The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1905-11-16
THE SUN IMAGE


n bAiuttC Nus &iO91Af aA -
shone through the spaces at the ends
Of the Stats. Now, though the spaces
were not round, we noticed that a
round spot of light from each crack fell
on the wall opposite the window. had
often seen the phenomenon before and
called Adams attention to 1t. A sin
gular expression came over his face as
ne looked at them.
"Can you explain the circular form7'
[ asked.
"OnIy that the spots Of light are MI
mute images of the SUM-" he replied.
.But 1t isn't this that interests me. I
can never look at one of those little sun
images without being profoundly
moved"
HOut with It,. l said, for l knew there
was a story behind his emotion.
when I was married." he said, ITO
the best woman In the world-I drew
a matrimonial prize among hundreds of
blanks-I was doing well In business
and was able to provide for the three
little kids that came along during the
first five years of my married life. My
wife was not ~extrayagant; indeed, she
looked out for the nickels very care
fully. Nevertheless, no matter how
careful a woman may be In this respect,
she is a natural plunger, and I found
out my Daisy was n of that kind.
lone evening In midsummer when
my family was out of town l was per-
suaded to go into a gambling house. l
never dreamed of betting when l enter
ed. but l soon caught the fever. and
when I left the place | had won some-
thing like $50. | was SO well pleased
with my venture that | tried 1t again
the next night. | steadily for a
week: then I began to lose. To make
a long story short. by the time my wife
came home I was ruined. | sold out
my business TO pay my debts and had
$3.50 over with which to begin the
world again. My wife was plucky
about 1t all and ~refrained from what
nineteen In twenty women would have
done under the circumstances. She new
er spoke a word OF blame.
II received my $3.50 one morning and
In the afternoon went with 1t to try
to Gov my losses. telling Daisy I
was going to take a walk. | won over
$1,000. but lost 1t the same night, win.
ming and losing alternately. Ny wife
knew Is well as l what I was doing.
but never said a word, pretending ig-
norance. When I had lost all my win
nings and 500 besides she began to
look anxious. Not hat l said a word.
| didn't need 10. She could tell by my
face how | stood. and when she want
my pocketbook after l was asleep.
One afternoon | went to the den
with but $50 In my pocket, and | must
have looked pretty miserable, for my
wife kissed me before l left the house
and said, Be sure TO be home for din
ner,' Just as IL she didn't know that
II I got absorbed ! wouldn't pay any
attention to dinner or any other meal.
I played very close, seldom rlsking
much at one time, for my capital was a
bagatelle. Despite my caution my pile
grew lower ond lower, and at last l
had but M white chip left. The deal
er wasn't paying much attention to me
AID WA yawning necessarily, having
been IT h4s work all the night before.
l was described that | didn't notice
a young fellow who came and leaned
over me. watching my game. | put
my last chip on the ten and lost. !
was broke.
THE dealer, ignorant that | had moth
ing to bet with. went ON with the game.
And now I'm getting to the point OF my
story. Through a crack in the window
one of these little suns caIne In and
lighted on the Jack. The dealer blink.
ed at 1t and didn't seem sure whether
1t was a white chip or a silver dollar.
The young man behind me said.
Deal This decided the sleepy man.
and he dealt. The Jack won, and he
tossed me a white check. The young
man behind me, without asking per-
mission, pushed the chip over between
the king v1d queen, and 1t won. | sat
stupisly looking on, the young man
making my bets for me and winning
every time.
The dealer began TO wake up and
take an interest. My bet placer was
taking awful chances. and I wanted to
stop him. but | remembered that all
my winnings had been ON an image Of
the sun and didn't dare say a word for
fear he'd fare up and give II away.
The piles before me grew and grew,
and suddenly I was startled by hearing
the dealer cry, 'Bhstedr The first
thing I did after that was to turn to
look at the man behind me to see II
the devil had done 1t all to get my soul
with the winnings. Great heavens,
whom do you suppose I saw7 Under q
sombrero dra wn down owe the face