The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-09
A Straight Flush.

III WIS WcSbDOuuu tidHn Oh ahc
Union Pacific road In the days when
Cheyenne was It's western terminus.
Major Creushaw. army paymaster, was
playing cards with several men. A
woman on the train warned him by a
look that they were sharpers. Her
warning was unbeeded-indeed, resent.
ed.
When the officer was thousand dol
lars ahead he looked back at the wo-
man and smiled superciliously. She
answered by shaking her head. He
was still holding his own when he
looked again. She was sleeping, or pre-.
tending to. Then of sudden luck
changed. The professional gambler
does not always have to resort to trick.
cry. The fickle goddess is apt to smile
on him as on the novice. There was a
square deal of cards in which three OF
the four got good hands. and the bet.
ting was lively. The major held four
tens and kept boosting the pot untll
his winnings were Mt stake. Then he
called to find four queens out against
him. One more hand cleaned him out
TO his last dollar, aud he rose up to
give place to some one else. He look.
ed at the woman. and there was a
smile Of pity on her face. 1t angered
him. He Clipped with government
greenbacks He won and he lost
For two hours the major made three
losses to one winning. Two of the
others also lost. Luck favored only
one man. Whenever during these two
hours the officer looked at the woman
she was either mapping or looking out
Of the window. She did not try to
catch his eye again. She gave him no
attention when he finally rose up and
returned to his old seat. He hadn't
So left In his pocket. He had used up
over $1,000 of government money. He
sat stifly In his seat, staring straight
ahead Of him. wondering how he should
die. He was not the man to turn cur
and run away. All his friends COM
blned could not raise that amount of
money offhand. He had lived under
army regulations as an officer and n
gentleman. and he would die that way.
II was to he suicide pure and simple,
either before reaching Cheyenne or di-
rectly afterward. The major didn't
shrink from the idea. He was trying
to plan the time and place. AS he
was busy with these thoughts the wo-
man rose up and passed down the car
to the gang he had played with. The
three men were not playing at that
moment.
"Jim. how much have you won?"
asked the woman Of the lucky man.
About $4,000"
I'D like to play hand with you
just the two OF u.s."
The three men looked at her In sur
prise. and number of passengers
gathered around.
81 mean IT," insisted the woman as
she produced money and drafts. "We'l
cut for deal and have showdown.
The biggest hand takes the stakes"
THAT isn't regular. Besides. I'm
playing In great luck today and would
be sure to beat you"
Then you will be welcome to my
money. Don't be n 6unker."
"What are the stakes to bel"
"Six thousand dollars"
"Wheww whistled three or four men
in chorus. II was big sum of money
to be lost or won on n showdown. II
staggered even the professionals.
'If you will agree that we may dis
card and draw after the deal I'll &c
you" said Jim after taking a moment
to think and wondering IL his luck
would stand by him.
"All right"
The woman sat down. the cards were
cut. and Jim got the deal. With SC
many eyes watching him he dared moi
attempt any tricks The woman said
her FIVE cards would do, and the gam
bier held up two aces and drew three
more cards. When he saw that he had
drawn two more aces he felt sorry fol
the woman.
1--WE agreed on showdown, but
should like to bet on this hand" he
observed.
well, let's call the agreement off, y
replied the woman. whats your
bet?"
"Only Ave hundred to begin with"
"l'll see 1t and raise you five hun
dred."
In less than ten minutes there was
$4,000 In the pot. Jim had put up his
last dollar and had TO call. He laid
down his four aces with bland smile
"A straight flush. queen high" sait
the woman as she began to gather VI
the money.
The major had neither heard mol
seen. His face was turned toward tbs
window. but he might as well have
been blind for all he saw He was
thinking Of the penalty. By and by
hand was laid on his shoulder and q
package Of money was laid on hi:
knee, and the woman quietly sald
"Jim Daily wants you to take this
back. He let you play just to VIII
your money and show you that yor
were not In the game. Jim used TO b,
soldier, and he wouldn't beat Uncle
Sam"
"Do you mean it?" asked the majo
as he came to life again.
"Of course l do. and II there is any
thing over what you lost you may do