The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-05-21
LOVED HIS MOTHER.



ne Key % n Old MI.sIsr,ppt nivsr O.
hler's rnexpll sable Conduct.
X an believer in mans natural
goodness, said the colonel Wiling hin
ehair and resting his perfectly polished
bs,ots on one OF its rungR II had the
pleasure ONCE Of knowing an honest
knmbler. ! liked him, too. for he was
: gentleman The days OF this class Of
gamblers are past, however, and to-day
they seem TO be . scurvy lot
"Moores when saw him, was Mis-
sissippi gambler He travelled on the
BIS river steamboats,. He newer Ut.
tempted to conceal the truth about
himself. II was simply: Gentlemen,
am . gambler BY occupation, and .
good one. II You care to have me play
with you twill give me great pleasure.
II you don't IL doesn't mako . particle
of difference
got to know Moore very well, and
soon discovered that when playing
with the average man, luck being
equal, he would win ninety nine times
ont of hundred. | never touched
cards, but ! used % IiIze his society. He
was wonderfully entertaining talker.
OH summer nights the stewards used to
serve dinner on deck for those who pre-
ferred 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 MS.
When the moon was out and threw a
thin blue veil over the water, or when
the boat, carving the darkness, swept
80 close to the shore that it brushed the
dark willows on the bank. the rising
end falling notes that came from his
instrument were gentle music to the
sar. never knew him to propose a
game of cards. He would play there
until some one suggested game, when
he would take his instrument apart and
put it away in an Indifferent manner.
II watched him at play one night,
when Satan seemed to throw every card
to this calm, self-possessed man. There
was q cool. matter-of-fact way about
him which froze the, ardor of every one
else except young man about IS years
old. This player was in i'll luck, but
with. flushed face and feverish eye he
made his bets furiously, 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 young
err man. This angered the other.
"There was pot of $500 once, and
everyone had dropped out except Moore
and the young man. Moore had been
playing his hand like wonderful au.
tomaton, passionless but sure. No mar
but his opponent, perhaps, could doubt
that he held the winning hand. Sud.
denly, when his rival had bet $50, Moore
laid down his hand, saying: 4 won't
bet. have nothing. You played that
hand WE'LL
1.-The young man reached out fever
ishly for the pile, and then his hand lay
on the table. os.-
q That Is not true, he said. .Yor
have good hand and are afraid to play
1t against me-
Moore shot a hot glance across the
table at him, and two red spots flashed
into his cheeks.
81 lay down my hand he said slow
ly, but with slight tremor in his voice
land l say, added the other in {
low tone, you are gambler and there
fore coward
Hush, said, laying my hand OF
the young mans sleeve. You dom
know what you are saying. He is mo-
a coward by any manner of.means.'
"The young man shook off my hand
vehemently.
"'He is coward he repeated, 'ant
/ will answer for my words at the mex,
landing
81 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
quietly.
@Not with you, said the young man
bending forward, the veins in his fore
head swelling. Not until prove tha-
You are afraid to bet, and with sud
den motion he threw his hand acros
the table and seizing Moore's HAND
turned the cards face upward.
81 was on my feet at the instant t,
arrest Moore's right arm, for l felt sur,
he would draw his revolver at the in
suit. But hush fell over those arount
the table, and the hot-headed youns
man was gazing stupidity at the. card,
inr;no,hl. hand - stra;,h. 49,
go. - - TN g 81.
t;nas ~ Mncre,s 49, ~. "a AZ,
~-s@t 50 %@OO@N s'A1a>N %AR's ssAA& otA'