Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-05-27
DUELING AT POKER.
sOTOU ain's broke-what's the matter
NJ with yoos You amt got any sand
that's what You've got rlcntv

boomer: old Judge Stillwcr. Csriswold. ne
"csnssloupe king, aud DR.. Kinney. the
canal company surgeon. with McI.ane and
young Melville. the superintendent and en-
gineer Of the construction company. com
prised the players after midnight. By sun
rise the other players had dropped out. loav (
ing Nclane and Melville alone in The
game.
At times during the night the stakes had
been eNcecdiuly high, even for those days
and places when high stakes were the rue
instead Of the exception, and the money
had al gone the same way-to NcLane.
None Of the PLAYERS had liked him any
too well. and Il was With considerable b.t
tcrness that they saw him rake in their
money time after tine. but ali OF them.
with the exception az Melville. had man
AGED TO save something out Of the game
before they leii 70. They had asked Me-
Vile tc 40 likewise but he had refused
hoping % quit az least even II he could NOT
quit gamer. But the luck had conuruec
20 run against HIM, until now he was broke
80 far as ms ready money with him was
concerned. and he did not wish TO touch
his bank account, especially az a time W 1cr
luck seemed 50 against him.
There was an old fcud between Nelvi,c
and NcI.sne. They had grown Up togcther
back In New York state. where they both
fell in love with the same girl. While tho
younger man was away from home az co..
leSe McIRae betrayed the girl, who killed
herself from remor~e. and he DISAPPEARED.
Red" won steadily. When Melviile's
last chip was swept away he pushed hs
chair back from the table and announced
THAI he was throuEh-and broke.
The "Hcad-Cate' never closed down Or
tins Fourth ~ July morning. when John
f ston. the proprietor, went on duty at seven
O'Clock. he found an unusually large crowd
IN his place On man was stall sumter
comfortably on a billiard table. several were
asleep in chairs. but there was collection
% wldeawake railroad men and ditch hands.
with Few hcriers and punchers who hat
ridden e town early for the celebration.
The crowd had become interested in the
f ht;le pay being enacted at the table ar q
momentlrlly forgot its thirst Melville o.
/ fercd no reply 90 Reds" taunts.
Mciane arose. Picking up his pack o.
cards he slammed X upon the table. Thc
d action recalled Melville from RS revere.
and he looked up II MoIane. who was say
ing:
I'll tel vou what IN do. I've GOT about
( Eve hundred ~ your mon herc III pa.
another five hundred wth Do and play you
a game q freezeout for thousand. You
needn't put Up any talk about rot havin-
the dough Tom Johnston'N cash your
cheek"
Melville renained silent he took from
I his pocket bunch Of yellow papers. poure-
some tobacco into one ~ chem and rolicl
a cigarette After q couple az deep inha.a
/ tons Of the smoke he arose from his se1'
and went 20 the proprietor's desk. III.
wrote out two checks for $500 each and hand
Cd them % Johnston. The proprietor IN
locked the safe. and. counting out th'
money. gave the bunch Of bills 90 Melville
He wscked UP % MciAne. VINO was wait
inc by the card table, and spoke for n,
first time.
let me take your gun, please he said
'fNou needn't be afraid. ] don't intend q
shoot You"
His words and manner reassurcd the gam
bier. who drew his gun from his holste
+ and passed il over % Melville without fur
ther question. The engineer glarcvd O.
the weapon. walked to che rear ~ the room
and. opening the back door. fired five shot
in rapid succession into the GROUND
Put up your money be sad. aidress-r
| McI-ane az he returned 20 the card tab
The amber sat down and counted 81 co
IN bills and gold. pushed the pile 20 81
end ~ fhe green cloth-covcred table, an
looked Up ircui-inr'v ~ Melville. who wa
stii, CO h.ssees. Tie latter placed bis none
OF NcIane's. Saying:
That j. for the winner"
. Re threw oren the revolver. disDiayir
Eve empty shells and one loaded cart rids,
Closing the weapon. he set The hammer "a
the remaining load. and laid the revolve
BESIDE the money.
And that he added. quietly. is for n
iose-
McIane turned psle ''whats" he azlse,
. his voice shaking
2
ing % the money, goes 90 the winner. or
that" pointing 70 the revolver. goes TO ~
loser He uses Il hirnself-you understan'
, Do you accept
> McIane moved uneasily in his chair. nal
. ing no response. Melville spOke again.
= you have called me a coward let the,
gentlemen here see who shows The viii
, feather. Nov, put up OF shut up"
There wa a solemn hush In the room. tt
crowd stared aimiring'y a. tho tenderfoo
and then expectantiy at the gambler. who's
eyes had dropped.
? McIAne STUDIED for moment. and the
= snaiiy sid. huskily:
"In 20 you"
a The chips were counted and the play
gan. Melville was much the cooler % Il
= two He rad smoked little and drank NOT
= ing during the night, while his opponei
2 had "braccc" himself repeatedly and smoke
. necessarily. leaving his nerves shattered.
( NcIAne's luck did not desert him, and
.e gradually Lowered Melvil,e's stock % chip
4 lie called for whisky frequently. but NJ
"a vile drank 10 more. Tie won casional
but his loszes exceeded bis gains for a lo'
time Then ne drew a biz hand and w
y back az that he had lost. The chips We
Re coming % h.s side % The table now.
2 = was MeiViile's deal. There were -
q eraf raises before the draw. and then N
= Lam took two cards Melville tossed q