eps----
Yankee Pete hilarious, ready t' fight----
Rakin' th' gold-dust up in heaps.
Jim's last poke throw'd on th' table, so;
"It's my last ounce, boys! Well, let 'er go!"

He had staked the dance-hall--staked the bar--
Then, reckless, staked the "Wonder" mine,
Known on Bonanza near an' far
As the lucky strike of Eighty-nine.
Jim had played it all--an' lost! The sweat
Come when he gasps: "It's my last--bet!"

"You've got Pearl left," grins Yankee Pete,
"Don't funk now, Jim: make her th' stake."
With a howl of hate Jim was on his feet----
But a voice rings out: "THAT BET WE'LL TAKE!"
And Bonanza Pearl steps up t' me,
"You'll see this game played square!" says she.

Says Yank. "I stake my all 'gainst th' Girl."
(Then I see th' flame le'p in his eyes)
"An' if I win you, Bonanza Pearl,
Your soul an' body no man denies
B'longs t' me!" He stacked his gold,
As a groan from Jim his agony told.

Now, Jim was a MAN. He funked no game;--
Says he: "I'll stake blood, bone an' life,
But I'll put no woman to th' shame
Of bein' played 'a chip' in tin-horn strife!"
But Bonanza, she steps up t' him
An' she says: "Y' COULDN'T LOSE ME, JIM!"

"Come," says Bonanza, "Turn up th' pack";
She skinned the bunch with a laughin' eye;
I gets close up ahind Jim's back
Ready t' let th' bullets fly.
Th' two men playin' a round 'r so,
An' the luck agin' Slippery seem'd t' go.

"Straight flush o' di'monds--Ace at th' head;"
In a whirlwind play Yank takes the pot.
Slippery's eyes was now blood-red----
His lips crack'd dry--his breath comin' hot;
The last deal ended the game, I saw
'Twas Yankee Pete's first play--an' draw.

Jim's hand? cripes! 'Twas a reg'lar prize;
Luck had turned--he had aces t' burn!
But he sot there starin' with bloodshot eyes,
An' what I saw then gev' ME quite a turn----
F'r th' divil's own luck was at his heel,
He'd an EXTRA CARD--'twas a clear MISDEAL!

I let my hand t' th' trigger go----
Jim's throat gev' a sickish kind o' laugh;
An' he says: "I'm dry as h--ll, so,
W'ot d'ye say to a shandy-gaff?
An'," says Jim, "I'll hev' a bite t' eat;
Pearl, fetch me a sangwich o'