
time to answer. Party c0s fond OF
you; she told me so herself. It's Il lucky
thing for you that Party is fond of you
for Party's sake I'll see you through
Senator Straddle and the doctor are his
accomplices."
The following evening Mr.. Persim
mon placed note-case in my hand.
''For Party's sake" said he, I'm go.
ing to lend you some dollars. Play
from that case, Mr.. St. John; there's
only one way of 'besting' scoundrel
like Jackpotts, and for Party's sake,
he's got to be bested. When l give you
the signal by taking out my handker
chief, you'll go on betting till all's blue
for Jackpotts has got to be bested. Try
and not lose your head" said Mr. Per
simmon. Your straight-hush hanG
was right enough last night. Jackpotts
is smart man; it was he who put the
eight of hearts there-I saw him do it
but if l, being your friend, had attempted
! to unmask him, no one would have be-
lieved me-" Then it all dawned upor
me for the first time.
We began to play. We had played
for about a quarter of an hour; it was
my turn to bet. had nothing in my
handwriting whatever. was about
to throw it on the table in disgust
when, to my horror, st,w Mr.. Persim
mon take out his handkerchief. gav'
him one look of agony; he only smiled
One by one, as increased the stakes
the players dropped out. had owe
forty thousand dollars staked in from
of Iae, and the money was DOT mine.
was Parthenia's fathers.
TN raise You five thousand, mister,
said Col. Jackpotts, in hollow voice
as he took out the very last of his bank
notes from his great pocketbook.
Ten thousand dollars BETTER"
cried, with affected calmness.
Il guess I'll write you check TO
ten thousand, mister, and then I'll Sc,