The National tribune., 1896-11-05
HIS LAST GAME.
Why Lawyer Refused to Accept Winning
aud Decided to Play No More.

why Lawyer Refused to Accept q Winning
aud Decided to Play No More.
Youths Co,apanion.l
A party Of five gentlemen had been in the
habit of meeting once 4 week to play poker.
They were each of them ordinarily success
full in his profession, and were respected in
their business and personal relations. The
incident given below, that took place at their
last meeting for the purpose of an evenings
enjoyment of their tavorite game, dramatic
as it may seem, is strictly true.
Overweight by stimulating circum-
stances, each of the players, because of what
seemed to I've the strength of his own hand,
increased the amount Of his bet over that
which had previously been made.
One of the five men was lawyer who had
many important clients depending upon him.
He was the most imperturbable OF the play
ers. and held the highest cards IN his hands.
He knew that he was sure winner, for no
other combination could possibly beat him.
The excitement became extreme, and the
betting had risen from hundreds of dollars
TO 81 600. The lawyer for mo nent changed
color, then put his hand into his pocket, took
out a roll of bills, and counting from it a
thousand dollars laid them i'll the middle Of
the table, thus covering the last bet. he
then said:
81 call you," which is the technical way Of
bringing the betting to an end. AS he did
so he turned pale, and his hand shook as he
showed his winning cards. The doctor of
the party thought that he was going to faint
from the excitement of winning such an IN
usual amount, and sprang to assist him, but
the lawyer waved him back and bent his
head, trying to control himself His friends
al Ia, Ina RI nm
usual cause. In silence they looked on while
he did strange thing.
First he took 10 500 bills from the heap
of money he had won, and, folding them
together, he put them with the roll he had
taken from his pocket.
When this was done he drew long
breath, almost gasp, of relief. Then he
carefully separated his own original money
from the remainder and pushed the rest
away. looking at it steadily for a second or
| two without speaking. At length he said,
raising his hand and registering solemn
oath-we quote his words exactly:
Il am done with poker. Loving the
| game as much as ] do, / give it up from this
moment forever. have stepped across the
border-line of dishonor tonight. The money
/ have just put back into my pocket was
given to me by q client TO be paid out this
morning, and if had lost it l could not
Immediately have replaced it. / had it in
my possession simply because had not had
the opportunity to deposit it in the bank,
and in the excitement of the game forgot
that it was not my own. The fascination
that would make me do thing like that is
one that dare not risk again. ! cannot
touch the money that won with it, for il
was not my own"
His friends took up their money and
bowed in silence. Their establishment and
respect were too great for words. The
| lawyer soon rose and left the room, never te
| return to it.
He had unconsciously given striking
illustration of the fact that the essence o.
character which we call soul may be lost OIL
saved at the moment when one comes to the
border-line between an honest and dis
| honest act.