The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-08-21

the cards. With garrulous comments
he made his usual two bets and lost.
Every moment the effects of drink
showed more plainly in his flushed
cheeks and thickened speech.
Then suddenly, just after the big
hands with the agile fingers had
swept in the second $50, Old Ike be-
came foolish.
as tn limit OFF," he demanded and
stared at Railroad Jim with bloodshot
eyes.
Jim's orbs returned the old mans
gaze without apparent emotion.
"Tain't reg'lar." he replied life
lessly.
Old Ike banged his hand viciously on
the table.
Els tn limit or he shouted.
Railroad Jim ran wary eye over
the company before he answered, then:
"All right, unless any gent objects"
he declared coldly.
ANY ornery cuss as wants ter OBJ
Ject d better say so ter mev' the old
man spluttered, glaring about. And to
Jim: 9Th limits of, huh? Be right ~
9Th limits or" Railroad Jim agreed.
Old Ike drew forth battered pocket.
book and laid II before him on the
table, one hand still clutching 1t.
Throw yer keerds," he commanded.
Railroad Jim Obediently displayed
the three cards to the company and to
the old man. All could see them dis
tinctly. 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.
"I'll bet my pile pick tn jack" Old
Ike clamored.
"How muchT" Railroad Jim asked.
His voice was colorless still, but
feck of red burnt in either cheek.
"Just plumb $4,000"
Ike opened the pocketbook and dis
played a thick roll Of bills. Twice he
counted them. There were tens, twen-
ties, fifties. hundreds. The total was
an even $4,000. He laid the money in
neat pile on the table midway be-
t"NCh hihiSCil anu Tic luIet
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, a fash, q thud A
bowie knife stood quivering in the ia
BILE, its polished steel shaking fame.
The bOwie's point was buried deep in
the table top. and 1t pierced and held
fast in its place the. center card, Of the
three. y%s1ss
Old Ike. his spectacular deed wrought,
stood back little and laughed aloud.
The tension Of the startled crowd re-
Taxed somewhat They had expected
robbery, 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 defantly. my
$4,000 Is bet on jest that same per.
teller keerd. And it's there t win!'
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
his left hand, and now he turned over
the card on the right 1t was the ten
Of spades.
A moment more Of pause. then he
turned over the card on the left 1t
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 his eyes to
those of Railroad Jim.
do VIM" he asked tauntingly.
And again he laughed.
The monte dealer thrust his pile of
banknotes toward the old man. He
displayed no emotion, but the fleck of
color in his cheeks burned brighter
than before.
Excuse me minute. gents" he re-
marked in his cold tones. 81 must git
some more money t. go on with" With
that he left the room by a back door.
Old Ike put away the $4,000 without
undue haste. chuckling 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. 1t 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 EXPLANATIONS broke forth.
The old man looked at the excited
crowd and waved his hand for 81.
ence.
where's tn jack o. di'monds?' he
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 with while. Kept
that other ten o. clubs out o. sight be- !
hind It when he showed tn keerds,
then dipped the jack into his sleeve |
with them long fingers o. his'n.