The Princeton union., 1899-11-16

knife. Then, inserting the blade be-
tween the brass covering of the but
ton and its base, I drew forth crum.
pied little ball. Opening it, I showed
my bill.
The majors eye glistened. He could
easily have taken it under pretext of
turning it in," but I had Judged him to
be one of those men who would make
great pretensions to honor in order to
cover the blackest dishonor, and for
appearance sake would scorn to rob
me. Besides, if he could win my
money, he would not be accountable to
anyone for it. My judgment was cor
rect. A dirty pack of cards was pro-
duced, and, with the guard looking on,
we sat down at table, I to play my
fifty dollars against the majors ring;
the game to be euchre, the best four
games in seven to win.
Berante won the first two games, I
the second two. He scored the fifth,
I the sixth, which left us the deciding
game to play. The major won two
points, forcing me to win three in sue
eession. The cards ran we'll for me,
and scored two. The next hand was
dealt by Berante. Happening to
glance at the staked ring on his finger
as he dealt the cards, saw him turn
jack" that is, having, in shutting,
placed knave on the bottom of the
pack, he dexterously turned it for the
trump card. It would have been a
case of ''wolf and lamb" to notice the
irregularity, and I said nothing.
However, having a peculiar hand that
1 had learned to play in a peculiar
way, I scored point and my oppon-
ent's ring at the same time. He took
it off his finger and handed it to me.
I rose to go.
''Wait bit,'' he said, feeling in his
pockets and drawing out two ten dol
lar confederate bills. II must have
that ring back. It's a keepsake."
"Not against two confederate tens"
I said, Except on compulsion. And I
am sure you would not use compul-
sion, ma ajor."
"Dont insult me, sir, by intimating
such a course
"I'll tell you what I'll do; I'll stake
the ring and the bill against the letter
you showed me.'
The ma jor smiled, a sardonic Mephis-
tophelean smile, and assented. He
laid the letter on the table; beside it l
placed the ring and the bill. AS be-
fore, the games were seven, four win
ming. The major won three straight
games, and it was easy to see that
turning jack" was not the only trick
at cards he knew how to practice.
And now I am obliged to own to
misdemeanor which, notwithstanding
the palliating circumstances, 1 blush at
confessing. My interest in cards had
led me to become expert at certain de-
vices employed by professional gam
blers, though, in justice to myself, 1
must say that, except for innocent
amusement, had no use for them. I
must now confess to one exception.
My desire to get possession of the in
eliminating letter overbore the re-
membrance that two wrongs do not
make one right. I won the fourth
game fairly, the fifth barely, the sixth
brilliantly, and carried off the seventh
triumphantly with a hand of bowers
and court cards that filed my oppon-
ent with astonishment.
"A very bright boy,'' he said, rising
and smiling urbanely.
"Thank you."
picked up the letter and stuffed it
in my trousers pocket, Then, taking
the ring, I said: Keep it till you are
in a position to redeem it, major; and
as for the bill, permit me to make you
a loan on confederate terms; till six
months after ratification of treaty
OF peace between the United States and
Confederate States"
He declined my offer with a we'll
assumed expression of injury, almost
indignation. The guard led me into
the hall, but the major called him back.
Quick as thought took match from
my pocket, and the letter at the same
time. Scratching the match on the
wall, applied it to the paper. A cor
ner had ignited, when Berante came
quickly into the hall and blew out the
flame.
"1'll trouble you for that letter." he
said, with marked politeness and his
peculiar smile.
Il won it,
"Certainly, it is your property, but
the property of prisoners of war is
always turned over to some one dep
uted to receive and receipt for it."
He sat down at the table and wrote
me a receipt, and l, making virtue
OF necessity, handed him the letter.
Indeed, had cherished little hope of
getting away with it. When he had
called the guard back it was doubtless
to instruct him to make pretext to
secure it. 1t was this surmise that led
me to attempt it's destruction. @
And now comes moment of nv life
which can never refer to without feel
ing again all the conflicting emotions
l felt then; moment full of surprise,
Indignation, wounded confidence. AS
l lett the room and turned into the
hall saw figure standing in the front
door-the figure OF q woman. she was