The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-04
THE leon REPORTER, THURSDAY. JANUARY = 1900

reshufhed and rifled, feeling card after
card. He dealt the hands. out and
watched for the king OF diamonds.
Suddenly he stopped in the middle OF
his deal.
WHATS the natter" asked man
across the table. Jim was white, but
he went on in minute, passing it on
by saying he had cramp. The truth
was he had found his king of dia-
monds and had felt double mark in
1t. Evidently somebody else had be-
gun to mark cards. Jim suspected
Hale right away. but he didn't find
much to strengthen his suspicious, as
Hale appeared to be very dopey and
sleepy. He seemed to go to sleep over
every hand. Jim watched him for
time and soon observed that every
time Hale appeared especially sleepy
ne held magnificent hand. 1t looked
strange. but as the game went on
without any startling occurrence, Jim
began to think he was mistaken and
had himself marked the same card
twice. Then he started out to mark
the rest of the cards. The first ace he
run across he thumbed carefully and
he found 1t already marked. That set
tied 1t.
For some reason Jim's suspicious
wandered from Hale until they settled
on quiet-looking chap who sat next
to Hale. There was no particular rea-
son for 1t, but the suspicion kept grow
ing stronger. That's the guy that's
doing the funny business with these
cards. thought Jim to himself; I'll lie
low and watch it out
Jim kept on marking cards Just the
same. Suddenly Hale stopped in the
middle OF deal and jumped up in
MS chair with startled look on his
face. He settled down again and held
the cards tight. No one spoke. Several
looked up in surprise. Jim began to
reckon out how he could reach the
door In case a gun was pulled. for he
thought Hale had surely tumbled to
his game. Somebody asked Hale what
was the matter.
Indigestion answered Hale, in a
sharp tone. which Jim regarded as ON
nous. Jim's nerve went like a flash.
He could barely lift his head for fear
OF betraying guilty countenance.
I've got enough he said. throwing
down his cards after the next deal.
I'm going home
Hale overlook him at the corner
and tapped him on the shoulder. Jim
started as if he had been shot.
Aw. come on said Hale. Brace
up. No ones onto you except me.
Come in here (pointing to saloon).
I've got something / want to say to
you.'
They went into the back room OF
the saloon and sat down in a quiet
corner.
You're the slickest dealer that
ever happened on this EARTH said
Hale.
No. I'm not answered Jim. You
are the slickest. l watched you for
half an hour and did no playing, just
to find out who was marking those
cards. and couldn't
We won't quarrel over that said
Hale; but I've got proposition to
put to yon. You come in with me as a
partner and we will rip out the dough
from the jeans of every player on this
coast
i couldn't do it to save my life,
replied Jim. I've lost my nerve and
| III never get it back. It's no go. Get
out and let me alone
Hale went. He was shot across a
| card table three weeks afterward, and
died in his chair. Jim quit the game.
That is, quit marking cards. You will
find him playing once in awhile even
now, because he can't leave poker. but
he's on the level. His nerve never
came back. New York Sun.