The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-03-31
I HAT FIFTH ACE.

When the gold craze of 1S4o was at
its height was following the life Of
professional gambler and general crook
at D.. one OF the largest mining towns
| Of the west I had fleeced couple of
small mining camp few miles north
| Of D., and had promised to give them
a chance to win back their losings.
Their names were Dodson and Now
yer. The former was a little fellow,
while his partner was tail and power
fully built and spoke with a peculiar
| yet rather pleasant drawl.
| Early on the appointed Sunday morn
| ing set out for Round Hole and when
/ arrived stopped at the Big Strike sa-
loon, where I was to meet my two vic
TINS. Presently they came riding up
| to the door and dismounted. AS they
came in it struck me they acted rather
| formal. Dodson nodded.
! Shortly after we were seated at a
| table, and it was Dodsons deal. The
deck we had belonged to the saloon.
The night before desperate had been
| shot in this same room, and when
Dodson picked up his hand he found
| on one of his cards a fresh blood
stain. That was enough for him. II
don't think there is anything that
wouldn't happen to u.s. he said, If
we use these cards." So we threw
down our hands.
Seeing in this a golden opportunity,
I quickly produced deck from my
pocket and gave it to Mowyer, as it
was his deal next in order. For mo.
ment he hesitated and then, looking
at me from under his shaggy brows,
drawled out, ''Well, pardner, l s'pose
this decks all right; but, see'h's how
this amt no make believe game
we're a-goin' to play here directly, I
reckon 'twon't do no harm to make
sure" So he began carefully to suit
them, one by one.
| The only mirror Round Hole could
boast of was over the bar in the Big
Strike saloon, and while he was busy
with the cards noted how plainly
you could see his reflection in the
glass. All! I could make use Of that
| glass later on. for it would tell me
whether he held any aces to spoil the
effect of those I had in my sleeve, for
we were playing poker.
| Before we commenced a stranger
came in and asked leave to join us,
and soon we four were deep in the
game of bluff" Before the first hand
had been played l became conscious
Of Mowers eyes following my every
/ move. He was watching me like
cat, and, stealing glance in the mir
ror, saw his big six shooter was ly-
ing in his lap. So he was suspicious?
Very we'll; l would risk nothing until
big money was at stake.
We played for an hour. Dodson and
l were ahead, Mower and the stran-
ger were losers. and then the critica~
moment came nearly everything on
the table was in the pot. Mower had
| bet his last dollar and ''called" us. In
the excitement l worked in a ''cold"
ace at the risk Of my life, played it
safe and won the pile on show
down. II five aces had come out that
time there would have been another
tragedy at the Big Strike.
Mowyer was out. l held most of the
! "dust," but Dodson and the stranger
were not ready to quit, so another
hand was dealt. 1t was the strangers
deal. l had noticed he was very light
fingered, and as he shuffled the cards
I saw him slip one up his sleeve, but /.
said nothing. l was playing in luck,
| OF ho6 fol Cd
everything l called" them and won
the pot again-fair and square enough
+ this time.
Well, we separated, and / mounted
my broncho and started back to D.
$500 ahead. But I had barely got
out Of sight Of the camp when, look
| ing back over the road, l saw a cloud
Of dust, with now and then a glimpse
Of horsemen. When they came nearer
I saw they were headed by Mower,
and l drew rein. In moment they
had come up and formed a circle
around me. Mowyer dismOunted and,
stepping forward, drew his ugly look
ing six shooter and commanded me to
dismount also. He simply said:
''Would We be so good as to let US
see them there same cards again."
The others were grimly silent.
| I complied carelessly, with a gam
blers nerve. but with sinking sensa-
ton at my heart.
Now, pardner," he resumed, 1--WE be
a-goin' to count these cards again. If
they're all straight, well and good. But
if there's one card more'n there ought
to be ye can say yer prayers. I reck-
on We know" he added significantly,
whether there is or not 'thout us
countin'.' And he proceeded, laying
each card out by itself on the hot,
dusty road.
II had only put that "cold" ace out
Of the way! thought now 1 was as
| good as ''dOne for''
We were all watching Mower. He
had come to one ace and now another
diamonds and spades. Shuttle, shut