His Last Deal

" I MTar Jealt the gaine agaio. I've dealt the game for twenty years, but I've iiit now. I made nothing and lost nothng, and but tor n sight I onoe caw, I -hould probably be a ganibler still. Hcrcby hangs a tale. Let me teil it : "Some three years ago I ran a hightüned game at a certain place you probably k now, for it strikes me that I saw you there. It was a square game, M l will leave anyone to say - a thriviüg game - for I dealt half die bloods in town, and often had many as five layouts at a time, witb two inuoh luisiuei-s on band to even Let tipse to rost. t lue evaniug a younn o hap strollcil ín, with t sort ot' curious stare on his face, und I concludcd right ihere that hc was tireen. He wa fair-headcd, and had a pair of blue eyen and clean cut teaturfs- an innoücut-lookiug youojt fellow, il' I ever ;iw ene. It nnly nuired a glanee toconriite you that ha waa a straneer n the gamblinp-room. He was soon at houie, "tliouli, for l aw in hia blue eyes tho love of play, and after that cvening he was a m-tant visitor. He playod his pile right up and never growled if Li- luck was bard in times tbc bardest I think lever I've kuown li ¦ at a single deal seven doublé shots. " Business for me, of eoursc, but ome Iidw it alino.st seemed too bad. I couldn't say a word though, andyet I likedtbe boy. Ili; had lots of the filtliy. I think from tho day he began h" must havo dropped a tooi $100,000 on the amc and he ucyer growled. ¦ We both i)uit iraiiiUlinif the same ni(tht -he, poor Ud, tor sufficient reasons, and I beeaoM I kwtbed the gMM. It was ia thifl wi.sc : " His ooin gave out in a deal or two, and he put up a diamond ring, jut to sec hts ill-luck out, you know. The chip went. He had a pin, a flaniing tone in ivc ruotal. He pasaed that in with out a word and drew $50 in gold. o help me Ood ! I wished him luck as huartily as any player there ; but no, liis last stake went my way on a losing ace. I-Ie drew $300 moro. I think, on his watch and chain, and tried his line bcts again, but his hiik was gone. My God I I'll ncver forjjet the pale, haggard look that crossedhis lace, but he was gaine. He never uttcred ;i word and ket W ohair likt a pillar of' tone ; tbr ¦ umnn-nt he aeeuied dazed at his reverses, but suddenly liis eye caught the tliin worn circlet of dull gold on hisliltle finger. Helooked at it foralittle while, aud a dark wave of hot criuison blood liassed over his face, for the circlet seetued to ding even faster than the tlashing gem he had passed in before. He at last slrippad it off his tinger and handed it to iue. It caiue reluountly, this worn, old ring. ' What can I have on this?' hc ;iked. ' I don't know what i(s value is, lmt l'll rcdeeiu it tirst of all.' It inight have cost .' when Dew, bat l w;l-1 worthlllCD. ¦ Stil!, ! it :i tilty Btack in return, just to let hiiu iiy asain. lic plank¦i it down in the pot, and tlicn low upun tho tablc hc laid hil fuco un hú foldod iirin. Well, lur a worulcr, h luck obaoged, and lic won ihree tiiuc-. 11' rook no notice of nu1 U 1 toM hiui when ilie limit barrul, and H f playud two if'ty on each eaid. Wuuld you believo it? In the deal the pot won out and neverlost. And Btiti he lay with his Faoe liid in hu arms. The deal was ooi nd I .-honk hiui iii, Imt nut a ¦ atole uiiivcil, aii'l, raiiiag bis lace, I started baek m horror ;it the i,'lasy ezpnwiOD of hh eyc.=, for the boy was dt-ad. '