Dark Dealings

In Milford, around the late 1800s, a young man named Neil McCafferty was on his way to visit a few friends who lived close by. It was getting dark as he came to a crossroads where he noticed they had already gathered. A table had been placed by the roadside and they seemed to be waiting for him. As he drew near one of them said, 'Good to see you Neil, would you like a game of cards with us?

'Surely to God I would,' replied Neil, taking his place at the table and they began to play with only the moon for light. After two or three games Neil seemed to be on a winning steak. As the fourth hand was being dealt, one of the cards fell to the ground. When Neil reached down to pick it up he saw to his horror that the 'man' he was sitting opposite had cloven feet Neil was terribly frightened - the thought that he might be playing with the devil and his cohorts instead of his friends was too much for him and he collapsed unconscious at the table.

When he came round he was alone but thankfully unscathed. He made up his mind that form that day on he would never play another hand of cards for it was one thing to lose your wages to your friends but quite another to risk losing your soul to the devil.

Back