Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-01-31
THAT FIFTH ACE.

p When the gold craze Of 1S49 was at its
height, / was following the life of pro-
fessional gambler and general crook at
D, one of the largest mining towns Of
the west. / had f1eeced q couple of min
ers of a snug sum at Round Hole, a
small mining camp a few miles north of
D, and had promised to give them
chance to win back their losings.
Their names were Dodson and Mowyer.
The former was little fellow, while his
partner was tall and powerfully built and
spoke with a peculiarly yet rather pleas
ant drawl.
Early on the appointed Sunday morn
ing | set out for Round Hole, and when
/ arrived stopped at the Big Strike sa-
loon, where / was to meet my two vic
tins. Presently they came riding up to
the door and dismounted. AS they came
in it struck me they acted rather formal.
Dodson nodded. Then Mowyer said, in
that peculiar drawl Of his, well, seems
yer afore us, s'pose ye don't mind takin
somethin fer luck?' And l joined them
at the bar.
Shortly after we were seated at table,
and it was Dodson's deal. The deck we
had belonged to the saloon. The night
d
same room, and when Dodson picked up
his hand he found on one Of his cards a
fresh blood stain. That was enough for
him Il don't think there is anything
that wouldn't happen to u.s." he said, "if
we use these cards" So we threw down
our hands.
Seeing in this a golden opportunity, l
quickly produced a deck from my pocket
and gave it to Mowyer, as it was his deal
next in order. For q moment he hesitat
ed, and then, looking at me from under
his shaggy brows, drawled out, well,
pardner, | s'pose this decks all right, but
seems how this amt no make believe
game we're a-goin to play here directly,
reckon 'twon't do no harm to make sure"
So he began carefully to suit them, one
by one.
The only mirror Round Hole could
boast Of was over the bar in the Big
Strike saloon, and while he was busy
with the cards | noted how plainly you
could see his reflection in the glass. All.
/ could make use of that glass later on,
for it would tell me whether he held any
aces to spoil the effect of those | had iii
my sleeve, for we were playing poker.
Before we commenced a stranger came
in and asked leave to join us, and soon
we four were deep in the game OF bluit.
Before the first hand had been played
became conscious Of Mowers eyes fol-
lowing my every move. lie was watch
ing me like cat, and, stealing a glance
in the mirror, saw his big six shooter
was lying in his lap. So he was suS-
picious2 Very well; | would risk nothing
until big money was at stake.
We played for an hour. Dodson and l
were ahead, Mowyer and the stranger
were losers, and then the critical moment
came-nearly everything on the table was
In the pot Mowyer had bet his last dol
lar and called" us. In the excitement
I worked in n "cold' ace at the risk Of
my life, played it safe and won the pile
on "show down" If five aces had
come out that time, there would have
been another tragedy at the Big Strike.
Mowyer was out. l held most Of the
"dust," but Dodson and the stranger
were not ready to quit, so another hand
was dealt. 1t was the strangers deal.
had noticed he was very light fingered.
and as he shuffled the cards | saw him
slip one up his sleeve, but | said nothing.
/ was playing in luck, and after he and
Dodson had stalled everything | called
them and won the pot again-falr and
square enough this time.
Well, we separated, and l mounted my
broncho and started back to D, S2,6oU
ahead. But l had barely got out of
sight Of the camp when, looking back
over the road, | saw cloud or dust
with now and then a glimpse OF horse
men. When they came nearer, | saw
they were headed by Mowyer, and drew
rein. In moment they had come up and
formed a circle around me. Mower DIS
mounted and stepping forward drew his
ugly looking six shooter and commanded
me to dismount also. lie simply said:
Would ye be so good as to let us see
them there same cards again." The 9th
ers were grimly silent.
| complied carelessly, with a gamblers
nerve-but with a sinking sensation al
my heart. &C.. -
a-goin to count these cards again. II
they're all straight, well and good. Bat
IL there's one card more'n there ought to
be, ye can say yer prayers. | reckon yc
know" he added significantly, whether
there is or not 'thout us countin.' And
he proceeded, laying each card out by II
self on the hot, dusty road.
If had only put that "cold" ace out OF
the way! l thought Row | was as good
as "done for"
We were all watching Mower. lie
had come to one ace, and now another
diamonds and spades. Shuttle, shuttle"
shuttle, every one intently watching. No"
only a few cards left, now only seven
six-fve. All, another, the ace of hearts
A slight murmur through the crowd and
then silence again. Slowly now; shuttle,
shuttle, five and four gone. Now only
three left, now two; so, then, it was the
last card in the pack. And now the last
card-and it was the deuce of diamonds.
That fifth ace had not been found-and
1 was the most surprised man in the par
ty. Again we parted, and as | resumed
my way it suddenly came to me Ike
fash-about the stranger at the B.G
Strike saloon and the card | saw him
slip. Yes, | knew now where the fifth ace
was.
And as think it over now it seems. in
deed, | was pretty near to death that
time-"within an ace of it, one might
say.-Exchange.