Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17
GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN.
He Calmly Listened 20 an Insult for the So
Of Sentiment.

----
He Calmly Listened 20 an In.ui, for the s.ks
OF Sentiment.
Fruu, the New York Tribune.
Il am believer" said the colonel. fitting his
chair and resting his perfectly polished boots
on one of its rungs. ''in mans natural gociness
/ had the pleasure once Of knowing an honest
gambler. liked him. too for he was = gentle
man. The days Of this class OF gamblers are
past however, and today they seem 70 be .
scurvy lot
Moore. when I knew him. NississipTf
river gambler. He travelled. in fact lived. on
the big river steamboats, He never attempted
TO conceal the truth about himself IL was
simply Gentlemen. am a gambler by occupas
ton. and good one. II Won care Go have no
play with YOU 10 will give me great pleasure. ~
ence'
Il go; 10 know Moore verv well. and soon
discovered thai when playing with the average
man. luck being equal, he would win ninetss
nine times out Of hundred. I never touched
cards. but used 10 like his society. He was
wonderfully entertaining tAlker. On sumrnef
nights the steward used 90 s..rve dinner on dss-k
for those who preferred 60 have IL there. After
dinner We would 40 up TO the hurricane deck.
and when Moore was ON board he would bring
out his flute and play for us. When the moou
was out. and thraw a thin blue veil over tho
water, or when the boat carving the pas=ens
gers swept 30 close to the shore that n brushed
the dark willows fhe bank. the rising and
falling notes that came from has instruments
were gentle music 20 the ear. I never knew
him to propose a game at cards liz would play
there until some one suggested game. wheu
ne would take his instrument apart and put a,
away IN an indifferent manner.
COOL WHEN TSsuLrEn.
Il watched him at play one night, when Satan
seemed to throw every card to this calm. self.
Cnl0fopaRi ma Thor. -
fact way about him which froze the ardor %
every one else except a Young man about
Twenty-Five wears old This PLAYER Ma in ia
luck. hut with flushed face and feverish eve
he made his bets furiously. only 10 lose every
time. II soon became evident that he wiz
PLAYING beyond his means. Moore must hsv.
noticed IT, FOR he ceased to bet heavily against
the Younger man. This angered the other
There was pot of $500 once and every one
had dropped out except Moore and the Young
man. Moore had been playing his hand like .
wonderful automaton, passionless. but sure,
No man except his opponent. perhaps could
doubt that he held the winning hand. Sud,
denly. when his rival bet $50. Moore laid down
his hand. saying. 4 won't bet. have nothing,
You PLAY ed that well
The young man reached out feverishlv 70,
the pile of money, and then his hand lay on the
table.
THAT is not true ne said. You have /.
good hand and you afraid to play 10
against me-
Moore shot a hot glance across the table az
him and two red spots flashed into his cheeks
. L lay down my hand he said slowly. but
with slight tremor in his voice.
And L say. added the other in a low tone
that YOU are gambler. aud therefore q COW
ard
Hush said. laying my hand on the
young mans sleeve. You don't know whss
you are saving. Tie is not a coward by any
1 manner of meaas'
The young man shook of nv hand yehes
mently.
HE is a coward he repeated. and I viii
answer Tor my words at the first landing
GAMBLERS MEMORY.
Il looked at Moore. had seen him sit on
the hurricane deck, a revolver in hand. and as
waiter threw champagne bottles over the rail
raise his swiftly and shatter the falling
glass with bullet. There were graver stories,
too. by far about his deadly aim in ducls. He
sat stiff and motionless with a terrible fire in
his ewes. ] was amazed by his next words
Docs the game 60 on he asked. quietly.
"'Not with You. said the Young man bend
ing forward, the veins H. his forehead swelling,
! Not until / prove that You afraid 20 bet
and with a sudden motion he thrust his hand
across the table and. Selling Moore hand,
turned the cards face upward on the table.
Il was on my feet at that instant TO arrest
! Moores right arm. for l felt that he wouk
draw his revolver at the insult. But hush
/ fell over those around the table and the hot
=
cards before him. -Four aces lay there-sn in
yincible hand. for straights were not played.
| There was blue tinge in Moore's white hps
and the young man looked bewildered. The
young fellow burst into tears.
I'VE can't play together any more, he cried.
! You threw money into my pocket because
was losing too much. 1 can't take it, he said,
rising from his chair.
'''lou can said the gambler in an even
voice. Il laid down NV hand. The money il
yours. Besides. he added with little shiver.
| Il held out ace on you.'
Every man at the table knew that Moorv
had lied. We ali got up and left the yuung man
sitting there before his money. found Moore
| shortly afterward on deck. looking into the
| darby whirling water.
| "'Give me your hand said. What in thc
| world did YOU meanl You never cheated az
| cards in your life
| Tut. tut he answered with little laugh
that was slightly harsh. he is only boy and
loved his mother once.