The daily Alaskan., 1914-09-18

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 Old Ike banged his hand viciOusly on the table.
 ''Is tn limit off?" he shouted.
 Railroad Jim ran a wary eye over the company before he answered, then:
 "AIl right, unless any gent objects, he declared coldly.
 Any ornery cuss as wants ter ob- ject d better say so ter mel" the old man spluttered, glaring about. And to Jim: 9Th limits off, huh2 Be rightP'
 9Th limits off," Railroad Jim agreed.
 Old Ike drew forth battered pocket book and laid 1t before him on the table, one hand still clutching 1t.
 "ThrOw yer keerds," he commanded.
 RalIread Jim Obediently displayed the three cards to the company and to the old man. All could see them dis tlnctly, the ten of spades, the ten of clubs, the jack of diamonds. The thrower passed them back and forth gently, slowly. then dropped them deli cately one by one on the table.
 'Tll bet my pile pick th' jack." Old Ike clamored.
 How muchT Railroad Jim asked. His voice was colorless still, but feck of red burnt in either cheek.
 "Just a plumb S4.OOO|
 Ike opened the pOcketbook and dis played thick roll of bills. Twice he counted them. There were tens, twen- ties. lfties, hundreds The total was an even S4,OOO. He laid the money in a neat pile on the table midway be- tween himself and the three cards.
 Match It." he commanded tersely.
 Railroad Jim produced his pocket book in turn and counted out an equal sum in bills of large denomination, fresh from the bank, his profits of two weeks. This money lay on his side of the table. Between the two heaps of bills the three cards waited silently, ar- biters of fortune.
 Suddenly something happened - a swift movement, q flash, a thud. A bowie knife stood quiyering In the ta- bIe, its polished steel shaking flame. The bOwie's point was buried deep in the table top. and it pierced and held fast in It's place the center card of the three.
 Old Ike, his spectacular deed wrought, stood back a little and laughed aloud. The tension of the startled crowd re- faxed somewhat. They had expected a robbery, a murder. They leaned for ward in breathless attention.
 That's my keerd," the old man cried triumphantly. His right hand was at his hip; his left pushed his. stack of bills up against the center card. That's my keerd," he repeated dedaRtly. "My S4,OOO Is bet on jest that same per tic'ler keerd And it's there t wtnp
 Railroad Jim had neither moved nor spoken. Now the eyes of the two men met and locked for a long half minute, and neither finched in his stare.
 But at last Old Ike again put forth bis left hand, and now he turned over the card on the right It was the ten of spades.
 4 moment more of pause, then he turned over the card on the left It was the ten of clubs. The third card remained face downward pinned to the table by the bowie's blade.
 Once more Old Ike raised hls eyes to those of Railroad Jim.
 DO I winT' he asked tauntingly. And again he laughed.
 The monte dealer thrust bis pile of banknotes toward the old man. Be displayed no emotion, but the fieck of color in his cheeks burned brighter than before.
 "Excuse me a minute, gents," he re- marked in his cold tones. q must git some more money t go on with" With that he left the room by back door.
 Old Ike put away the $S,0O0 without undue haste, chucknng softly. This done, he pulled the bowie knife from the table. AS the blade left the wood the card was loosened and fell on the table face up. It was the ten of clubs.
 A gasp of amazement went up from the crowd. The three cards now lay plainly revealed to all-the ten of spades, the ten of clubs and-the ten of clubs!
 A chorus of eIclamations broke forth. The old man looked at the excited crowd and. waved his hand for si- fence. x ar.a .--
 "Where's tn jack O almonds" he repeated contemptuously in answer to the burden of the cries. "Why, Rail. road Jim sleeved tn jack reg'ler. He never let 1t on to tn table when they was any money Wuth while. Kept that other ten O clubs out O sight be- hind 1t when be showed tn keerds, then dipped the jack into hls sleeve with them long fingers O his'n.
 But I got onter his little game. An he didn't dast let me turn up that oth- CT ten O clubs. He'd ruther pay. He knew well yew'd string him up in- stanter. He"-
 But Old Ike's voice was lost among the shouts and curses.
 The crowd rushed forth to wreak vengeance on the man who had 80 deftly heeced them. They were too late. Helena knew Railroad Jim no more. nn.