The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-07-05
LUCKY
CARDS
BY JOSEPH E. COUCH

it seemed to me that every one gam
bled. There were all kinds Of games
from the most honest to the most ras-
cally.
very soon found that to be like
other people l must do as they did-in
other words. l must gamble ] had
played poker occasionally in the east
with my friends to pass the time. and.
finding it to be the prevailing game in
my new home. concluded that since
l must play | would play the national
game.
One evening ] won very large pot
on three mines. When | showed my
cards every one at the table exclaimed:
Dead mans hand. by thunder!'
asked what was meant by dead
mans hand. and one of the party told
the following story:
"A few years ago a young fellow
came out here to look over some min
ing property. A prospector had struck
some first class indications and had
gone east to put the property into
company. He had failed at that. but
had induced this young man to come
out to investigate and, If satisfied, fur
nish the money to open the vein.
"Johnston-that was his name-had
wife and couple Of kids He had
had hard luck in making living and
was scraping bottom when his wife
received legacy Of $4,000. He was
visionary enough to persuade her to
give it to him to make the investiga-
ton Of the mine with and to use for
development purposes If the case look
ed promising.
Johnston came out here with the
money to make the investigation and
while he was doing it attended to bust
ness. A company was organized. two
thirds of the shares to be his on pay
ment Of the $4,000; Hammond. the
prOspector who had discovered the
vein and owned it. to have the rest.
Johnston had made the investigation
and determined to invest the money in
the mine. While he was waiting for
the necessary legal steps to form the
company. having nothing to do. one
day he stepped into a place where
some men were having a small game.
There was something fascinating to
him in the rattle of the chips, and
wasn't long before he called for $40 in
fvories and sat down at the table.
ut was the worst thing he could
done. for the very next day he was to
put up the money for the shares and
to receive contract for them. He
won little al first. but not much; then
he began to lose. He realized that if
he lost any of the money he was to in
vest he might better have stayed at
home. and this made him nervous He
didn't play with any kind of skill. be-
ing timid when he should have been
bold and bold when he should have
been timid The game was fair enough,
there not being professional gambler
an honest game as well as at dishOn-
est one.
Just as soon as Johnston began to
lose he began to plunge 1t wasn't
long before he had lost $1,000 After
that he insisted on making all sorts OF
foolish bets. His face got red. and his
eyes were wild Some of the men
who were in the game with him tried
to stop it. but he demanded his re-
venge and they couldn't we'll get out
About midnight Johnston had lost
all but about $1,000 of his pile Next
hand was a jack pot. He opened it
with 500. and most everybody stay ed
in. It seemed that all had something
to bet on, for the pot kept growing
bigger and bigger. Toward the end of
the betting 1t was noticed that John
ston's face instead Of being red was
white.
"Well. the money kept piling up on
the table. No one knew how much
there was Of it because it was a heap
- dust and gold and silver and bills.
At iaxt some O the players. seeing that
Johnston was looking kind O queer.
called halt. Nobody bet any more.
and. as for Johnston. he had pulled his
hat down over his eyes 50 as to con-
ceal his face. When the showdown
was called he had his elbows on the
table and his jaws in the palms of his
hands.
EVERY man turned his cards over
except Johnston. who sat looking down
at their backs The others thought
that he saw himself beaten and hadn't
any stuff left in him to turn them over
The hands against him weren't large
There were three Fights. three fives
and several double pairs
"'Wake up. Johnston. and look at
your cards. some one sang out.
But Johnston didn't move One OF
his opponents turned his hand over
and showed three mines. He had won
over the Fights by one point
Johnston. you've won!
somebody pulled his hat from off his |
forehead and exposed his face There |
was a stony stare in his eyes that sent
thrill of horror through ALL
1.-THE man was dead.
Zone of the players scooped the mon
~ off the table and put it away. When |
t was counted there was $1O.2o7 in It.
The next day IT was turned over for
he shares and they made JOhnStOn's