The Washington times., 1894-10-14
SHAKE DIcB OR DIE.
The Alternative Given TO Man Who Had
TO Beat Six Full.


The Alternative Given to Man Who Had
10 Beat Six Full.
The Hotel Mateo is about to change man,
| agement. and with tho change has leaked out
the story Of a shooting scrape that occurred
few days ago in the club house adjoining
the hotel John Lee, sr., owns the hotel; is
president OF the Pacific Canning Company,
and pays taxes on many broad. fat acres. Mr..
Waltemeir is proprietor of hotel and way
side house at Belmont. Both men are known
to many.
One Saturday evening not long ago Waile-
meir. who had taken an after-dinner drive up
tc San Mateo, dropped in at the hotel to ex-
change compliments with his acquaintances
and indulge in the gossip of the place. Be
ing on friendly terms with Mr.. Lee, he soon
fell into conversation with him. One warm
ing glass was followed by Others and the two
men became more and more loving and
brotherly. When game of poker was pro-
posed the two had one more drink and then
took possession OF the poker room at the end
Of the clubhouse. Everything went well un-
I'll Lee lost so on one hand. Then the
wranSiing broke out ana continued until the
game broke up. Lee turned and went to the
bar, but Nalemeir went to the billiard room.
When Lee i0und that Naltemeir had not tol-
lowed him. he called out:
''Sayl III shaae dice with you for S70.'
Its 20, answered Maltemeir. Il take
you up"
He then came to the bar were Lee was lean
ing, and waited 10 see If the capitalist would
put up his portion OF the stakes before plank
ing down his own money True to his word.
aa ia gold Of his nNekRf and
piled il up on the counter.
There they are he SAID. land they are all
sinners, every one OF Them"
''AIy own are Just as bright, bet" said
Waltemeir, as he proudly displayed handful
OF gold.
''stack EN- up, can't you, man?" asked
Lee. stack 'em, and let's shake
Waltemeir had some difficulty in counting
out his go. Several times he WAS oblged to
go back and begin again. He seemed bent on
Understanding the twenties and overvalu-
ing the tens. At last, in desperation, he
slapped the gold down on the counter, and,
by holding on 10 each piece with both hands,
calculating very hard and by accepting Lees
assistance, he managed TO make up his pile.
He then pocketed the remaining money and
called Tor one more drink.
Now. here you 60" shouted Lee. whose
voice had been given timber and resonance by
the stimulants. Now, here you-g-o-e!'
With that be waved the dice box heroically,
struck a melodrsmatic attitude, as ii address
ing an audience and called out, Now lookr'
''Sixes and aces, - said the barkeeper.
1.-TWO good pair. God hates coward.
Watch me hll.'' Lee rambled on.
Again he lifted the box. Bangl He brought
it down with a thump that made the glasses
ungle. The box was unsteadily lifted. and
Three skies and pair OF aces!'
Beat en- ii you CAM urged Lee in de-
light.
Waltemeir looked with dazed eyes at that
full hand and then glanced at his gold. He
paused he looked over the dice again 10 see
that the spots were all there and that it was
not an alcoholiZed dream. He was in no
hurry TO risk his so upon the touch. Lee
fdgeted, but Waltemeir hung back, smiled,
counted the spots again, and at last said:
MOT quite ready { shake. Les have
mother drink. Give US two straights."
''No, you don't" roared Lee, getting an
CRY. You have to shake those dice"
''I'l shukum-bimeby. ! amt in no hurry.
What use hurry thish worl, anyway Here s
to my luck-an your loss.'
Lee clicked glasses for sociabiIity's sake,
waited while Waltemeir slowly divided his
with splendid impartiality between mouth
and shirt bosom, AMI grew moro and more
impatient.
.Look here!" he shouted in wrath, as
Watomeir reached out an ayarieious but
weary hand for the pile OF gold. You needn t
try any dodgIng. You've got to shake those
dice.'
"shak nothin'r' retorted Waltemeir con-
! temptuously IN do jus 'si pIeash."
The Belmont man stood OF and eyed the
proprietor OF the Hotel Mateo IN scorn and
defiance. Lee glazed back The longer the
men faced each other the more infuriated
/ they became Each muttered flercely and
/ occasionally spat out remarks uncompli-
mentary and Irofane.
Suddenly WBItemeir grabbed for the gold.
| BE took Lee by surprise. He not only re-
! couped bis own SO, but in the scrimmage
| got away with 50 belonging to Lee. Lee en-
/ tered a vigorous protest and advanced to get
! that money into play again. WaItemeir
/ pulled q siX-shooter, but before he could un-
/ timber his artillery Lee had disarmed him
and VS. master OF the field.
"Now, you wretch, shake those dice or I'll
/ shoot you. roared the infuriated capitalist
Wabemeir shrieked back defiance, coupled
with an uncomplimentary epithet. and made
no move toward obeying Lees command.
''Shake, | say. or II shoot" again shouted
| Lee, beside himself with rage.
Waitemeir contemptuously refused, and
| glared at his foe with Dutch courage enough
| for an army.
Bang!
Lee raised the revolver and fred point
blank at Waltemeir's head. The two men were
! but few feet apart.
The bullet struck the rim of Waltemeir's
| hat, Just missed his head, and passed ont
! through the hats crown, leaving a hole big
enough to permit the passage of political
| speech. Waltemeir's face and eyes were
powder-burned, but otherwise he was unin-
| jured.
Seeing that his shot had not taken effect,
Lee raised the pistol to shoot again. But at
this iuncture two gentlemen happened to
enter the clubhouse. They instantly grasped
the situation, and one of them rushed for
ward and caught Lees arm just in time to
prevent q second shot.
The two dice shakers were separated and
escorted to their homes. Lee could not be in
duced TO part with Waltemeir's revolver. but
hourished it lively as he was being led away
He has the weapon yet.
Waltemeir still retains the S5 belonging TO
Lee, and II is understood that the men intend
to settle on the principle that ''fair exchange
is no robbery" and will not prosecute each
other.-San francisco Examiner.
Slaves OF Fashion.
Far away towards the setting sun, where
the light Of enterprise burns intensely by day
and by night, the head Of the family was en-
gagged with his second plate OF pancakes.
''Iy dear" he observed, Il have some