The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-23

gagged, only to have 1t lightly pooh
poohed by the Colonel and also by
Maxwell, who joined them just then.
Hang the contract was MaxwelTs
immediate comment. "It must be
some picayune job in that town. Put
in any old bid high enough to make
no mistake about getting it. Your
firm doesn't expect to get everything
it bids on, does it? You must not
break up our little game that way, you
know. That will never do
1t spite of all the two colonies could
say, and in spite of all the knowing
winks with which the barkeeper pune
rured his advice, Frank was firm in
his determination to go ashore next
morning. Opposed to the repeated ar
gument of his tempters that "the firm
would never know" was his recollec-
ton Of Jennie's parting words: Think
of me as if l were standing beside
you, and you cannot lose."
When the four sat down to play
their last game together that evening,
nothing was said to Watkins about
Franks determination to leave them
next day.
Same old thing, SUPPOSED" he de-
manded as the cards were shuf1ed
That's right" answered Colonel
Draper. -Four of a kind is high, and
call a sight for your pile if you want
to; but if you borrow to raise, you
must borrow to CALI
"All right. Let her go!" was all
Colonel Maxwell had to say, as he
placed a handful of bills on the table.
There was little change in Frank
Avery's luck, and he gradually added
to his winnings until he had several
hundred dollars more velvet" in front
of him. The losers took it good-na-
turedly, and seemed to enjoy the game
just the same as if they were winning.
The barkeeper sat and looked on by
spells, and lost no opportunity to whis-
per to Frank to push his luck.
Its a cinch," he said. You can't
lose It's the chance of your life"
Along toward midnight, Frank
picked up four sevens pat on his own
blind. Watkins, on his left, had
queens up, but did not raise the ante.
Maxwell just Clipped, but Draper
raised it twenty-five dollars on three
kings.
Frank was too good player to raise
then, which would probably drive the
others out, so he put up the twenty
five as if it hurt him to do it. Wat
kins raised It fifty, on the principle of
making his play on two pairs before
the draw. Maxwell saw both raises
after some hesitation, and the dealer
just called, taking up the pack at the
same time to serve the draw.
Seeing that his opportunity for a
killing had c0une Frank raised it a
hundred dollars, which he thought that
the three men who were already in for
seventy-f1ve each would stand.
Watkins dropped like shot. Colo
mel Maxwell not only saw the raise,
but came back two hundred and fifty
harder, which drove out the dealer and
brought Frank up with jerk He
Just called it and drew one card. Max
we'll stood pat and bet dollar.
Something in the nature OF an inspt-
ration, or perhaps an almost imper-
ceptible movement on the part Of the
barkeeper, prompted Frank just to
call. and twas fortunate for him that
he did, as the Colonel had four Fights.
This sudden and unexpected reverse,
which cost him over four hundred dol
lars. gave Frank chill that he did
not recover from for several deals and
he found himself nervously fumbling
in his pockets and trying to count the
money he had left There was only
about half an hour more to play, and
the chances of recovering any Of that
four hundred were very slim. The
barkeeper looked solemn and shook
his head, as if he did not understand