The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-30

was one on whom the Goddess Chance always
smiled when lie approached chuck-a-luck
board
One day he lounged Up. open-mouthed,
vacant-eyed, and heavy-.ooted, 10 bank
run F" by l. Mississippi" with Curly y
and ''Peory" assisting as "lookonis" "
Stock moored over the board a little while,
and then said:
"There'S bin 10 nee come up for some time;
guess I'll chance a Ealf-doliar on that spot
When - Mississippi" lifted the box there
were three aces up. Stock took the 80
handed TO him, and some inspiration told
him to lay it with the original bet on the six
spot Each of the three Dice showed six spots
on their upper surface when the box was
raised, and Stocks six fingers closed over
So 60 of winnings The whole s. went down
on tie trey iu the instant before three of
that number WAS displayed by the uPlifted
';ox. Mississippi" handed him S24 sui
lenIy, and Curly" and ''Peory" swore
audiily at The extraordinary run of i'll luck.
Stock portIuded his tongue ont of one side
of his mouth TO assist him in the feat Of
making the S32 into compact roll, and
when this was DONE he laid it all back on
the trey.
1.-THE faces of ''Peory & Co" lighted MP
at this, for the chances were greatly against
the trey coming up again, and they felt sure
of getting all their losses back again. What
was their amazement to find one trey up again,
and Stock the winner Of s32 more.
Stocks tongue hung still further out as he
labored clun,sily to roll the whole $64 to.
geiher, which he accomplished in time to lay
them upon the five-spot before an exposure
of tie ivory cubes showed one fivc-spot flanked
by an ace and six.
q Peory's +" first impulse was to break the
game up in n row, and avoid paving the Sj4.
Then his gambling instinct whispered to him
that this run of luck WAS so unnatural that
it could not last, and in all probability the
next throw would win all back.
The excitement about the bank rose high,
and Stocks success stimulated the bystanders
10 bet literally. Neither the deuce nor the
| four-spot had come up for long time, and
it WIS high tine they should do So But
Stock seemed the only one TO whom this had
occurred As the throw was made the bal
ance of the numbers were covered with lets,
but the deuce and four-spot were neglected.
On the first Of these he placed one saG4 and
laid the other $64 on the other Once more
fortune smiled upon him with broad grin,
| and two deuces and one four showed up when
the box was lifted, making 1892 of a winning.
The non-betting bysianders cheered; those
who had money down sighed audibly.
g Peory - acted instantly.
See here" he sad roughly, "pull of
an quit, now. Pick up your soads an
leave. You amt a-goin to get any more
money ouien this bank. You know as well
as anybody that we make our limit al
800, an we had no business TO let you
90 on doublin' up on Us as you have. No
bank'll stand it. Pick up an 90 now"
At the first word Ebenezer Stock hal laid
his hands on hi, piles lying on tie board as
il to protect them. As The TRADE proceeded
his fingers spread out until they lay across tho
piles on either side OF him. They contained
ali amount Lost to The bank equal TO that ht
had won. As Ii, grasped the whole OF
" reory's" meaning his fingers closed ant
swept into his grasp every dollar on the
board. He lose TO his feet and jammed hi,
note-iilled paws deep into his pantaloons
pockets.
The board was flung aside and Peory )
and tie rest OF the gang sprang towards
him.
Hand back that money, or I'll bust yoI
wide open," yelled 'Peory," drawing /;
, slungshct
. Give it up, you thief, or we'll kill you, ,
shouted Curly" as he drew lis knife.
; You're a dead man unless YOU fork tina
over y growled Mississippi" adjusting ;
, pair of brass knuckles.
Stock grinned stupidity, and retaining hi
hands in his pockets as if the safety of hi.
! money depended upon his clenching i
firmly all the time, backed hastily up agains
, the wall of a building in his rear
The three rushed savagely at him, {" Peory ,
in the lead. As they came within range
Stock s ponderous right foot suddenly flew W
and caught i'll the groin Peory, % who turnee