The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-27

should maneuver to best advantage be-
fore raising tho question who should BIO
the man. 1t took only few minutes,
though, for the scout to give his advice.
which was for ono to ride out, waving
white handkerchief. He was to keep
to the eastward and ride as hard ms ne
dared toward tho Indians, looking
sharply for tho weakest point in theii
line toward his right. He should then
mako dash and ride as hard us possible
until it WAS all over, firing as often as
he could.
Then we had to decide who should
go, and supposed of course, that wo
would draw lots, but one of tho men
spoke up unexpectedly:
Whoever goes, he said, doesn't
want to start for some hours. The scout
says just after daybreak is tho best time.
What is the matter of settling this thing
with poker? We can play freeze out, and
three games will settle it, the winner
dropping out each time
1.-The proposition caught me. You
know used to pride myself on my
poker. After little hesitation tho Others
agreed. The man who proposed it had
the cards. and we counted out 600 coffee
beans for chips and began playing on IL
blanket folded and laid on the ground.
You would think the details Of Il
game like that would fix themselves in
the memory so that would be able to
tell you every hand l held and every
bet L made, wouldn't your Well. l
can't. In fact, l can't tell anything
about the first game excepting that
was the first man to lose all his chips.
had played often enough for what l
thought were high stakes, but the
thought that 1 was playing for my life
ratified me completely, and 1 really be-
lieve l bet at random.
Whatever did I lost, and the mar;
who had proposed the game won out.
he was shot i'll gambling house three
months later-had an extra ace in his
sleeve, believe, Or something like that
The next freeze out, between three Of
Us. was comparatively short one. l;
did not take moro than 20 minutes for
the scout to gather in all the chips, but.
short as it was, l managed to get myself
together u little, though was still full!
OF the thought of the value of the stakes
"A thing which, have noticed, always
interiors; with my play.
when the third gamo began, how
ever, pulled myself together with Il
most tremendous effort and really be-
came as cool as l ever had heen before
at "a game of cards The man playe(,
against this time was II young English
man whom had grown to esteem highly
Ill tho short time l had known him.
His people at home never heard this
story, and hope they never will. They
know that he was killed by the Indians
and that no was on hunting trip, bua
they never heard of his last game OF
cards nor Of the way he rode to his
death.
1--WE had each 800 beans and half Il
dozen hands We're dealt before either OF
us got cards to bet on. Then on my deal
caught three dcuces and made it 80 to
play. He looked at his cards and raised
me 90, which I covered. He drew one
card and let it lie without looking at it,
while he watched me.
II saw him looking, of course, and
am more glad than am of almost any
thing else ever did i'll an almost use.
less lifo to think that / made the worst
play l ever saw made. liked the man
we'll, us [ said, and some impulse that
L couldn't understand then, end cant
explain now, told me to leave tho thing
To chance and To give him Il littlo tho
better chance.
Il had played with him before, and
was certain that he was drawing to II
I FOL . l, In
filled it, OF course should have drawn
10 the strength of my hand, hut didn't
| drew one card only, holding up al
eight spot TO my dcuces, and L showed
all my beans into tho pot without look
ing at my draw.
He gave mo one look, in which
read Il perfect appreciation of what ]
had done, and without word and
without lifting his fifth card he pushed
his chips forward.
Then my nerve g;.vo out grew us
white as death, know, though no ona
ever told me so, and actually could
not lift my cards. His nerve never
shook, though, apparently, and ne turn
cd his fifth card over as he laid it on
the blanket. They were all clubs.
lie looked at me- and 1 swear / saw
regret i'll his eyes. tell you he was a
man. Then | managed to turn my hand
over | had drawn the other eight.
The wostcrncr stopped. He drained
his glass and then said:
Waiter, bring another bottle and
bring me some whisky besides. This stuff
doesn't go To the right spot Then,
after he had had his drink, no said:
You don't wonder, do you, that
don't play poker any more:"
Nc" said his hearers but finish
the story. -
"Oh, there isn't much mcre to it. AT
ionst thot \, thn vi nf L