The Wahpeton times., 1891-04-16

z n nt1odos III tsaato s0S y IA old.
N NJ ims HSassissip niss, slsss

goodness said the colonel i 3 ~ EfI,a
Merrill Record quotes him. ..I h had
the pleasure once Of knowing an honest
gambler. / liked him, too, for he was
q gentleman. The days Of this clasa
1 OF gamblers are past, however, and to-
day they seem to be a scurvy lot. ss,ss s.,.ss
Moore, when saw him, was q Mih.
sissippi gambler. He Travelled, in facf
lived, on the big river steamboats,. III
never attempted to conceal the truth
4 about himself. 1t was simply: GeNl
tlemen, / am a gambler by occupations
and a good one. If you care to have
me play with you it will give me ereat
pleasure. If you don't it doesn' t make
a particle of difference" q
got to know Moore very we'll, and
/ soon discovered that when PLAYING
with the averageman, luck being equal
would win ninety mine times out al q
hundred. / never touched cards. but I
used to like his society. He was O. won
derfu!ly entertaining talker. on sum.
mer nights the stewards used to serve
dinner on deck for those who preferred
to have it there. After dinner we
would go up to the hurricane deck
and when Moore was on board he
would bring out his flute and play for
us. When the moon was out and
threw q thin blue veil over the water
or when the boat carving the darkness
swept SO close to the shore that +
brushed the dark willows on the bank
the rising and falling notes that came
from his instrument were gentle music
to the ear. / never knew him to pro.
pose a game of cards. He would plav
there until some one suggested game
when he would take his INSTRUMENT
apart and put it away in an indiffersh
ent manner. ~
II watched him at play one night.
when Satan seemed to throw every
card to this calm, self possessed man
There was cool, matter -of-fact wov
about him which froze the ardor of
every one else except a young man
about 25 years old. This player was
in i'll luck, but with flushed face and
feverish eye he made his bets furious
ly, only to lose every time. It soon
became evident that he was PLAYING
beyond his means. Moore must have
noticed it, for he ceased to bet heavily
against the younger man. This anger
ed the other.
"There was a pot of $500 once, and
every one had dropped out except
Moore and the young man. Moore
had been playing his hand like won
derful automaton, passionless but
sure. No man but his opponent per-
haps could doubt that he held the
winning hand. Suddenly when his
rival had bet $50, Moore laid down
his hand, saying; Il won't bet. 1
have nothing. You played that hand
WE'LL
"The young man reached out fever
ishly for the pile of money and then
his hand lay on the table. &
"That is not true" he said. you
have a good hand and are afraid to
play it against me-
"Moore shot a hot glance across the
table at him, and two red spots flash
ed into his cheeks.
"I lay down my hand" he said,
slowly, but with slight tremor in his
voice.
"'And say" added the other in a
low tone, you are a gambler and
therefore coward
'Hush,' I said, laying my hand on
the young mans sleeve, You don't
know what you are saying. He is not
q coward by any MEANS
''The young man shook off my hand
vehemently,
He lisa coward, !" herepeated, sand
Twill answer for my words at the next
landing
II looked at Moore. He sat stiff
and motionless, with terrible fire in
his eyes. was amazed at his next
words.
.'Does the game go on?' he asked
".Not with you,' said the Young
man, swelling. Not until prove that
you are afraid to bet,' and with O sud-
den motion he threw his hand across
the table and seizing Moore's hand.
turned the cards face upward on the
table.
II was on my feet at the instant to
arrest Moore's right arm, for I felt
that hewould draw his revolver at the
insult. But a hush fell over those
around the table and the hot-headed
young man was gazing stupidity at the
cards before him. Four aces Law there
IAN invincible hand, for straights
were not played. There was a blue
tinge in Moore's white lips and the
| young man looked bewildered and
burst into tears.
"We can't play together any more
he cried. "You threw money in my
pocket because was losing too much.
can't take it, he said arising from
his chair.
"'You can't said the gambler in an
even voice. 4 laid down my hand.
The money is yours, Besides, he add
ed with a shiver, Il held out an ace on
YOU
every man at the table knew that
Moore had lied. We all got up andleft
the young man sitting there before
his money. / found Moore shortly
afterward on deck looking into the
darkly whirling water.
Give me your hand 1 said,
What in the world did you mean?
You never cheated at cards in your
life.' q
!" Tut, tut he answered, with q
little laugh that was slightly harsh,
he is only y, boy and ] loved his moth
@ Ess.
The feminine termination has fallen