The Card Cheat

He knew the game; Stranger knew death was certain but never so soon. This was the final cheat. He found a window that was his and took it. With this pot it was marriage, a new life, a new start.

Across the table Jack Glazer wheezed through his teeth, breathing in the stale, once occupied air now filled with a creakily violin from the wireless. He was sizing up Stranger with his good eye but nothing – deadpan - granite. Stranger showed his fear like a statue.

He played the king of hearts while his face creased, a lopsided smirk that shattered any dignity left in One-Eyed Jack. He knew that was Stranger’s card; he never left without it securely up his sleeve.

The levy broke, washed away in Glazer’s rash animalistic rage as he burned a hole through Stranger’s heart. He was still smirking when Glazer raided his pockets finding the card, his card, still in it’s place. Stranger played it straight for once and he got a one-way tram ticket to the bone-yard for his troubles.