Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-19

Il never dealt again.
The words fell from the lips Of gen
tleman well known in Leadville. yet few
recognized in the elegant. easy-gOing
man, who now commands the deep re-
spect Of his felow-citizens, the once cool
headed. imperturbable gambler who, in
his day, figured prominently along the
Pacific coast. and was almost universally
recognized as the shrewdest faro-deaer
in the West. CAS- for the games morali-
y. that's neither here nor there. When
dealt upon the square II is much like any
other game. IT is not 10 be thought that
the law will hinder men a bit II they
find II doesn't pay. ! dealt the game for
twenty years. but I've quit now. | made
nothing. nor lost nothing. and but for a
sight ! once saw / should probably be a
gambler still. Hereby hangs a tale. Let
mo tell IL. Some three years ago | ran
a high-toned game at Il certain place You
probably know. for It strikes me L saw
you there. ID was n square game, as |
VIII leave any one 10 say; q thriving game,
for I dealt for half the bloods in town
and often / had az many as five layouts
at time, with .too much business on
hand TO even get time 10 rest. One eve
ming young chap strOlled in. with
sort OF curious stare on his face, and |
concluded right there that he was
green. lie was faired-haired and had n
pair Of blue eyes and clcar-cut features
an innocent-looking young fellow, if ever
saw one. IL only required q glance TO
convince YOU that he was a stranger In
the gambling room. lie was soon at
home. though. for | saw in his blue eyes
a love of play. and after that evening he
was a constant visitor. He played his
pile right up. and never growlcd If his
luck was hard. and on every second card
he'd stack the limits up in blue. Take
il altogether, his luck was handsome
times the hardest. l think, ! ever saw.
I've known him to lose at a single deal
seven double shots. Business for me. OF
course, but somehow il almost seemed
too bad. / couldn't say word. though,
and yet | liked the boy. He had lots Of
the filthy. / think from the day he be-
gun he must have dropped a cool 100000
on the game, and he never growled.
I'VE both quit gambling the same
night-he. poor lad for sufficient reasons,
and because / loathed the game 1t was
this wise: His coins gave out in a deal
or two. and he put up a diamond ring.
just TO see his ill-luck out. you know.
The chips soon went. lie had pin, a
flaming stone in massive metal He had
passed that in without a word and drew
$500 cold. SO help me Cod l wished him
luck as heartily as any player there; but,
no. his last stack went my way on
losing ace. He drew 800 more. / think
on his watch and chain. and tried his
line of bets again; but his luck was gone.
NY God, III never forget the pale, bag
gard look that crossed his face; but he
was game. He never uttered word, and
kept his chair like a pillar OF stone. For
a moment he seemed daZed at his re-
verses, but suddenly his eye caught the
thin. worn circlet of gold on his finger.
He looked at IL a little while and dark
wave of hot, crimson blood passed over
his face. for this circet seemed to cling
even faster than the flashing gem he had
passed in before. He at last stripped it
off his finger and handed il TO me. Ii came
this worn old ring. what
can | have on this? he asked. i don't
know what its value is but III redeem 1t
first Of ALL" 1t might have cost s. when
new but it was worthless then.
Still / passed out a fifty stack In re-
turn just to let him Try again. lie plank
ed it down in the pot. and then. low upon
the table. he laid his face on his folded