The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-14

Ing MS h"lld This Is "A OlpStlou of
h"nor between u> fOh | might draw
deed 10 piuutatIun never owned
] am man of the world. sub. and
reckon we each can recognize south-
ern gentleman on sight"
"Yes. in the present company that is
not very difficult matter" graveIv
responded Mr.. jackson. Shall we
cut for the deal? The four best hands
take all. Ah. luck is with me. | take
the cards. sir"
"One moment" said Moreau, "as no
stakes are up reckon I'll give my
check for the full amount should [
iose' Pocketing his roll, be glanced
satlrically at Mr.. jackson.
IL for a presumable amateur who oc-
casionally INDUCED in a gentleman's
game merely for the sake of passing
the time Colonel Moreau had exhibited
wonderful aptitude at shutting and
deallng his performance was now COM
pietely overshadowed by that of the
young intruder, whose lightning deft.
ness was almost uncanny. Talking
nonchalantly and brilliantly, he stack
ed the deck with beautiful pre-
clsion. fascinating in the extreme. even
while the colonels watchfuI and sus-
picious eyes never for a moment re-
laxed their vigil Owing entirely to
this marvellous and criminal skill Mr.
Jackson won on his own deal and
luck Following him. won also on that
of Mr. Randall. AS each and every
one OF the colonePs undertakings were
highly estimable he naturally held the
best hand when. for a moment. the
cards were In his power, and it speaks
eioQuently for Mr.. Jackson's large
CHARITY Of judgment that he refraiped
from criticism even when acuteIy
aware that the middle aged creole had
rather clumsily garnered his third ace
from the bottom of the deck. But as
youth must be served. especially when
poSseSSor of such conSummate skill as
that owned by Mr.. Jackson, the latter
handsomely won his fourth showdown
with surprising ease, verve and dash.
well. that winds her," airily re-
marked the colonel, arising and stretch
Ing his long arms. "One hundred thou
sand amt such a bad cleanup. I reck-
on. but yoh always were lucky. yoh
young scamp, and there's no playing
against 1t. Yoh even topped nv fob
kings. | calculate the Randall luck 4!
finished very poh last. How about |
yoh theory now, subj" |
The planter did not reply, for it is
somewhat difficult for a but newly
ruined man to sense the full humor of,
ms condition. In silence he drew to- i
ward him the pen and ink, while forI
long moment he stared at the white
sheet OF paper, upon which he was,
about to give title to all which he
owned. He and his children were beg
gars. total and complete. This was
the turning of the tide, his royal home
coming. For moment he bowed his
grlzzled head; then, shutting his teeth
against all thoughts Of the future,
seized the quill pen. For a Randall
must show the world how it can lose.
A Randall must be beaten at nothing
even at playing the fool.
"Yoh name, suhy' he cOurteously in
quired. turning to the young stranger
who had proved so fortunate.
Eugene Kirby. sir"
WHAT" exclaimed the planter In q
dazed manner. II thought, SUBJ
"Oh. the colonel sometimes calls me
Mr. jackson because he thinks | re-
semble the general" lightly replied
Cameo Kirby as, head between hands,
he stared gravely at the table. Amy
one will tell you my name is Eugene
kirby-even the Texas tender knows
it."
"Ah. the General. l have boy, sub,
whom we affectionately call by that
name" replied Mr.. Randall irrelevant
ly. staring at the ceiling. IL have
three children, sub. There is Tom and
Adele and the General. Their mother
Is dead. sub. And yoh say yoh name
Is Eugene Kirby. Very strange, sub.
l know the Kirbys of Plaquemine,
sub. No relation. suppose. But yoh
PARDON, SUM-.
And. with hand now steady and
firm. be wrote and signed the deed to
the Randall plantation and. with a
bow. handed it to the gambler whose
father he had befriended; the gambler
whose reputation was said to be the
worst on the river; the son Of the man
who had been his nearest neighbor
and closest friend.
This accomplished, Mr.. Randall arose
unSteadily and walked to the door.
where he turned and for moment
surveyed the smoke fouled room with
its litter Of empty bottles. And If for
a moment fleeting realization of the
very thorough manner In which he
had been victimized permeated his
throbbing brain no hint Of 1t was de-
picted in face or bearing.
Good evening, gentlemen" he said