Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-06

end silently watched the play as the
cards began to slip from the nickel
box under the deft fingers Of the
dealer; nothing was heard but the
click Of the cases and the rattle OF the
chips as bets were placed; the look
out, apparently indifferent to the
game and yet the personi6cation OF
alert watchfulness, lolled on his high
chair and pulled lazily his cigar; the
dealer, in his shirt-sleeves, was i'm.
passiveness itself.
The first dead and Tom had lost. At
the end OF the second, he bought an
other stack of chips, to which he soon
added third. The cards were not
coming his way, but he was too ex-
perienced gambler to show the
slightest annoyance. Nonchalantly he
drew from his pocket a silk handker.
chief. The movement dislodged a
small, neatly bound book, which fell
to the floor. 1t was Bible, present
from Miss Dawson. He picked it up
hurriedly, intending to replace it in
his pocket. when his eye happened to
fall on this verse of an open page:
"And it was so when the King saw
Esther, the Queen, standing in the
court that she obtained favor in his
sight; and the King held out to Es-
ther the golden scepter that was in
his hand. Esther, chapter 5, verse 2.
1t is to be hoped that the chronicler
of this truthful narrative will not be
accused of irreverence in detailing
the actions of Tom Hall on this MEM
orable night. Certainly Tom acted
with no irreverence. Far from it.
Watchful. as are all gamblers, for the
slightest incident that may seem to
betoken a change of fortune, his be-
lief was instant and sincere that this
was a sign from the right quarter to
direct him in the church work in
which he was engaged. Wthou. the
slightest hesitation he gathered TO-
gether every bet he had upon the
board and placed them upon the
queen. Within three turns he w,n.
He allowed the winnings to remain on
the card, and again the queen won.
Once more he dared fate, and after a
number of turns the queen showed in
the box.
This was marvellous luck, and as
tonishment was on every face when
he drew down his triple winnings.
While the cards were being shuffled
for the next deal Tom stealthily open
ed the little Bible now lying in his lap
and peeped into 1t. He read:
For the children OF Israel shall
abide many days without King
Hosea, chapter 3, verse 4.
The king was Immediately coppered
for a huge stack of chips At the
same time he judiciously placed a
number Of bets on different cards, for
he saw a disposition on the part of
the other players to follow him, and
he wanted no assistance in his lauda-
bic enheavor to "bust the bank" In
due course the king lost twice in sue
cession, and his pile became so for
midable as to engross the attention OF
all. Never before had such peculiar
system of playing been seen at Dono-
vans, and the apparent recklessness
displayed in risking large stakes upon
single card was freely commented
upon.
Tom, however, continued to win
steadily, and now frequently consult
ed his Bible without making any eff
fort to conceal IT. He had just read
from Ezra, chapter 6, verse 3:
+" y and let the foundations
thereof be strongly laid. the height
thereof three-score cubits and the
breadth thereof three-score cubits. 4.
With three rows of great stones"
"That means the tray, sure" he
said to himself as he pushed big bet
toward the card.
as that Hoyle you got there, Tom"
asked the lookout, unable any longer
to conceal his curiosity.
"Nope; a better book than Hoyle."
"You playin' system out of it?'
"That's what" was the unctuous
reply.
The game went on. but it was not
long before Toms remarkable run OF
luck came to q close. This greatly
surprised him, as ne was now firmly
convinced he could mot lose when de-
pending upon biblical hints, and not
an important bet had been made
without referring to the sacred vol
ume. He chose rather to believe final
ly that the dealer, in order to save
the house, was practicing some
crooked work. OF this he became con-
vinced when, upon betting deuce,
Jack" on the turn at the end OF the
deal, the cards came out Jack,
deuce"
Keep your fingers on top OF that
box!' he cried out, angrily to the
dealer.
"D'ye mean to say" began that
functionary.
II mean to say this" declared Tom,
In loud voice, as he sprang to his
feet, chat you've got to give me
square deal. have book here that
says so, and what this book says goes.
1t says right here in Exodus, chapter
viii, verse 20, Let not Pharaoh deal
deceitfully any more"
Whats that? What book IL
that?"