The sun., 1909-02-28

s0h. / underatand very we'll" said Stcr
hing, paling little at the others bruts
lnsinuation, "that you are indifferent as .
whose money play with; but you ma
be little bit out as to what people ma.
say about your placer You can't help II
you know. IL stories are told.
"Well. never mind he continued hastily
az Black was about to break in, III yo,
won't play against my deal at faro. VII
you play poksrl NAL ...a,,x .ro,vA
though evidently surprised.
Il mean stud poker. said Sterling.
Yes. I'll play stud" -
very well, said Sterling. ell be her
with the money. Only neither OF us n q
deal. I'll get Pat Sheshan TO do that TO-
us. and you know, ~ we'll al everybody
else does, that u Pat handles the card
it'll be a square deal
Nov, look here, young man, blus
about a square deal. You've never hac
anything else in this house"
I'm not saying / had, said Sterling
coolly, "and I'm not asking for anything
else, now. All want Is TO make sure OF J
this time. Do you want anything else
II not you can give me my chance anC
stand to win that other thousand II yo'
have the luck
well, all rlgnt, salu niach hho,G
though with no very good grace ana
was so arranged.
BY what means Pat Sheahan was in
duced TO deal in the game u is hard Y
cay, but he was there the following nigh
when Sterling appeared with the thou
sand he had somehow obtained meantime
and the game began forthwith.
The start seemed disastrous for Ster
ling. His buried card was king and IN
card showing was ten, against Black
queen showing He therefore etsyet
another king on the next round agains
Blacks ace he raised it $50 when Biacs
put up a second ten.
To his discontinue, however. Blacl
came back at him with 500 more ana ~
studied hard before deciding. FINAL,
he concluded that 1t was probably bluf
and he saw the raise.
On the next round neither man bet
tered and Black passed the bet. AgaiI
Sterling studied, and deciding that Blaci
il he really had aces was passing Tor
play he also passed.
Again neither man bettered and Blacl
put up $500. Again Sterling decided
that il looked enough like blum TO war
rant a call, but Black showed the TIVE
aces and nearly half Of Sterlings capita
was gone.
On the next hand he was lucky enough
to catch three sevens, one in the hole
against Blacks two pairs hVes showing
and jack in the hole with one allowing
1t was his bet on the final round and h
pushed his stack forward impatiently
as il attempting a blum himself. Blac!
with two pairs naturally called an(
Sterling was trife ahead Of the game.
For the next few hands there was littl'
doing, but then came another, eventful
deal Sterling had queens back To back
and Black king showing. ----.
Deciding to wait he merely covered
the $40 that Black bet, and on the mex
turn he caught q nine. Black showing
a six. Again he waited. and only ~
more went into the pct.
On the next round Black caught hi
king and bet $50. while Sterling got anothe
nine SPOT. Not caring to raise agains
a possible three kings, he merely stayed
but when another queen came TO hin
against Blacks ten spot he saw his hans
was invincible and again he showed hi
stack forward.
Black really had tine three kings ans
felt enough confidence to call with wha
ne had in front OF him, so Sterling was ,
thousand to the good.
Give me another thousand in chips.
said Black coolly to his cashier and Ster
ling counted out half his pile and asket
Tor the cash on them.
Going TO sink that. eh'" said Blaci
with a sneeT.
-N-no,s said Sterling indifferently
Il don't care TO do that, but il you wan
to play against the two thousand you'c
better get more chips"
-Al right said Black. Give m,
another thousand" Whereupon Sterlinl
let the full amount remain on the table.
Again there was q series OF uneventfu
deals, but action began once more wher
Black, having pair of tens back TO back
latter having let out on jack showing
having also a jack in the hole.
Perceiving Of course that he had thu
winning hand so far, he pretended tS
hesitate for considerable time. bu;
afterward put up his money 9th grudg
ing air.
On tho next turn each man drew an ace
whereupon Sterling with an air of ex
u!tat ion put up SO ca lculating that Blacl
would take q chance for that amoun
even qainst pair Of acss, ia he hope o
improving tens. he Was right. fol
though il was poor plays and Black knew
II he was not prudent enough TO decline
the challenge.
When on the next turn Black caugh
another ten and Sterling another jack
the latter bet $50 again purely AZ a coaxel
ana WIS ueilRnleu " HSll piaCh iaiseu ll'u
slOO, showing plainly enough that he had
three tens against what he thought " q:
aces up.
That. of course, left Sterling the choice
betw cen staying with apparent reluctance
and raising in turn. He chose the former
preferiing to wait for the final round be.
fore making his play.
The event justified his play doubtful
poker as it was. for he caught trey and
Black king, leaving Sterling n certainty
Of winning and no faint scruple against
pushing his advantage. He accordingly
passed the bet, looking for substantial
stake from Black and was not disappointed
when the latter put up $500.
Covering the $500, Sterling put up 81 ,o0C
more without a word, and Black did some
studying in turn. Finally with the con.
viction that he was calling bluff. he pu,
up his thousand, and the cards were
shown.
This Is where | cash in declared
Sterling 20 his opponents surprise. and
pocketing his 81, 500 and odd winnings
the youngster arose and with a careless
Good night sauntered out OF Redney
Black s place for the last time.
As he passed the tall mirror into which
he had gazed so earnestly the night be-
fore, he nodded to his owl reflected image
and muttered
1T was monstrous long chance took
in the DEVILS own game 10 save you from
the pain OF injuring another by your
cursed folly. but you'll take your owr
losses for your punishment. and you and
I are done with that particular folly
forever"
Up TO now he has kept his word
A PROBLEM OF FL0RTCULTURE
Will the Perfumed Chrysanthemum Ar.