The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-07
WITHIN AN ACE.

ing camp few miles north of D., and
had promised to give them chance to
win back their 1osings.
Their names were Dodson and Mowyer.
The former was a little fellow, while his
partner was tall and powerfully built and
spoke with peculiar yet rather pleasant
drawI.
Early on the appointed Sunday morn
ing I set out for Round Hole, and when
arrived stopped at the Big Strike sa-
loon, where was to meet my two victims.
Presently they came riding up to the door
and diSmounted. AS they came in 1t
struck me they acted rather formal. bod
son nodded. Then Mowyer said, in that
peculiar drawl of his, "Well, seems yer
afore US, s'pose ye don't mind takin some
thin fer luck?' And 1 joined them at the
bar.
Shortly after we were seated at table,
and it was Dodson's deal. The deck we
had belonged to the saloon. The night be-
fore Desperate had been shot in this same
room, and when Dodson picked up his
hand he found on one of his cards fresh
blood stain. That was enough for him.
don't think there was anything that
wouldn't happen to US. he said, if we used
those cards. So we threw down our hands.
Seeing in this golden opportunity, 1
quickly produced g deck from my pocket
and gave it to Mowyer, as it was his deal
next in order. For moment he hesitated,
and then, looking at me from under his
shaggy brows, drawled out, "Well, pard-
ner, / s'pose this decks all right, but
seems how this amt no make believe
game we're a-goin to play here directly,
reckon 'twon't do no harm to make sure.'
So he began carefully to suit them, one by
one.
The only mirror Round Hole could
boast of was over the bar in the Big
Strike saloon, and while he was busy
with the cards 1 noted how plainly you
could see his reflection in the glass. Ali
1 could make use of that glass later on,
for it would tell me whether he held any
aces to spoil the effect of those had in
my sleeve, for we were playing poker.
Before we commenced a stranger came
in and asked leave to join US, and soon we
four were deep in the game of bluff. "
Before the first hand had been played be-
came conscious of Mowyer' eyes following
my every move. He was watching me
like cat. And, stealing a glance in the
mirror, saw his big six shooter was lying
in his lap. So he was suspicious? Very
we'll; would risk nothing until big
money was at stake.
We played for an hour. Dodson and
were ahead, Mower and the stranger were
losers, and then the critical moment came
nearly everything on the table was in
the pot. Mowyer had bet his last dollar
and ''called' In the excitement I
worked in ''oold'' ace, at the risk of my
life, played it safe and won the pile on a
"shoWdown." If five aces had come out
that time, there would have been another
tragedy at the Big Strike.
Mower was out. I held most of the
''dust,'' but Dodson and the stranger were
| not ready to quit, SO another hand was
dealt. 1t was the strangers deal. 1 had
noticed he was very light fingered, and as
| he shuff1ed the cards 1 saw him slip one
! up his sleeve, but saiG nothing. 1 was
| playing i'll luck, and after he and Dodson
| had staked everything "called'' them
! and won the pot again-fair and square
| enough this time.
| Well, we separated, and 1 mounted my
| broncho and started back to D., 81. 800
| ahead. But had barely got out of sight
! of the camp when, looking back over the
| road. 1 saw cloud of dust, with now and
then a glimpse of horsemen. When they
came nearer, saw they were headed by
| Mowyer, and I drew rein. In a moment
they had come up and formed circle
| around me. Mowyer dismounted, and
/ stepping forward drew his ugly looking
I six shooter and commanded me to dis
| mount also. He simply said:
''Would yc be good as to let US see
| them there same cards again!' The others
were griInly silent.
1 complied oarelessly, with gamblers
| nerve-but with a sinking sensation at my
| heart.
s.Now, pardner,F' he resumed, 1--WE be
| a-goin to count these cards again. #
they're all straight, we'll and good. But
| if there's card more'n there ought to
be, ye can say yer prayers. I reckon ye
know" he added significantly, whether
there is or not, 'thout US countin." And
he proceeded, laying c N card out by it
self on the hot, dusty road.
| If had only put that 'tcold'' ace out OF
! the wayt thought now was as good
as E'done for
We were all watching Mowyer. He had
come to one ace, and now another-dia-
monds and spades. Shuttle, shuttle, shut
| fie, now anothor-cIubs; shuttle, shuttle,
every one intently watching. Now only a
few cards left, now only seven-six-fve.
All, another, the ace of hearts. A slight
murnur through the crowd and then ST.
lence again. Slowly now; shuttle, shuttle,
five and four gone. Now only three left,
now two; so, then, it was the last card in
the pack. And now the last oard-and it
was the deuce of diamonds!
That fifth ace had not been found-and
was the most surprised man in the party.
Again we parted, and as 1 resumed my
way it suddenly came to me like flash
about the stranger at the Big Strike sa-
loon and the card L saw him slip. Yes,
knew now where the fifth ace was.
And as think it over now 1t seems, in
deed, was pretty near to death that time
-'twithin an ace of it, - one might say
Claude W. Turner in Chicago Herald.
Old Mirror Superstitions.