Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1903 — Diamond Cut Diamond, [ARTICLE]

Diamond Cut Diamond,

Two Yankee miners -were playing cards and found tlieir amusement rather a dull one, for neither could overreach the other. At last one of the precious couple pushed his chair back, arose, and said: “I’m tired of this; let’s have a change. I’Ll just bet yer even one thousand dollars that I kin take them keerds and cut the Jack o’ hearts the very fust time.’’ “I’ll take yer,” replied the other, a very quiet fellow. Stakes were deposited with an onlooker, and a pack of cards was produced and laid on the table between the gamblers; The layer of the bet thereupon drew his bowie knife, and neatly sliced the cards from top to bottom. “Thar," said he. “I cut the Jack o’ hearts th’ fust time, mister, an’ I reckon I’ll freeze on to that thar cash. Fork her over, mister. The agreement was that I were t’ cut th’ Jack tli’ fust time, an’ I done it. I cut it, didn't I?” “Wal, no,” said the other, “I rayther think not, for th’ Jack were not there. Yer see, stranger, I thought It wiser, under th’ circumstances, to take the precaution of placing that there card up my sleeve!”