Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-10-13
THE ACE
OF SPADES
There Has Luck Under h
After An
-

FIfty years sra wAea the rosi Seaes
u CAilsa<rtx we-e s~szx cV<n<sa ~ q
party u naen we're rssyfzg poker IN
SzR Francisco TAere were nezsna AMI
Andrews an Petersen and Greea and
CAz1ee and Bake
iayt1x dawn fssu- kings -WAar's the
use Of oar w1Srtn' car tine Aere. Doae
oe rs havtr' any r1o1ev. players ca tab
with each oshery | krsc~ q ledge up
IN the mountains where there ID =
deserted lead that believe Il dug Up
VIII show psytn- dirt WHIST d-ye say
to our all soin' ID there with picks
and xboveis. dozn' the work that's
needed and IL we STRIKE gcod GRE ve
can sell cot. divide. come back here
and go on with the game to some Eur-
poser
Every one OF the party expressed
himself ready for the venture. and
couple OF days LATER al we're hard
At work developing an abandoned
claim which had some dine before
looked well but had at last pesered
out Densou claimed that the original
lead, which Was very rich had been
lost II was their business to ind II
again
The lead was not found. and the
natural result was that the men quar-
relied One dag Patsy Denton. who
was blamed for bringing them on a
fruitiess errand. disappeared over the
edge Of the cliif That night 1t Was
proposed that il should be settled By
lot who should be lowered to bring
up the body. There were Eve Of them
present -Four OF them regarded one
another furtiveiy. The ffth man smiled
carelessly and shutfied a brand new
pack Of cards
The lamp hanging over the rough
pine table shed its strong whise Light
over the occupants II the room and
searched the four corners OF the shack
Tbs man with the cards rippaed them
through his supple fingers.
Now. you fellows he said. IRE
A4ClAGEA O4A frA1EA4k a A 0N1A Jul -
hand To each man The one who gets
the ace Of spades viii go down after
Denion's BODY
The four grunted assent.
.'You remember It's sixty foot drop
down the precipice- We will lower
you with q new rore. but there's a
chance that the rocks VIII chafe the
rope, and It's long way to the bot
tom Of Death gorge"
The four nodded
Go ahead. Peterson" said Andrew
Peterson dealt the cards rapidly, and
there was no sound except the futter
Of the pasteboards as they fell
The four men watched. and each one
thought different things
IF get IT, thought Dennis Green
moroseiy, Il might as wen give Peter
son my share Of the claim and be done
with It III never come back again
The ace Of SPADES never brought me
no luck
IF get II" thought Chafee, '-it'l be
q good thing for the world. reckon. n
l never come back. I sure am down
and out
III get IT, Jack Blake thought rap
idly, I'll never zee Elsie again-not
unless I'm mighty lucky. Perhaps she'll
be happier with some fellow who hasn't
got the gold fever"
I'm giad won't get r." exulted
Andrews Good thing l fixed that
WITH peserncn-.
The last card fell, and the men g1th-
cred them up. each one scanning the
hand with shrinking eyes
I'm out-' breathed Green sharply,
putting down his cards
Same here muftered Cha6ee.
And here" ended Andrews.
Jack Blake said nothing He stared
at the ace Of spades In his hand His
face was pale. Presently be looked up
and saw them regarding hin. from IN
der lowered lids
I'm IT. he laughed grtmiy and got
upon his feet The others followed suit
1t was plain TO be seen that Jack
Blake was the least fitted for the dan
gerous task
He was taller and broader and much
heavier than his companions
Get your rope ready. Peterson" he
said. stretching his arms. II have q
letter to write before 60. You'll send
it, Peterson. In case don't come
back?
III send IT, said the Swede care
lessly. He was out Of the contest