The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-22

SAAA A0A ASDnI0 4AIO
round holes before. but none that he
had eve seen had seemed so large
as did the little orifce az the end
of the hollow steel cylinder that was
pointed directly at his face, only three
feet away. Moreover, Jim was not
Guick-witted, and the demand that was
made Oh the comprehension was sud
den.
When it is said that he was not
quick-witted there is no implication
that he was lacking in shrewdneSs. II
was simply that a leisure habit OF liv-
ing is customary among the people of
his native village in the Tennessee
mountains. He could act vigorously
enough, blu he liked to take his time
about it, and just now there seemed
to DE not time TO take
Just how he happened t o be in Chi
caGo is not material. Having what
seemed to him Il plentiful supply of
money, and what did not seem to him
an ordinate desire to know what a
- >Ahs vas mt AC Adu CADIoISa Uot
too wisely, but assiduously for two
days and nights, and had in that time
seen much and made many ~aoquain-
tanceS.
1t was some years ago, when there
were gambling houses run more or
less openly on North Clark street, and
one of the new acquaintances he had
found, Sparks by name, had induced
him to visit n of these houses.
It was a place of no unusual des-
cription, and men of the usual types
were there. The proprietor, a black
m~ustached sport, whose prosperity
flashed from his shirt front, greeted
him with surly grace when Sparks in
troduce him. John Brady was the
name Sparks called him by, but as
Pettibone "a not as familiar with
the name as the police were he was
not affrighted.
There were the thin man, apparent
ly nerveless and bloodless; the broad,
Jovlal-looking man, with the baby
stare; the tactiturn, watchful man,
who seemed fitted for the duties of the
lookout besides the faro table, aud
all the others that Pettibone would
naturally have expected to see if he
had been familiar with gambling
houses.
They were playing faro-playing it
perfunctorily, though, Pettibone did
not suspect this. It failed to interest
him greatly, and when Sparks bought
chips for himself and sought t in
duce him to. join the game, he said:
"No; [ never sense no fun in guards
'thoughten it's poker
The general interest in faro died
suddenly away, and though one man
strolled over to the roulette table
and began turning the wheel idly, the
others acquiesced readily enough when
Sparks proposed a game of draw.
Would you like to take a hand?"
he asked of Pettibone, and that young
man, Disgusting the pride he felt in
his own prowess, declared that he
would very much like it. He had
heard, as a matter Of course, of pro-
f%essional gamblers and their tricks,
though he had never played with any,
but he had played in the home VII
lage since he was a boy, and was really
a clever amateur. Moreover; he had
practiced card tricks until he knew
much about the manipulation Of the
pasteboards and could detect wha+ the
ordinary man would never see.
What limit do you play?" he ask
ed in a matter-of-fact way. There
were five at the table, Brady and
Sparks sitting in as a thing to be
expected, and the nan with the baby
stare, whom they called Healy, and
Jacobs the bloOdless one taking the
other two seats.
Well" said Brady, slowly, we
don't bother about a limit much, but
if you're any ways timid We might
put it at So.
Pettibone could feel a slight tingling
of excitement at this proposal Of a
larger game than he had ever played.
His first impulse was to say that he
preferred dollar limit, but he was
enough Of a player to know that q S.
game is no harder to play than o D
cent game if the player is cautious.
so he simply said: Five dollars )!
suit me-" and they bought their chips.
He pulled out a $50 bill, expecting
some change, but Brady gave him the
whole amount in chips, and each of
the others took the same. Pettibone
| noticed that Sparks gave the bangor
a written memorandum instead OF
money, but he said nothing.
He sat on Brady's left, with Sparks
in the next seat and Healy next. AS
Healy~ dealt first, it was Jacobs ante.
| He put up two whites, or so cents, TO
| call a red, or 81.
Pettibone had not expected mucn
on the first deal, but looking at his
+, cards he found three e Brads
came in and Pettibone was about tc
raise, but remembering that there were
three others to hear from. he sinpl.
threw in a red. Sparks trailed ant
Healy dropped.
Then Healy raised it 81, and Brady
came in again, giving Pettibone IN
other chance. He said nothing, bu'
threw in a blue chip, making a SECOND
raise of So, whereupon Sparks dropped
Jacobs made it S. more. and Brady
after long hesitation, made goot
once more.
It was as far as PertibOne dare.
go. so he simply made good. Jacob: