The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1906-02-15
THE SUN IMAGE
Iorgina.l

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shone through the spaces at the ends
OF the stats. Now, though the spaces
were not round, we noticed that q
round spot Of light from each crack fell
on the wall opposite the window. l had
often seen the phenomenon before AND
called Adams attention to 1t. A SIM
Rular expression came over his face "a
Ne looked at them.
Can you explain the circular form
I asked.
~only FRAT the spots Of light are MI
mute images Of the sum-" he replied.
But It isn't this that interests me. 1
can never look at one of those little sun
images without being profoundly
moved"
@Out With It." I said, for l knew there
was a story behind his emotion.
when 1 was married." be said, ito
the best woman In the worid-I drew
a matrimonial prize among hundreds Of
blanks-I wa doing well In business
and was able to provide for the three
little kids that came along during the
arst five years Of my married life. Ny
wife was not extravagant; indeed. b
looked out for the nickels very care
fully. Nevertheless, no matter how
careful a woman may be In this respect,
she Ia q natural plunger. and I found
out my Daisy was one Of that kind.
Zone evening In midsummer when
my family was out OF town | was per-
suaded to 90 into a gambling house. I
never dreamed of betting when enter.
ed. but l soon caught the fever. and
when l left the place l had won some
thing like $50. l was 30 well pleased
with my venture that I tried 1t again
the next night. l won steadily for .
week; then 1 began to lose. To make
a long story short, by the time my wife
came home I was ruined. l sold out
my business to pay my debts and had
$3.50 over with which to begin the
world again. Ny wife was plucky
about 1t all and refrained from what
nineteen In twenty women would have
done under the circumstances. She ".
er spoke a word Of blame.
81 received my $3.50 one morning and
In the afternoon went with 1t to try
to my losses, telling Daisy I
vas going to take a walk. I won over
$1,000. but lost It the same night, win.
ming and losing alternately. Ny wife
knew Al well as ! what I vas doing.
but never said q word. pretending ig-
norance. When I had lost all my win
nings and 5000 besides she began to
look anxious. Not that l said a word.
l didn't need to. She could tell by my
face how l stood. and when she want
cd to know exactly she would examine
my pocketbook after | was asleep.
"0ne afternoon l went to the den
with but $50 In my pocket, and | must
have looked pretty miserable, for my
wife kissed me before I left the house
and said. BE sure to be home for din
ner.' Just as if she didn't know that
II I got absorbed l wouldn't pay any
attention to dinner or any other meal.
| played very close. seldom risking
much at one time, for my capital was a
bagatelle. Despite my caution my pile
grew lower and lower, and at last |
had but mi white chip left. The deal.
or wasn't paying much attention to me
and was yawning necessarily, having
been Mt his work all the night before.
l was absorbed that l didn't notice
a young fellow who came and leaned
over me. watching my game. l put
my last chip on the ten and lost. !
was broke.
The dealer, ignorant that l had moth.
ing to bet with, went on with the game.
Ard now I'm getting to the point of my
story. Through a crack In the window
one Of these little suns came In and
lighted on the jack. The dealer blink.
cd at 1t and didn't Vel sure whether
1t was a white chip or a silver dollar.
The young man behind me said.
Deal This decided the sleepy mar.
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 end queen. and 1t won. l sat
stupidity looking on. the young man
making my bets for me and WINNING
every time.
The dealer began to wake up and
take an interest. Ny bet placer was
taking awful chances. and / wanted to
step him, but I remembered that ak
my winnings had been on an image Of
the and didn't dare say a word for
fear he'd fare up and give It away.
The piles before me grew and grew,
and suddenly I wal startled by hearing
the dealer CRY. Busted! The first
thing did after that was to turn to
look at the man behind me to see IL
the devil had done It all to get my soul
with the winnings. Great heavens,
whom do you suppose I sawf Under q
sombrero drawn down over the face
glittered a pair Of eyes. and those eyes
II