The broad ax., 1896-04-11
WITHIN AN ACE.


vest. I had neeced o couple Of miners q
a snug sum at Round Hole. small MN
ing camp q few miles north OF D, An
had promised 10 give them cnsnoe =
win back their losings-
| Thetr names were Dodson and Mowyez
Fbe former was q little fellow, while n
nartner Wa tall and powerfully built an
spoke with peculiar yef ratnor p'sz's>n
drawl
| Early on the appointed Sunday morn
ing sst out for Round hole ana snen
arrived stopped at the big cthhe so
loon, where I was 70 meet my two vict,ns
Presently they came riding up 70 the GOO
md dismounted. As they came IN !
struck me they acted rather formal. Doc
son nodded. Then Mowyer said, In sha
peculiar drawI Of his. "Well, seems yol
sfore us s'pose 70 don't mind takin some
thin fer Iuckf" And Joined them st Tn
bar.
Shortly after we were seated at Q table
and it was Dodson's deal. The DECK Va
had belonged to the saloon. The night Do
fore a desperate had been shot In this sams
| roora, and when Dodson picked up MI
hand be found on one Of his cards fresh
blood stain. That was enough for him.
don't think there was anything that
wouldn't happen 70 Us, he said, We used
those cards. So we threw down our hands.
SEEING In this q golden opportunity,
quickly produced q deck from my pocket
and gave it to Mowyer, as it was his deal
next In order. For q moment be hes1tateo,
and then, looking st me from under MS
shazgy brows, drawled out, well, pard'
mar, I s'pose this decks all right, but
seems how this amt no make believe
game we're a-goin to play here directly, l
reckon 'twon't do no harm TO make sure
So be began carefully to suit them' one oy
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 noted how plainly you
could see his reflection In the glass. Ali
I could make use Of that glass later on,
for It would tell me whether he held any
aces 70 spoil the effect Of those had In
my sleeve, for we were playing poker.
Before we commenced q stranger came
In and asked leave to join rs, and soon We
four were deep In the game OF bluff.
Before the first hand had been played be-
came conscious of Mowers eyes following
my every move he was watching me
like o cat. And, stealing glance In the
mirror, / saw his big six shooter was lying
In his lap So he was suspioiousi Very
we'll; I 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
-Dearly everything on the table was In
the pot Mowyer had bet his last dollar
md called" us. In the excitement
worked In ''oold" ace, at the risk of my
LIE, played it safe and won the pile on
showdown" II i've aoes had come out
hat time, there would have been another
Iragedy at the Big Strike
Mowyer was out. I held most of the
dust, but Dodson and the stranger were
bot ready to quit 90 another hand was
iealt. 1t was the strangers deal. had
noticed he was very light fingered, and as
se shufaed the cards / saw him slip one
Up his sleeve, but I said nothing. I was
,layfng In luck, and after he and Dodson
lad staked everything I"oalled" them
md won the pot sgain-fair and square
nough this time.
Well, we separated, and I mounted my
lroncho and started back to D., 81, 600
head. But I had barely got out Of sight
4 the camp when, looking back over the
Dad, I saw q cloud of dust, with now and
hen q glimpse Of horsemen. When they
anne nearer, saw they were headed BY
howyer, and drew rein. In a moment
hey had come up and formed q circle
round me. Mo1yer dismounted, and |
topping forward drew his ugly looking
TX shooter and commanded me to dis |
mount also. He simply said:
would ye be 30 good as to let us see |
hem there same cards againy" The others |
vere grimly silent
I complied oarelessly, with q gamblers
'erve-but with sinking sensation at INV /
cart.
"How, pardner," he resumed, 1--WE be
-goin TO count these cards again. II
hey'rs all straight, well and good. But
there's one card more'n there ought to
q ye can say yer prayers. reckon ye |
now, " be added significantly, whether
here In or not, 'thout rs countin." And
Q proceeded. laying each card out By t.
III on the hot dusty road.
II had only put that "cold" ace out of
be way. / thought now I was az good
. done Tor.
We we're all watching Mowyer. He had
pine to one ace. and now anotber-dia-
,onds and spades. Shuttle, shuttle. shuf-
Q. now apother-clubs; shuttle. shuttle.
Fery one tntently watching. Now only A
w cards left now only seyen-six-fye.
D. another, the ace Of hearts. A slieht
lur1nur through the crowd and than a.
noe again Slowly now; shuffie, shuttle.
Ve and four gone. Now only thres left
ow two; 90, then, 1t was the last card In
10 pack. And now the last Garland n
es the deuce Of diamondsl
That NTH noe had not bean foupd-apd
Was the most surprised man In the uartv.
gain We parted, and Is I resumed INV
" ~ suddenly came 70 me like a iaash-
,ous the stranger at the Big Strike "a
On and the GARD saw him alp. YsAII
new now whore the fifth ace "a.
And - think it over now II sssms. In
%, 1 was pretty near TO death thas zine
within an ace Of II, /" one miaht ny.-t
laude W. Turner In Chicago Herald.