Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-03-12


received no answer, however, and as.
silence gives consent in . gambling-room
ae proceeded to draw the cards. Again
the "high card" won. It was one hun.
dred and twenty eight dollars now that
Plug had on the table. An irreverent
youth burst out laughing and said
Plugs luck must have been turned at
asst" But Plug was still silent. The
next turn made his original dollar two
hundred and fifty-six dollars. The
"high card had won eight times in sue.
cession. 1t was becoming so interesting
that the other players forgot to make
their bets until sharply reminded to do
SO by the dealer. Even ne was q little
nervous as he drew the next two cards.
He muttered something under his breath,
too, when he saw that Plugs money had
doubled again. "Great guns!" said the
irreverent youth, who had been figuring
for minute with a pencil, "he's won
FIVE hundred and twelve dollars" The
dealer is IN hurry now. He was afraid
| that Plug would wake up to a reallza-
ton of his phenomenal luck and depart
| with his winnings before the house.
| could get a chance to win them back.
He drew the two cards quickly" Plug
had won again. "One thousand and
twenty -four dollars" exclaimed the
youth with the pencil, "only one
thousand dollars" replied the dealer,
| gruffly; the limit is five hundred dol
lars" Still Plug was silent. A gam
bier near him touched him on the sleeve
and said: "Wake up, old man. You've
won the limit. What are you going to
do with it2"
"Won whats' asked Plug, almost
dreamiy.
"Won a thousand dollars-are you
asIeep?'
Plug did not answer. He reached
over and picked up the pile of money
and turned from the table. The dealer
swore. The proprietor of the house,
who had been watching the play, called
out, "You amt afraid, are your but
Plug paid no attention to him.
The deal went on, and in Plugs mind
there continued some thou yhts the like
of which had not troubled him fur
many year. He walked slowly up and
down the room several times, paying no
attention to the remarks of the men who
knew him, and who were either congrat-
ulating him On his extraordinary luck or
joking good -naturedly about it. Aud
none of them heard him 'mutter, as he
did several times, 'Stoten-stolen-
-stolen" Presently he walked to a win.
dow and threw it Open. he. leaned out
and looked down into the street. The
ragged little girl was standing under the
street lamp, just where she had dropped
the bill, sobbing with great hysterical
sobs. She was wringing her hands just
as an old woman would, and in the
strange light looked like a diminutive
old hag. He heard her cry out,
"Theyll beat mc-O Lord, they'll beat
me-" His ugly lips quivered little bit
and great tear fell from his eyes. He
waited moment, then drew down the
window very gently a4d walked out OF
the room
1.-THE high cards still in the deck,
Plug" shouted the dealer. But he did
not hear the words He was talking tc
himself. "I've played it through from
soda to hook, and it's no good-n,
good
The child was still weeping unde
the lamp when be reached it. He sale
nothing to her. He clasped her in hi
arms, though and kissed her. Then h
gave her a crea, roll of bills. it seemed
to her as thouch it was all the money j;
the worlc, there was so much OF ii, ans
sAe quickly ran home with it-even for
getting to thank him for It, if she kne7
how. He did not mind that, though
He was thinkin. OF worthless lie aac
the eud Of it.