The daily Alaskan., 1912-09-05
Exp ectatlons sy EpuilRD K. DRoANE


 most fortunate aud those brought up to wealth most unfortunate.
 came Of family of the middle class and from childhood was made to understand that would have to fight my own wAy ila the world. But wns given an education. which is consider ed and usually is essential to success At sixteen was about to accept DO sition In business when an uncle of mine suddenly m,.ie fortune by a deal in the stock market He had the good sense to invest bis gains In good first mortgage bontlS and never after ward riskcd a cpnt in speculation.
 My uncle was a bachelor sixty years old, and my mother WIS his farorIte sister. He ha,i always shown a par tiality for me and proposed ,o my mother that he should send me to col lege and make me his heir. for he claimed that he had no desire to marry and If he should marry at his time Of life he would wish he had not mar tied longe,i for a college educa- ton and for my part was glad to ac. cept my uncle's proposition
 spent four years at college. my er. penses being paid by my uncle. In deed, he gave me an allowance that enabled me to associate with such of my fellow students as were not oblig- cd to earn their living or part of it while getting their education.
 When I was grnduated with fair standing in my class was one of the all around prominent men of it. began the study of a profession-Aat my uncle's expense--and had nearly finished 1t when received telegram that my uncle was very III, I went to him at once and assumed the direction of his household. His Illness was destined to be q protracted one. and, there being no one but myself to do anything for him. assumed charge not only of his domestic but his other sf. fairs
 spent five years ministering to the old man. living in his house with him and devoting myself exclusively to him. regretted that my professional studies had been broken into, but since I was heir to fortune and had what money needed did not repine. True. my uncle was very irritable and often tried my patience. but the doctors as- sured me that lie could live only few years at most, and then. having means at my command. could make up for lost time. for, be 1t understood, ! was not content to live in idleness and es- pecially desired career.
 My uncle fingered longer than had been expected, and toward the last l found the work of amusing him very trying. | suggested cards, and he was pleased with the idea He had been poker player in his time. and by playing with him for small stake l got through msny hours that would otherwise have been burden. Never theless playing penny ante with a broken down old man hour after hour was not to me pleasing way of spend. ing my time. and when my uncle pro posed to raise the stake to , cents scquiesced.
 This was a mistake. He was s nat ural gambler. and 1t was knowledge of this fact--a fear that he would lose what he had made in the stock mar. ket--that led him to quit the street, Since then his passion for gambling had lain dormant. It was now excit- cd anew. He kept raising the stake, and did not dare 10 oppose hitn- When he got the value Of a chip up to 25 cents began to be troubled How. ever, hoped that by refusing to win I might keep out of trouble, for real ized that to win any considerable amount from him would irritate him, and In his broken condition l feared he might break with me.
 One afternoon when he was more fretful than usual got out the cards and the chips. During the sitting there occurred one of those marvellous runs of luck by which players are enabled to break banks. jack pot had been growing on the table for some time when was dealt three queens and drew a fourth. would have bet q small sum, but since the cards must be shown feared to irritate my Sncie by appearing to favor him. At the showdown he had full of aces. which gave me the pot
 From that time the devil seemed to be in the cards Whenever l dealt gave myself large hands and invarf ably gave my uncle hands but little below mine. When I had a straight flush he would have full; when l had three aces he would have three lower cards Terrified. attempted to deal him a hand larger than mine. He caught me in the act
 For some time had seen by his ex- pression that he suspected was in. tentiohally dealing to myself large hands and to him hands but little smaller to draw him on. When he caught me trying to deal him win ner he fell back on the pillows behind him and pointed to the door. In vain endeavored tci explain. He contiD. ued to point to the door, and l left hoping when be had cooled to renew my efforts to diisabuse his mind of his inpression. Hes sent word for me to laave the hous,s and never enter it