Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-04-15

had always promised himself that If
the day should ever come it would be
this souvenir of his only romance
that should do the business. But
now he found that he was tempted
to pawn the revolver, try his luck
once III ore, and then, il he lost-well,
the river was quite handy. The prob.
lem was never solved, however, for
Plug was reused, presently, from his
meditations by the happy voice of
child singing in high key a silly but
popular song. He looked around. al
most wondering how even child
could be SO free from care a to sing,
and he observed the little girl cross
ING the street toward him. swinging
tin pail in one hand and tripping an
impromtn dance-step TO the song she
was singing. "Humph - thought
Blug. rushing the growler from some
beastlv father or mother. That's
what's the matter with me. That's
what's the matter with rhe world. It's
bringing up No wonder we all 90
TO the bad" He had barely conclud-
ed the philosophical thought when
the child, a rather ragged little girl,
even though she did appear happy,
reached the corner where he stood,
turned and made for the side door OF
an all-night saloon a few doors away.
She did net even glare at him, but
tripped on under the gaslight, and aS
she did so something tluttered from
her disengaged hand. Plugs quick
ewes knew that it was dollar bill, even
before il reached the ground, and
with an impulse that was absolutely
uncomfortable he stepped quickly for
ward picked it up, and was secure in
the enterance to gambling den be
fore the child mad opened the door OF
the saloon.
The time had been when he would
have felt diSgusted with himself for
the act. But that time had long
passed 1t had gone with his old
bravado and his old ideas about
gamblers honor-it bad gone with
his youth and his remembrance Of
his mother and with his capabiIity Of
feeling shame He rushed up the
stairs, burst into the smoke-tlled
room, and even before he thought
placed the bill on the high card
1t won. The dealer laughed good
naturedly. An acquaintance cried
out, jokingly, Good boy, Plug
Another asked him where he had
borrowed the money, and then there
was q general laugh at his expense.
He did not mind it. Perhaps lie did
not hear it. He looked stolidly at his
bet and left it on the high card.
Again it won and now it amounted
to four dollars. Again the dealer
laughed and so did the rest. There
are strange things about luck. Any
gambler will tell you so. The high
card won six times in succession, and
Plugs stolen dollar bill now amounted
to the respectable sum Of si1ty-four
dollars. The crowd ceased laughing
The dealer. out ofpure charity, asked
Plug if he wanted TO let the bet stand.
Plug had been playing such a small
game for so long time that the deal
er hardly believed he had sufficient
nerve left to take such a risk. He re
ceived no answer, however, and as
silence gives consent in a gambling
room he proceeded to draw the cards.
Again the high card won. 1t was
one hundred aud 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 last 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 succession. 1t was be-
coming so interesting that the other
players forgot TO make their bets un-
til sharply reminded to do so by the
dealer Even he was "A little nervous
az he drew the next two cards He
muttered something under his breath.
too, when he saw that Plugs money
.l.,I,l..l -
said the irreverent youth, who had
been figuring for minute with a
pencil, hes won five hundred and
twelve dollars The dealer is in a
hurry now. He was afraid that Plug
would wake up to a realization OF his
phenomenal luck and depart v th 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. gruffiy:
the limit is FIVE hundred dollars
Still Plug was silent. 4 gambler near
him touched him on the sleeve and
said. What are you going to do
with itg'
"Won what asked Plug, almost
dreamily.
won a thousand dollars are you
asleep"
Plug did not answer. He reached
over and picked MP the pile Of money
and turned from the table The deal
er swore. The proprietor Of the
house. who had been watching the
play, called out, You amt afraid,
are you?" but Plug paid no attention
10 him.
The deal went on, and in Plugs