The Mena weekly star., 1896-09-16

His hand shook perceptibly, and for the first time the colonePs face rela2ed- he smiled grimly as he laid down Tour ateS. The lawyers face had been pale. put il grew almost ghastly as he showed ms hand He had caught the jack Of hearts lt the draw, and had won the pot
 The doctor watched him curtously, even more so than the others, though the entne party was surprised. To his protesslout, eve it looked as if the excitement would culnninate in fainting fit That, for no ment was indeed imminent; then the mag nifcent nerve which had made the lawyer famous stood him in good stead, anu ne rallied by a supreme effort. Once more ms hand was as steady as clockWoIk as ns reached out and drew the great Die ol chips and gold, and bank bills toward him.
 It was not, however, until after ne nad done a strange thing that he could com mand himself sufficiently 70 speak; Anu asl while he was doing it the others looked on in silence They had seen four aces peat en by a straight flush. but even the excite ment of that was in allowance, a .,er Sonlig comig strange climax was coming, anu hOle SouAN even guess what it would be.
 First he counted out from the pile twenty s1OO bills. and. folding them togeth&er & TaeH Tast bet he placed the roll in his pocketpo94ks, and closing that carefully, put It into ms most a gasp-as if of relief. Next he counted out g. eco more and pushed IL over to the colonel who looked at 1t and at am in wonder The remainder or the pot.9a goodlv surn-lay in a confused heap in front of him, and before speaking he look ed at it steadily for space WheIssih s -eiso oiso might count fifty. At lengtn ne saIus ia40 ing his hand as if registering an oath:
 T am done with poker nave nolnlns to say against the game. You ai AhoM IN how well I love to play. To my mind tnere is TO other sport that equals it. None ! believe shows the skill and the Inetlle M ~ Q man as this does. Yet, IoVlhg lne sllI llo as well and admiring 1t as much as uo' I give it up from this moment. iOIeFsLse I have stepped across the boIqer llle t " dishonor tonight The money | nave to Ju7s ,5e
 
 | last evening by a client to be paid out !Ils | morning and if I had lost could nor ll.l- IT | ynodia+eIv have replaced 1t. had It III nv nassession simply because l had not | tha opportunity to deposit IL, ana IT enS lS | excitement of the game forgotl InaI t, q F : | was not my own. The fascination tnae I | could make me do a thing like that is one one | that I dare not risk again. Then, as lae t | last S2,0O0 l bet was not my own, TahiaVs a'Ja | touch the money l won with It. hdse | ret,,rned if to the colonel, and, as you, SIT, would never have betted against dishohe st : | money it is as if it had never 1eeh at | stake and consequently 1t is yours. . l The colonel bowed and picked up tne piaA- .iAs to tbe rest of this,'' continued the | AS, <AS 'V nointfng to the pile which he had | not vel disturbed ''L am in doubt csl !. l tasnfv won it. but I am emDarrasS,e ~ . as | ouifting a friendly game with such neaNy gginninss' It is not a question of right, but | of deHcacy, and | prefer 10 put ia s tO {i ior, | es a iury. whether 1 owe you satlsIactlon -1 Ha pi'5 15ansed. and still no other man spoke
 h | It was as if each one was waiting TOT 'ns | others So the lawyer spoke agall1T an, ,r l ssWhat am I to do?7 ne salo- an !" | the hands of my friends. ryo ~va, l They all looked at the colonel ne "o' | the oldest in the party. oo;~.
 T am mans censor saa saia he 'Neifhe Sgffn' So care to consider the morals or tn
 question but have srs seen fabe man after Rs hal 1 9a ga .aT 1,,foat vol have done and lost, as you did not ssif wifh thea money sa tha | . .!o ,o+ vo1,r own even though you dl
 it inadvertently you could Scb not 50Ten yo yVo wo
 winnings. But as to that WniUh sS,pe yUa tha Te | wifh yoilr own money-are you suio eio
 you will never play again!
 Absolutely" said the lawyer h.u
 sTrhen pocket your money. we nav
 played together. we five. for more @ than nI1c
 year now, and I doubt II you are are HnuC 1,aS
 ahead of the game, even counting yos | winnings tonight" ,
 He extended his hand, and the ti' iawg'
 p-rasped it nervously. One after anoIn'
 Sthe three others shook hands with nil | also. and the game was over.