The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-25
WITH TIE COFFEE.
4&AE,Isaa%CC@ 100000 90

Pete Ransom was a sort of shiftless
Individual who led devil-may-care
existence 1854 days in the year and on
the 365th wished he was rich. That
day was always Christmas.
Pete would work little, drink lit
tie and gamble all he could, during
the Il months, while his wife worked ae
the wash tub to support the family,
consisting of himself, herself and the
juniors, meaning the twin boys and the
little girl Sometimes he had money
and sometimes he had not. More times
he had not. When he had any consld-
cradle sum; say 81, he would ample
home, laden with small packages OF
eatables, sufficient, sometimes, to last
as long as an entire day. These focca-
SionS were rare but were joyful events
in the Ransom family.
Petes wife was a patient little soul,
with soft brown eyes, which looked at
one with an expression akin to that
of a startled fawn She looked as II
she was hunting for something to be
scared at all the time. Her confidence
in Pete was unlimited. She never fail
ed to believe that some time he would
make whole lot of money and would
be rich. And with that belief she toiled
and toiled day after day, hoping and
hoping.
The twins were unlike their mother.
Nothing ever scared them. They We're
receptive in every respect. Each and
both would receive anything handed
them They were blessed with an APP
petite which was never Quoted more
than 60 minutes at time. no matter
how large the supply. The little girl
was like her mother, always hoping,
although she was not old enough to
work and did not share the maternal
! labor.
On this particular Christmas eve, the
wife was working and hoping, the lit
tie girl was simply hoping and the
twins were in their most receptive
mood. Pete was down town trying to
rustic something. He wanted to make
some presents to the children and get a
/ turkey for dinner and hadn't nary a
copper. 1t was bitter cold and Pete
! remembered there wasn't more than
20 pounds of coal in the house. Tomor-
row it would be impossible to get any
thing; even then the shops were begin
ming to close. Soon it would be too
late to get the turkey even.
Something glittered in front of Pete's
path. He stopped and picked it up.
It was what we in the west designate
as an iron dollar" 1t looked as big
as cartwheel to Pete when he picked
it up, but dWindled away to the size
I of postage stamp when he thought
of coal, turkey, something for the
twins, for the little girl and for his
wife.
It'll be something or nothing" NUT
tered Pete as he wandered down the
street.
Round the corner, up an alley to a
green door. Two raps, then three and
then two more and sable faced fellow
looked through the wicket and permit
ted Pete to enter.
Right over to the wheel he ambled
Put it on IA whispered something in
his ear and down went the dollar
Fourteen, in the red sang out the
man at the Wheel handing over a stack
of checks.
Taking five from the top, Pete was
about to make another bet when again
came that whisper: Put it on 90
1.-TWO in the black" said the dealer,
and again Pete was handed "a pile of
whites.
Gimme reds" said Pete.
"Correst," was the reply as the ex-
change was made.
lingering his checks Pete was again
on the point of doing some betting,
when the voice said in it's whisper:
The double O."
Down went ten checks and:
Double o. sang the man with the
marble.
The gambler was evidently ratified a
little. Here was man who had called
three single numbers in succession. He
knew Pete, however and thought per-
haps it was just q streak of luck.
Play 81 whispered the voice.
Pete played it. He played q with
ten and cornered the number with five
on each corner, while the other PLAYERS
looked and wondered. To show he was
all right Pete played a stack on the
red and rs to &c. and on the lower
row and hen:
TWenty-one red sang the dealer.
Again did the professional manifest
uneasiness. This was awful. Pete
however, manifested no sign
Got EN- coming your way tonight
, Pete said a bvstander
"A little" said Pete.
"Thirty-three, said Pete's good
angel
Again did Pete stack 'em up" The
2 dealer let him. 'Ill get it all back or
this turn he thought But he didn't
Thirty three, black"
The check rack was getting thin
Pete was about to make another bet
when the voice whispered: Cash in
l Eight hundred and seventy five dol.
: lars and twenty-five cents" said the
gambler, as he paid Pete. Better be-
Careful going nome, Hete, some one vii
touch YOU"
Good night" said Pete
Then Pete revealed. He went to E
grocery store and astonished the clerk:
with his orders. He promised the de
livery boy 81 if he got the stuff home
on time. He wandered into toy shoI
, and bought everything in sight for tn,
;, twins. The confectioner's was the mex
I place visited. oh, Pete was strict,
: in it.
? I'll get her something nice" saiC
Pete, as he remembered how his littl
: wife had soaked" their wedding rim,
4 on Christmas before. So he entered
jewellers shop. They didn't particul
arly fancy Pete's appearance, but whel
y he flashed the money they sold him ;
neat little ring for $50.
Now III go home"
Pete We2t home. The things wer
ahead of him. The children. especial,
> the twins were shreiking with delight
y Candy and oranges strewed the floor
= His wife was beaming with happiness
{ AT last little woman, they are comin
our Way at last" cried Pete
!, How did it happen?" asked his wifi
u as her round brown eyes opened wild
y to see Pete drag handful of bills fror
s. his pocket. Pete opened his mouth t
l state when:
O @ @
Come, Pete, get out of here Time t
close up" said the bartender and Pet
q found himself on the street vichi.-