The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-08-26
HIS NARROW ESCAPE.
By JOHN c. ARMSTRONG.

passed Crisis III my life at which
shudder today, though 1t happened for
ty years ago. For two hours was
suspended. so to speak. between life
of comfort and prison. and the two
hours ended with five minutes between
life and death.
This is now ii happened:
When the Union Pacific railroad was
building was taken up by one OF Its
most influential directors with a view
to preferment. The only position he
could secure for ME at hrs. was pay
master. but promised II proved
worthy to do better later on. My work
was TO 90 over the line as far as COM
pieted in pay car aud pay off the EN-.
ployees, Well. on one OF these trips
reached Julesburg. then the terminal.
though Laramie was 10 be made the
terminal in a few days paid off at
Julesbure, having between $1,000 and
$4,000 left for the force at Laramie.
and | was TO go there the next MORN
ing
TO Kill time ! went over to hotel
near the station. where found mum.
Der of men playing poker, sat down
TO witch the game aud had not done
50 very long before | observed that
none Of the players seemed 10 know
very much about the game. had
hundred dollars of my own in my pock-
ct besides the money | WAS to pay OF
with nj Laramie. had played poker
a good deal for small stakes with my
friends and was considered by them as
an adept ut the game. ii occurred to
me that J might as well AXE some OF
the money that WAS passing TO and fro
between these men. aud well. fool
ishly took hand.
! was Whit they were playing for.
and they continued 10 pily for me TIL
they hid 60, my hundred dollars. Then
came the temptation to recoup with
the cornpany's money. Il yielding. and
the loss OF nearly all Of Il. | knew by
this time that the men were card
sharpers AMI were cheating me. But
! knew also that TO accuse any one Of
them would bring on n row that would
expose me. As TO lighting them with
their own weapons. cheating. IL | did
so and w.s detected would get n
Juliet In ms brain.
A terribl' situation like this doesn't
usually aEect one at the time as IL
does after IL has passed. Though |
have for years looked upon II with hor-
ror. at the time my feelings did not
eet the better Of my cquanimity.
! presume this was because | realized
that 10 keep my head was my only
/ chance
There was $500 In the pot. or just
ID. amount I had lost. on the pre-
vious hand | had picked up several
cards that Ind fallen on the door aud
slipped onr II them up my sleeve.
was so de ierate that resolved 10
cheat and " | dil not win the big pot
on the table let the others see that ]
was cheating and get bullet IN my
brain. When my hand was dealt me
there were two kings IN II. drew
three cards. one OF them being a king
The card | had picked up or the door
was king. had given up an ace.
SO no one could hold four aces. The
only hand 10 beat four kings was
royal flush. pretty hard hand for
any one 10 purposely make up while
being watched. IL could get In my
fous kings could save myself. But
what would ! do with the extra card?
] was desperate. as have said. and re.
solved 10 trust to luck TO get rid OF
Il without detection. A device &C.
CURED 20 me. Drinks were coming on.
and. seeing some sandwiches on a
counter waiting 20 be sent out TO an.
other party. called for one OF them.
As soon as ! had secured II uttered
an exclamation and looked fixed.y
through the open doorway. Every
man turned his head. and slipped my
extra card Into the sandwich. When
the men turned | was eating bread.
meat and card altogether.
! won the pot. bur one OF the party.
looking at me fixedly. said. stranger.
whatd you see when you sang ont
20 suddenly just now
Ny success gave me confidence. AMI
kept my GOODNESS. but could think
y nothing probable for a reply. Il
thought | saw a friend Of mine" re.
piled. ''0ut there whom ] supposed 20
lie In Chicago"
Are you sure you aln't got deck
VI Your sleeve or somewhere"
"Whnt do you mcany' replied. bris.
ling Rising. | shook my sleeves and
irned my pockets inside out. showing
bat no card could be concealed ON my
ersoh. Then. scooping up the pot.
aid.
Gentlemen. I have been accused OF
heating. aud J will piny no more. !
TN loser by about sI5. so that have
perfect right 10 quit"
Though knew my life hung In the
balance. nothing could equal the re-
lief felt MS turned squarely away
and walked out OF the house. They
doubtless felt sure had purposeIy di.
rected their attention from myself
while I chcated. hut 1 had moi been