In Straßen, near Lorentzweiler, four men had gathered one Sunday to play cards. To make sure they would play for a long time, they sat down with the threat:
“Whoever stops first shall be taken by the Devil!”

They had scarcely begun their game when they saw, under the table, a large black dog. There was no doubt in their minds — it was the Devil himself, lurking beneath the table, waiting to see which of the four he should claim.

In great fear, they continued to play — through the entire night and into the following day; none dared to stop first. So they played on, with wild, haunted eyes, like men possessed, for three days straight.

When the parish priest heard of the four unfortunate men, he quickly made his way to the house and sat down at their table, asking to join the game. After playing a few rounds, he suddenly threw down his cards and cried out: “I will play no more!”

He had thus been the first to stop. At that very moment, the dog leapt up with howling and terrible noise, crashing out through the window and shattering it as he vanished.