Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-02-06
AGHOSTLY GAME

1 IlNvC 0kW0y0 W0OO4 AAOoS VSsO RV8y0E
and 1t Is nothing for me to dream OF the
most fantastic games with the most erri-
BILE odds, but ,he dream I had last nigat
50 peculiarly horrible that l will write
it down in my diary. 1t will be q good
story to tell the boys In the chapter next
meeting. and yet when get to thinking it
over IL doesn't seem SO much q Joke after
all.
1t Is a little too grewaOmo, In addition to
the fact that 1t brings up memories Of de-
parted friends, Of whom 1 can scarcely
think without unmanly moisture coming to
eyes.
We were great fiiends--Hugrs, Mason,
Bum and I-all friends and brothers in
the band. and many a friendly game of
cards have we played around the little
table in the ante room OF our chapter hall.
Now all are gone but myself. Huges died
three years agO-he wa my especial part
ner and chum-whiie Mason and Bum
died within. q week OF each other, both of
typhoid fever.
But to get back to my story. l dreamed
last night that ! wandered upint0 the chap
ter hall for some reason or other, and hav-
ing nothing else to do sat down at the little
table in the ante room shuffled the cards
idly for a while and then commenced play
ing solitaire. 1t was rather late at night,
but one Pickering gas jet | had lighted
showed me the well known details of the
old hall as distinctly as IN reality.
l had become deeply absorbed in the
game, as solitaire can absorb a rather s0Ii-
tary man, when all at once | seemed to be
conscious of other presences at the table
besides myself. l glanced up and there
opposite me in the very seat where he had
played partners with me a hundred times
OF more, sat Huges! l was somewhat
startled but not especially surprised, and
it seemed the most natural thing in the
world, on looking to my right and left to
behold Mason and Bum in their accus-
toned places. Their faces were calm and
expressionless, as: they always were at the
card tabIe-splendid players both of them,
always so quiet and self contained that
could judge nothing from their look, of
how their luck was going. But Huges,
who was more like myself in temperament,
smiled at me and said:
"Well, old fellow, what's the gamer
''Euchre," l replied camly, and gather
ing up the cards l shuffied and dealt them.
turning up hearts as trumps.
The others looked at their hands in ST.
lence, but l regarded mine with jubilant
satisfaction, for every card was a heart,
with the left bower and ace at the top.
All passed.
"Giye me your best, Tom, and II 60 It
Alone" exclaimed l in confident tones, but
Hughes face was anxious, as he slid a card
across the board to me, and said in q low
tone:
''Be careful, Will, you are plsying
against DEATH"
But when l looked at the card and
| fnrnd n vx,oc tho rsrvht hnuvoc -, rt~~
quite overpOwered the impression intended
by his warning.
Come on them" l laughed, 'l'll show
old skull and cross bones a good game"
But my grim antagonists said never q
word in reply.
They sat there silently holding their
cards In that prlm methodical way l re-
membered as characteristic OF them.
Mason lead with a club, Bum followed
suit. and l smiled triumphantly as l
trumped the trick.
IF that's the way his nibs of the white
horse puts up his game,"I remarked sar-
castlcally as l led with a low trump, 'Ill
engage to give him a few lessoAs."
But my laughter soon changed as l saw
the slip | had made, for Mason put on the
nine and Bum the qneen Of hearts. Then
| braced up. and when Bum lead with a
diamond J raked in the trick with a Il flourish.
Still Hughes was watching me a~nxiousiy
from across the small table.
Now" thought, II will draw that Joker
II either OF those fellows have it, after
which the game Is mine"
Accordingly, with well feigned diffidence
l led with my left Cover. But nv acting
was changed to reality when Bum drop
ped upon it with the right bower. NV
astonishment knew no bounds for l could
have Worn that Hughes gave me that
very Lard. was about to appeal to him
cut on looking across the table | saw to
my surprise that his place was vacant.
sui thought l have often made mis-
taxes IN sizing up my cards, and as the
game Is mine anyway I'll say nothing
about 1t. but play opt pluckily.
Bum lead with a spade-the ace-and
somehow as my eyes fell upon that oni-
nous sign my heart came up into nv
mouth. | laid my ace of hearts upon his
card, but had l played my own heart It
could not have been with more fear and
trembling. Then GREATNESS and without
raising my eyes from the table, l awaited
MasOn's last card.
Suddenly a shout of Rendish laughter
froze my blood, and the cold perspiration
s1aited nom my every pore, for as the
AAsu I o0W IL was ll0 joker
q grinning deaths head.
l had lost. started from my seat. but
my antagonists, changed in form and feat
ure to grinntng skeletons held me back. /
gasped and tried to strickland then
awOke! ~
! found myself sitting up in bed. wet
with sweat, and my heart beating Violent
". 1t Is a trile affected anyway. And
d0n.t care TO have any more such dreams.
ell. It's all nonsense being afraid Of =
dream, and II l have q whim [ NAV as we'll
Rraflfy It as fidget around and not sleen
any tonight. So after snpper IN walk
down to the hall and smoke a cigar there.
Extract From the W Courier
William Hooker, the well known lawvar
Of this city. died suddenly last nicht of
heart disease. He was fonnd sitting - :
card table in the ante room Of th6 i. q. 8.
y. hall and had evidently Just finished !
game Of euchre of which he was yery fond.
Three other chairs were at the table Int 40
no one was known to have been with him
ne had probably been playing the other
nandS as well as his " Hn IL . h.sh~-