"Ah!"

"I have seen a man's hand pinned to that card; therefore it is
gruesome."

"Some card-sharper?"

He nodded. "Then again, I lost a small fortune because of that
card,"--diffidently.

"Poker?"

"Yes. Why will a man try to fill a royal flush? The man next to me
drew the ten of hearts, the very card I needed. The sight of it always
unnerves me. I beg your pardon."

"Oh, that's all right," said I, wondering how many more lies he had up
his sleeve.

"And there's still another reason. I saw a man put six bullets into
the two central spots, and an hour later the seventh bullet snuffed the
candle of a friend of mine. I am from the West."

"I can sympathize with you," I returned. "After all that trouble, the
sight of the card must have given you a shock."

Then I stowed away the fatal card and took up my bundle and change. I
have in my own time tried to fill royal flushes, and the disappointment
still lingers with a bitter taste.