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TU-DAVIS SHORT SiwRY.J The…

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TU-DAVIS SHORT SiwRY.J The Gambler's Last Card BY A WELSH PRINCE. 8h men, aH just past middle ace, and each worth a million more or leas, were seated around a table at the dub. It was a warm afternoon in July, and each was sipping his favourite drink while he recited, or listened to tates of days gone by. Colonel Maddox had just finished a story of the Wild West. An Indian and & cow-boY, both drunk, were gambling at cards. After the Indian had lost all his money and Are- arms, as a last desperate chance, he wagered his wife against the entire wealth of the oow-boy. The Indian lost, amd after turning his squaw over to the cow-boy, he picked up a pistol and blew out his brains. Now that's a true story," said Maddox, who had been-a railroad builder in the west, "far I was there and saw it all." Well," said Major Parkinson, patting down his glass and flicking the ashes from his cigar, a story is never too strange to be true. In proof of this I'll tell you a story that parallels the Colonel's in some respects and brings the characters nearer home. We all knew one of the principals. What I am going to relate happened in one of ouar great cities twenty years ago. I may as well tell you the name of the city- it was Chicago. Ohicago. twenty years ago was reckoned the wickedest city in the world. The great gambling house in Chicago at that time was run by a man named Hugh Wain- wright. The King of Gamblers they used to call him; but that was wrong. Wain- wright was no gambler, in fact, he never sat into a game that he dad not lose. But he eeldom played; he was content to manage his establishment. Among the visitants of the Chicago gamb- ling houses—in those days it was not stylish to call them "hells" —were the best people, people whom you might expect to meet any- where—coming millionaires, and millionaires who had just come. In those days, Pat Xaoreody, who had made his money at cards, was just as respectable as Old Moonstone," who made his millions in wheat. It was all speculation; everybody gambled, from the millionaire to the labourer. The general fever of speculation among all classes in those days is what gave rise to the expres- sion, "The dinner pail brigade." Well, among the regular visitors at Pandora's Box," as Wainwright's place was called, was Ulriok Pearce, really the king of gamblers, for never a game that he went against" that he didn't beat. Pandoras Box had also among its patrons some Mies. Madeleine was one of them, that is. suoh was the supposition. Everybody called her Madge, but few ever spoke to her, for she carried about with her an atmosphere of aloofness j' that no one ever dared to break through. l 6he was beautiful; nothing you oould ever hope to see on canvas oould compare with her beaifty. Eyes—why you were lost if you ever looked at her. I'll bet ten thousand men were in love with her at the same time. One night she walked into Pandora's Box. It was a Saturday night. Business was always at its best on Saturday. The name and fame of Madeleine Dowson had spread all over the country, and it is safe to say that the expectation of seeing this invincible female gambler was the biggest advertise- ment the hohad. She sat down to a table, and before six bands were dealt she had lost the house standing around her. Lose, lose, lose; she lost all the time. Putting down on the table her last flve- pound note, and throwing away three cards, she held up a pair of fours, and she leaned back in her chain Behind her sat Ulrick I Peeuroe and Hugh Wain-wright. One by one she picked up the cards the dealer passed to her, the men behind, her watching her eagerly. Everyone was versed in the ethics of gambling, and never by word or look betrayed her luck. The first card she picked UP was an ace, and then another ace. Non- chalantly enoag-h, she placed them in posi- tion in her hands; then turning round to fimbright, she said— Got any mo^ey?" I'm dead broke, Madeleine." Here's a little," and Uhick Pearce handed her a roll of hills. Everybody was surprised, for be above all men had little use for women, and as a rule tided to discourage their play- teg. Madeleine hesitated at his offer, lookod At him, and then, I thought iraqaxzedtivtely, at Hugh Wainwright Take it, Madeleine," he said. She took it. amd when she quit the game that night she was the winner of a thousand pounds. One night, proba.bly a. monith a.fter this, I Strayed into Pandora's Box. Everything was in full blast. After watching several of the fames, my gaze wandered off to a far corner j 01 the room. There were Pearce and Wain- wrlght engaged in an earnest game of cards. It surprised me to see those two men play- ing. I knew that Pearoe was a king of card- sharpers. and I knew that most anybody eould beat Wainwright. Even as I watched them they were disagree- tog about sometbing. Just as it seemed the Same would end in hostilities. Wainwright looked up, and seeing me, called me over. Say, Parkinson," he said, I wiah you'd Teferee these games. Pearce and I have had an argrument, and we ohose this way to settle it." WelLwhat's it all about?" I said. .Never mind what it's all about," they both answered, with more asperity than I thought the case demanded; then Pearoe I added:- Yes, Parkinson, we've got a. something to settle. Sind we chose this as the fairest way of deciding it. Best two out of three games. Thats fair enough isn't it?" Under most circumstances it would be," I answered, but not in this. Why," I laughed, it would be a case of the tiger and the Jamb:" referring to their respective abilities at the cards. What would you have us do then?" asked Pearce, a little petulantly. I don't know what the stakes are," I amswered, "and what's more, I don't oare, bo* if you want to play a game where each of you will have an equal chance, get the dice box. All right!" said Pearoe. "All riaft!" said Wiarnwright. The waiter brought in the dice, and they shook. Wainwright winning the first horse. It made him feel good, and he joked Pearce, who was feeling rather blue. "Don't crow too soon," said the laAterf "you've won half your game, but "B,]l and, the last half harder to capture." By this time it had dawned upon me that the stake, whatever it was, was something extraordinary. The training of Feaj-oe's life had taught him under amy and all circum- stances to hide his emotions. As the dice rolled on the table, and he won the second horse, his eyes bulg-ed out and his hands trembled. "Ha!" Jae laughed, "we're again equal." But it waa not for long. Again the dioe rolled, and Wainwright arose from his chair be one dazed. Too bad—you lost," said Wainwright, "but your loss is my gain." "I wish I was dead, Hugh; you've won, And ril keep my word." "Cheer up, Ulrick. and forget it; come down and have a drink. Join us. Parkinson!" Below the gambling house on the ground floor was a saloon. We went down and stood before the bar. Pearce was standing along side of me; he reached out his hand. You won't refuse to shake hands witfo. me. old man, will you?" he said. Then he spoke to Wainwright. "You'll shake hands, too, won't you, Wain- wrieht ?" "Say Ulriek." says Wainwright. "I don't want you to stick to that promise. All I want fe the girl. She' "I Bang 1 A shot rang out Ulrick Pearoe had put a bullet into his own brain. A gambler's quarrel, I suppose." said Colonel Maddox. Nothing of the kind. The game was for so woman, and Hugh Wainwright won. athough I didn't know it at the time." You say we know this man." said Captain Holmes, who had been an interested listener. "Well" said the Major, "I suppose I shook* let 4 bygones be bygonee: but the story was too good to keep. The man is Hugh Wain- -wright, and if I'm not mdsfcafex-o, Oa>frtjam, his won is your own private secretary. 44 What r* said the Captain. "The gan of tfxat notorious female Camblw. my secre- bry r' Oh, no," said the Major. 11 The son of that woman never lived. When she hrd what happened to Ulrick Pearce she killed I herself, aihe was his wife!" THE END.

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