The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-20

h0 Ldu uFdWn, as his Is our last night
n this is the last pot till next Deem
Der, or maybe till after the next holf-
ddy recess, how about making the limit
tor this n pot five dollars?7
was just on the pinpoint Of sugge, Il
so mad nothing to say.
Curious thing this telepathv-thp~e
must be something in it, said Ransom,
l was just on the pinpoint Of
ing that myself. Zeb,'
Agreeable, said Mansir, and than
senator Vance, still without looking ar
the two cards he'd drawn. raised Nam
sir five dollars.
Senator Ransom had picked up the
card heu drawn and Wnen he cauqhr
sight Of it he leaned back in his chair
and seeu1GE 10 Iail into Il retrospective
state as he gazed dreamily at the cell
ing and began to softly whistle q ncs-
plaintiye minor air.
Queer thing how those tunes sttc,,
in the mind" he observed. breaking off
MS Whistling when ne saw how exre-
ant Senator Vance looked. Now, | first
heard that air-it's ]gOndoIier song
when | was il Venice as a very yOun.
man, and it only darts into my min.
every two or three years. or when-'
I'd like to hear yOu whistle it ali
through with variations, Matt, after
you get through with this pot? sue-
@ested Senator Vance. You know how
addicted | am to your music, - man.
here and elsewhere, even on the floor
Of the senate. Blu cards is cards
Mansi" thinks his openers are worth
two dollars and I'm raising him five.
I'm waiting for
Only darts into my mind, that
song, as l was saying said Ransom,
once every two or three years, and
always when I'm in a particular lucky
streak. or just about to begin one. I
am seeing those seven dollars, and it's
five dollars more
"'OhO! What am l up against?' in
quired Mansir then, and he showed his
opening pair Of jacks and dropped.
"'He couldn't see how both of the
eIlatOrs could be bluffing at the same
time, took no stock in a pair of jacks
in a pot at best, and, anyhow, he fore
saw more fun in a little battle between
Ransom and Vance for a windup SO
ne and [ got up from the table 20 adj
dress ourselves to q bit of refreshment
the sideboard.
CSC your Venetian air is the haroin-
ger of a luck streak, Ell, Matt? said
Vance, beanling affectiOnately upon his
cards. Glad to hear that. Have 10
raise you So, though. Mr.. Gondolier
Just naturally have to-
"'And five dollars said Ransom
drumming rythmically on the table to
keep time with the air he had useum-
ed Whistling.
Well, you'll have to invoke the
genii Of the Adraliatic with strOnger
whistling than that. Matt, this time,
said Vance, boosting it another five.
This hour, if never again, | hold
the magic lamp replied Ransom. see
ing Vance and boosting him the limit
The supreme confidence exhibited by
both of them drew Mansir and me
away from the s~ideboard. We wanted
to have a peek at their hands to see
what made the note Of triumph SO re-
sonant in the voice Of both OF them.
They both smilingly drew the cards
close to their waistcoat buttons as they
saw us approaching.
mot this time, old man. said II
70 me when I leaned over his Cnai1.
I'd feel it was a sort of proclamation
any mortal eyes barring my "
viewed this hand till the
You eau have a good. long look at
if when | have the hand framed said
Ransom to Mansir and Mansir made
as if to stOop over and o al MS
cards and then the two senator's re-
sumed their betting.
.sTt nassed back and forth between
hem RAPIDLY until there was SloI in
-, o-j +han Ransom Sld6OnlV
sight of the clock on the man
1t was lacking only two min
1tes to midnight and Sunday morning
"sZeb,' said Ransom. in a tone Oh
high generosity. to his colleague, only
y moment or so remains of this Ia
We cannot encroach upon the day 10
follow Cd not think | hurry the dayot
Do not think | hurry o 10
,our doom and extinction, but
"'Fiye more, Matt put in Senator
Vance, .I'n have our friend here in
The clock suddenly struck II II
Ransom rose from the table. !
& yen he said to his colleague, let
tho bands he placed in envelopes n
sealed. You Know where stan9 III
to this day
~t.cno1ad they'll be. Matt replied
.I11 have our friends here, m
me. seal my hand. and M'nsir
ear take care of yours. How do YOU
like the looks of these?' Senator Ze2
went on. as he spread his cards Il
in front Of me fanwise, and gave me
. slv and most confident dig in the
hibs.
shocking! It was horrifying!
The venerable gentleman had three
and two spades. He'd drawn the
two SHADES in an effort to fill a tnree
card club flush. And here ne was
pokiag me IN the ribs and nvluns NE
to look ecstatic over a ten high haHu:
Noble assortment, eh? he salo.
giving me another dig in the ribs, ana
course. I could do nothing else OuI
excIaim:
extraordinary. Perfectly extraor'
dinary!'