The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-09-17

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the siaht 81 Which ~ detective.
L vas ship-Wrecked several years
ago. laid tho coloz1Al, .and. With
several others, wag afoatin a open
boat for several days. Al had
lost my hat I Vas subjected to the
full glare of tropical sun, thereby
nearly losing my sight entirely
/ made . sympathetic answer and
We started to play.
For several hands the coins cir
culated pretty evenly. The colonel
and tho planters seemed to play
more for the sake Of the game than
for what might be in i in 9 pecu-
mary sense. I played with The sole
purpose of retaining what already
possessed rather than to add to it.
We had played for more than three
hours, and, as It was growing late,
Johnson, one of the players, sug-
gested that another round should
finish the game, to which We all
agreed. I dealt, and was the last
to pick up my cards. l could
hardly control my feelings as took
up first the ace of spades, next the
ace of diamonds, then the ace of
hearts, the trey of spades and last,
with bated breath, the ace of clubs.
I glanced 1t the colonel and then
at the planters 70 see il my expires.
sion had given any intimation Of
my luck. All three faces bespoke
perfect composure and indifference.
II looked at thecolonel q second time,
feeling that he, at least, must have read
my good fortune. This time could not
withdraw my gaze. which was held, rivet-
ed to bis defective eye. He seemed q
little uneasy at my manner and removing
his spectacles, wiped them with great
precision on . red 61ndanna handkerchief.
After replacing them, 30 cleared his throat
deeply, and again picked up his cards.
did not raise my e3es from my hand
afterward until die conclusion Of the
game. sat opposite The colonel, j ohnson
at my left, and his friend, whose name I
have forgotten, at my right. johnson
opened the pot with $40 gold piece.
We all stayed. johnson took two cards,
the colonel stood pat, the planter at my
right calling for three, while took one
throwing away my trey, and trying to
look disappointed as I picked from the
deck another trey of different color.
The betting was, Twelve By raises of
fifties we soon had $1,000 in the pot.
Here johnson and his friend gave it up
and the colonel and soon had it boosted
up to an even 81, 500, Just the amount of
the mortgage on my littls home.
'Gentlemen, have seen some exciting
times in my rather checkered career, but
never did my heart race as it did that
night. All my cash was on the table and
| had been giving my paper promises for
some time. had been betting money /
never had and probably never would have,
but / was betting on . sure thing. By
this time the cabin was full of eager on
lockers, and every eye was turned upon
me. The situation was getting to be un
bearable. Icould stand the mental strain
no longer. Calling the colonel and sim
uitaneously rising to my feet, exclaimed !:
"'Colonel, have four aces; you have
four kings
1.-THE colonel's face, already flushed by
expectant victory, turned purple and,
with voice of mingled rage and disap-
polntment, he fairly yelled:
"'How did you know that, sira'
sGentlemen," continued the story
teller, ''in that supreme moment there
came to me glimpse of the abyss await
ing me. Integrity lost, honor forgotten,
vows relinquished, and decided in fash
to give up everything-home, farm, pas
torate, everything-and become q martyr
and atone for my sin by speaking the
truth.
Colonel" l said, your hand, being
second best, entities you to all the money. ,
81 turned and rushed toward the door.
Reaching it, faced the astonished pas
sengers and shouted back to the colonel !:
II saw clearly the miniature of your
hand reflected in the large lens of your
spectacles. IN. Y. Sun.