The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-18

smiling fves. I let the money stand.
and at the first roll made a seven,
which gave me "a on the table. In less
than a dozen throws I had SO. 1 passed
six piunks over to Wayne and got ready
to plunge for fair.
Il clamped my teeth together to
keep them from rafting. 1t wasn't
Don Pedro's stacks of shining dollars
that I was fighting for. 1 felt the ma
laria in my bones I tasted the gall of
that brackish water, and to my nos
trils hoated the moldy horrors of a
tropical dungeon. 1t was no time for
'piking' when luck was with me-
mot in this life will 1 forget
Wayne's shudder of despair as he saw
me take the $40 and plank them
down on the passing line. He was
leaning over with his elbows on the
table and I saw him close his hands
ivory cubes. Ny point was eight, and
on the next roll I turned over as
beautiful a six and deuce as ever
gladdened the heart of a gamester
even in the day of Julius Caesar. Don
Pedro sized up my bet, and Wayne
look of joy and wink franucally for
me to draw down and pass him over
the bulk OF my winnings.
But I was out to press my luck.
ignored Wayne's groan and let my
money ride. Talk about action! Just
one toss and 1 turned up a five and a
six. and I had $40 on the passing
line 1 let it stand Once more Don
Pedro set his lean jaw and mumbled
to himself. His evil little eyes fairly
up two deuces-for four is about as
hard a point to make. before the
seven shows, as can be found in all
the combinations into which those
fascinating little cubes distort them
selves
ss0or,a Fo,,rf Coma m TgftTa To-
pleaded Wayne, who had walked up to
the situation
"As il in answer to his call those
same two deuces came face up before
1 had made three throws. I had $50
on the board, and grew conservative.
I took down $40, tossed them into my
sombrero. and played with the re-
manning ten. 1t was the same run Of
luck without losing a pass 1 ran it
up to $50.
Don Pedro Kissed some Spanish cuss
word and grabbed the dice.
No mas por hora.' mo more for an
hour) was his decision.
II put the 800 into my sombrero and
walked over to the monte table. While
know nothing OF the game 1 was will
ing to risk the IS that Wayne had, and
/ watched the play for a while OBJ
served it long enough to see that the
players were betting on whether trey
or 4 four spot would be turned up first
who guessed the suit of either the trey
or four spot got four TO one took the
long. shot and put down Wayne's IS on
the four OF clubs TO show up before the
four of anv other suit The dealer toss
ed off nv four spot before he had turn
ed up half dozen cards. and passed me
over $24.
That made 800. and lit out for q
hank bareheaded and with my hat full
of silver. followed by Wayne L1Bot the
specie changed into bills, and settled up
a few odds and ends about the hotel
The Seneca sailed that night and Wayne
and I were aboard. The steerage was
full and we paid steeTage rates for lit
tie hole in the second cabin But 1t
meant freedom. and We were satisfied
AS we leaned over the side on our way
down the harDcr. Wayne caught sight OF
the dorsaI fin of shark cutting its way
through the water
You hungry old cuss.' he sang out,
you needn't follow me all the way TO
New York because disappointed you
for dinner tonight"