The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-01-22
WITHIN AN ACE
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When the Union Pacific railroad was
building, there was always town at
Its terminus which moved on with the
finishing Of the road. One Of these
towns was Julesburg, and very hard
place it was. l was connected with the
road and occupied the same cabin with
my young friend Ike Stevenson, dis
bursting officer. One night ON my re-
turn from up the road found Steven
son engaged at poker with some min
ers from Clear Creek, in the noun
tains. saw at glance from the mag
n1tude Of the stakes that Ike was play
ing with the company's money, for he
had nothing but his salary, and that
was always fully drawn as soon as
due. This was not the worst of it. He
had lost some $1,000.
He was to me a sort of younger
brother. He was the loveliest fellow in
the world, and all the "loveliest fell
lows" have ever known have had a
weak spot in them. l thought Of the
prison door changing on the poor fell
low, as it inevitably would when his
defalcation was discovered, and a cold
shiver ran down my spine. 1t occurred
to me to stop the game, demand the
companys money and if not returned
to call for help. But this course, how
ever it resulted, would turn out badly
for Ike.
A desperate resolve seized upon me.
have never known whether it result
ed from weakness or superfuity Of
nerve. I noticed pack Of cards on q
shelf with the same backs as those
which the players were using. Taking
1t up, began to finger the cards and
after marking an ace Of clubs dropped
it into my sleeve. Then entered the
game with view to getting back the
money Ike had lost 1t was a desper-
ate chance, for If two aces Of clubs
came on the table at once it would be
plain that some one was cheating. But
In this event resolved to accuse the
miners, stop the game and demand
return at all hazards.
did not use the ace until there was
pot of $1,000. Then, having two aces
and drawing third, put in my club
and called. At the showdown I felt
my heart beating like drum, expect
ing to see its duplicate. Fortunately it
was in the pack, or, if in one Of the
hands that had passed out, the holder
did not notice my extra ace. I won the
pot, gathered in the funds and mixed
the cards as soon as I could get my
hands on them, taking advantage Of
the excitement to withdraw the super
huous ace.
was obliged to wait an hour for
more aces and a big pot, during which
time Ike increased his loss by 5000,
leaving me $1,7OO to win in order to
make him whole. I opened a jackpot
Of $500 with pair Of aces, drew
third and again slipped in the club.
Two Of the miners held big hands, and
the pot grew to $1,000 before the show
down. Again was in an agony of
fear lest the duplicate ace should be in
their hands. Ike had passed out, and
as glanced around the board saw
him take up his cards to examine
them. Catching his eye, 1 gave him a
look, and he, after noting a card in his
hand, threw them, backs up, on the
table. He had the ace of clubs.
This ended the game. The miners
had had little money at the start, and
the loss Of what they had won, with
few hundred more, cleaned them out.
They looked very sullen and began to
speak of my having held two hands each
Of four aces during the evening. I en-
deavored to withdraw my ace Of clubs,
but this time saw no opportunity. Ike
pushed the cards together, and they
rested on the table in sight Of every
one. I dreaded lest some one Of the
party would take them up and examine
them.
"Neighbor," said a big man with a
red beard, looking at me suspiciously,
''air- you in the business?"