Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-04

A FAscINArINa GAME


"Gone up" muttered, and my heart
sank within me. 1 was about to reply
10 the challenge, when PUNK took the
words out of my mouth, and sang out,
tn excellent southern lingo:
"Hain't got no time to stop, stran-
ger; got to git through right off. Ben
ter the medical officer of the army 70
luinine; sick man waitin'"
Corporal of the gyardl" sang out
the voice that had stopped us.
We heard some one brushing
through the weeds that lined the road,
and presently saw figure coming on
foot. BY this time we noticed that the
challenger was mounted, and we knew
that the force was composed of cav
airy.
who's thar?" from the corporal
PUNK replied that we were two men
and gal, and repeated what he had
said to the picket.
"All right; come on"
1 was about to propose that we de-
cline the honor and go by another
road, when the madness of such
method struck me; besides, 1 had
| promised to let PUNK do the talking;
, so 1 kept silent. We were led into
the lamp, the men being in bivouac,
sleeping about their camp-fres. Meet
ing the officer of the day, he took us
in charge, and, not being satisfied to
let us go forward on his own RESPONSE
bility, conducted us to the headquar-
tiers of the commanding officer.
We found him engaged with his staff
Mt a game of draW poker. the party be-
ing seated in n tent on camp-stools
about a pine table lit by a couple
of tallow dips. He was n splendid
specimen OF southern manhood, tall,
well built. with n manly open counte-
nance that seemed incapable of harbor-
ing a mean thought.
"Col. Archard," said the officer of
the day. here are some citizens who
want TO go shrough the lines"
Without stopping the game or even
glancing mp at us, he asked us where
we were from and where we were
going. PUNK answered with his story
about the quinine.
I'm glad you've got some quinine,' .
said the colonel, looking at his hand
from under the rim of his hat. 1T have
n lot of men down with camp-fever
and Old Pills hasn't any. Can you
spare little?"
My heart went up in my throat, and
Margaret turned a shade winter
Certainly, colonel" said Punk
without moments hesitation. Then
turning to me: Bring out the bottle
joe"
'I-haven't--any bottle" I STAN
mered.
Haven't it? gave it to you"
BY this time caught my cue. 'Yor
did no such thing"
''You good for nothing, forgetful crit
ter, d. " mean ter tell me you've done
left tn stuff behind. after our ridin
ten miles Z git it?'
/ fumbled in my pockets anC
scratched my head. Meanwhile tn,
players were too interested in winning
and losing TO follow the matter up
; New hands were played, and /, VIII,
could never look at any game o
, chance without wishing to be in il
|, soon forgot that / was making m,
way through the lines with an impor
tant war secret and with my life il
my hands. l drew a bill from m,
pocket and was about to call for chips
when felt Margaret's hand graspini
my arm. Looking at her, l noticed tn
fright on her face and was saved fror
my folly, for had gotten into the gam
/ would have surely betrayed the Who'll
party. AS it was, l came very nea
: doing so within another ten minutes.
= 1t was the colonels turn to draw t
! fill his hand. He drew one care
: Whether the game was of more inter
est to him than the medicine kno'
- not, but he forgot all about the GU
nine-at least for the moment.
= hoped he would win; it would put hill
:, in good humor, and he would be a
:, the more lenient with us.
= 1 was standing where / could owe
!. look the hand of lieutenant
= youngster about my own age, with a
impassive face. noticed that he he
three aces, and / looked for him
= win. / was surprised to see him pa
out. The rest kept on betting till q
= We're satisfied.
Call"
''Show down."
Three knaves."
"Three kings"
What y got, colonel?"
'Full o. tens"
Scoop" And the pot" was brush'
over to the colonel / admired the lie
tenants foresight in passing out wi
three aces.
Another set of large hands was dea
, and the confederate bills began TO p
up on the table like the contents OF
waste-paper basket. y little BETH
soon drove all out except the lieute
ant aud the colonel The COLONEL
$50; the lieutenant who had passed o
on three aces called him and won (
pot" on three deuces-
- by thunder, corporal exclaim'
= shat was well played"
Every man ut the table looked
- at me. turned red, then white, VIII
Margaret instinctively shrank ba
into the dorlrnaoo