Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-04-25

cards high, and the first one of the
pack fell face mp. It was the eight OF
/ hearts
..Never in my life have seen emo
tions so portrayed in mans face as in
Harry Randall's. By the rules Of the
game he could not claim the fallen
card, but was required to take the next
| one. Despair. doubt and q sudden re.
solve showed themselves In his face
one after another, and then the young
| mau's eyes were fixed on the pack from
which Mort Henry had half pushed the
| next card.
sit seemed impossible that Harry
could have seen it, yet I would have
sworn that he did, as his face lighted
MP, and then would have sworn that he
didn't, as 1t blazed forth in anger the
| next instant.
81 I take that card he said. pointing
to the eight of hearts.
The card is out by the rules said
the doctor.
Don't be fool, Harry put in
quickly. for could see danger in his
expression.
Mort Henry dealt the next card,
which fell face down.
81 beg your pardon for that Slip he
said. steadily. The second card is
yours
What is it to you. cried Harry,
reaching for the eight. What have
you to do with it? You're not in this
hand and he put his hand out for it.
Rules said the other, briefly, set
Ting his hand over the others. The
heart is out of the deal
The young man burst ont: You've
got all my money, and now. when
you're not even in the game, you're
trying to cheat me-
cat the word cheat I saw Morris
eyebrows come down to straight line
as he turned full face to the young
man, still keeping his hand guarding
the card. Then both men reached be-
hind them, and the other three of us
had risen and were standing with the
prospect of murder before us. Harry
spoke first. Have you ever listened
through telephone when the receiver
was out OF order and the voice clacked
and ratified in your ear? That's the
way Harry's voice sounded 10 me when
he spoke:
Fair play. It's an even chance.
Put down your gum He laid his on
the table as he spoke. Mort did the
same. I believe l tried to say some
thing, but i. wasn't success
You've ruined my hand and me-
said Harry, his voice steadying as he
spoke. looking straight into Morris eyes,
which returned the gaze as straightIy.
It's matter of life and death to lSe to
%1~cx 81
like dog for what you did
He pulled his hand away from the
card and Mort seized his own pistol,
but dropped it again on seeing that the
other made no. movements to pick up
bis weapon.
Now continued the young maEs,
there's the card.. Fve got right to
call for my card fsce up when it's dealt
If that. card is a. heart, as. the other
was, we'll play tfae hand out If it's
NOT Mort Henry, Is will be death far
oneof us"
g For Gods saxe, boys, don't Go
this the doctor found voice to say. e
wouldn't turn thats card for anything
ON earth
..'Hll. tusnit,' said Mort, without a
.tremor
'sThere lay the two loaded PISTOLS.
and the two cards, enc face down, the:
.othen-face mp. The cnly sounds I could.
hear were II drumming noise IN my;
head the, short brnathing of Smithl
and the doctors foot shutting on the
floor With.his left hnnd Mort picked
up the card and turned it. at the same
Instant seizing his pistol with the:
right Tha card was the three of.
hearts.
Thank God! said somebody. Per-,
.hapsitawas,my own vance 1 heard II
don-tknow.- The firsS thing 1 renaem--
Der distinctly is hearing Harry say:
Go on. with the play, gentlemen
and then Irnade small bet mechanic
ally.-f orI should have, known better
Smah dropped, and the doctor, aftena.
long hesitation owing7to the fact that.
he had. a. good straight, saw me. but
both OF us>dropped VIXEN Harry pushed
his whole nile into tha.center.
Three of kind isn't much gcsi
against a fhsh, nor isa straight. Har-
ry, with.a,a long BREATH scooped in the
pct, and threw downtown clubs-kisg,
queen, jack and ten- and the three Of
hearts Ee had blufed.
THAT'S the last game of poker
will everyday he said, rising. Mort,
Task yonr forgiveness Will you shal1e
hands with me-?
'.'Yes,..said the other, after a mo-
ment's hesitation. 4 will. and CON-
gratul1ta: you on the greatest bluff 1
ever saw made. Eyem if my life:was
.involyed In it, he added. in an under
tone, as he graspesd HarTy's hand
That ended the game. Aftervard
Harry Randall explained his play to
me. Hs. had sized mp the doctor as
holding straiR ut, and he wasn't-nuch
afraid of the t1rees, that Smith and l
heidi
.tOfcourse, 10 didn't want the heart
that was turned ups as it wonld fin
neither the fash nor the straight, but
he caught glimpse of the next card
as Merit Henrf half dealt it, and saw it
was red.
This meant the ruin OF his hand,
hut In that raomene the lightning flash
Of an idea came 10 him, a3d he re-
solved on his bluff that risked his life
and Morris 1t was an even chance for
him, tor he knew only that the card
was red, and If it had been diamoa6i
there would have been tragedy.
g In spite of my GOODNESS in thinking
It all ont.' he told me, was furious.
and would have shot without hesita-
ton had the heart not turned. Whom
it did turn, Of course you fellows
thought that had filed. The blu0
was safe to go unless the doctor hAd
held a flush or full. Any way. had