The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-17

name of Blake, who was typical repre- sentative of the professional gambler Of days that are gone. Blake was not | common gambler. Not a common card | sharp who fieeced such innocent chickens as might be lured Into his grasp, but | sport of nerve, who met and conquered l those who boasted of their skill in the pl ofession. He played reckiessly and his success seemed pure luck instead of skill or good judgment Sometimes he met with heavy reverses, but usually he was fortunate. He only played when in the l humor and mood to do so, and as he recklessly staked his money on the turn l of a card his eyes were filled with strange light that cautious men well knew to be a dangerous signal. His 1 cheeks would be flushed his blood leap ing in his veins and woe to the individ- ual who aroused the ire of Blake. .Blake carried no visible weapons, yet not few knew to their discontinue that there were weapons on>his person | which seemed to leap into his hands at the command of his will.
 | Somewhere within hidden pockets he carried pair of 'gats,' and when it was | necessary he could produce and work them with lightning-like rapidity.
 "The most of the gamblers in Walla | Walla steered clear of Blake They had learned that this was the best course to | pursue That he was more than match for the best of them had been proven to their satisfaction with Bud Arm strong who up to that date had been considered the most desperate and suc- cessful gambler in Walla Walla.
 Armstrong challenged Blake to play, and. with alacrity, Blake accepted the | challenge.
 '.They met in a gambling house con- 1 6ucted by a man named Charlie Rose and with a crowd of eager spectators around them played till one was broke Armstrong was the loser. Quickly he drew a revolver, at the same time say | ing:
 Foul playi You cheated, Blake!'
 "Quick as had been the yanquishei gamblers movements, those of Blake were equally as swift. A revolver cleaned in his hand sharp report rung out and Armstrong's weapon was torn from his hand by bullet which splntered on the cylinder, filling his fin- gers with tiny particles of lead which stung like so many wasps. Then, as one hammer of the revolver rose by the pressure of a steady finger on the trig- ger, Blake said
 Swallow those words or swallow leadi Armstrong saw the strange glow in Blakes steady. piercing eyes and
 
 hesitate. Slowly and with a look that plainly told the effort it cost him, he apologized for what he had said.
 Armstrong Took His Life
 Armstrong, years afterward, com mitted suicide by jumping off the Mon roe street bridge in Spokane. His man. gled body was found on the rocks be- low.
 'There was another and pleasanter side to Blakes character,
 .sOnce there came to Walla Wala a young fellow who was flush from re- cent discovery of rich gold pocket filled with yellow nuggets. He said hls find was in Idaho, but whether his statement was true or not 1t was never learned. "The young fellow-a mere boy-was fresh from the east and was what was termed those days a veritable tender foot Elated by his good luck, he in- GGlged freely in liquor and finally eX- pressed desire to try his hand at draw poker with the best gambler in Walla Walla Several sharks were ready and eager to fleece the lad, but he had heard of Blake and would play with no one else.
 Blake smiled scornfully when the young fellow challenged him to play.
 "T am not robbing babes,' was his reply.
 "At this the young man became fear fully enraged.
 am no baby he cried. I am your equal any day You are called the best gambler in Walla Walla and if you are not a coward you will play with mes
 That word coward stirred Blake 5 fiery blood.
 "The strange red light leaped into his eyes, and in a calm tone which belied the flush upon his face he said:
 tan a man I would drop you in your tracks for that insult. As you are only boy I will teach you that you know nothing Lat all of poker
 "They sat down to play and in less than an hours time the youth had part ed with his fortune.
 ..The final pot was heavy one and the young man attempted to bluff on one small pair Blake did not hesitate to see the young fellows reckless bet and go him one better. Finally the youth dashed the cards the table. uttering q cry of despair as he declared that he was ruined. Blake smiled grimly as he dropped his cards face upward upon the table and ralled in the pot. Another cry came from the young mans lips as his eyes fell upon the ex- posed cards and he saw that Blake had only held queen high.
 "Quicl1ly the youth drew and cooked a l. revolver, which ne placed 4agalnSt ms Town head. But ere the weapon could be discharge Blake wrested it from the mad boys hands
 "Fool," he exclaimed. would you kill yourself?"
 Yes was the reply T am ruinedl With that gold I could have made my poor old mother comfortable during the rest of her life. Now she will die in the roor house. Give me that revolver that may blow out my worthless brains.' | But Blake did not give up the re- l volver. He arose and led the young man out of the saloon, and while walking down the street thrust into the youths S hands the gold every dollar of it, that he had won from him.
 Take it, he commanded hoarsely. Take 1t and go back to that poor old mother In Illinois. You should thank God that your mother is yet spared to you. And, above all things avoid liquor and shun such dens as the one in which tonight you gambled away your fortune. It is well for you that you fell into my l hands instead of the hands of the sharks which infest the place
 "That night the youth disappeared from Walla Walla and was never seen fin the town afterward.
 What became of Blake?"
 "Oh, he now lives in Juarez, Mexico, just across the line from Fl Paso, Tex | He has reformed-gam mbes no more-and is spending the remainder of his days on | earth under his own fig and vine, and l incidentally sells Mexican curios, Just to keep his mind employed. you know" |