The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-10-17
NUMBER 39.
Il PURE HAND.

In the latter part of 40 a number of pro
fessional gamblers in large practice were
residing at the Graham house. (Who that
was in San Francisco in 40 and 80 does
not remember the Graham house, which
stood IN the corner of Kearney and Pacific
streets?) In the party, two were especially
remarked for the boldness of their play
and the steadiness of their business nerves.
These were a hunchback, named Briggs,
and Joe Basset, better sort of graduate
of the old Vieksburg scho6l. Both had
been signally successful in many a sharp
operation, during the year, and had con-
siderable property in lots, which, for their
convenience in business they had convert
ed into cash, and banked partly with Bur-
goyne and Wright, partly on various monte
tables. One day, in an after-dinner chat,
they compared notes and found that they
stood equally fair on the gamblers change,
each being good for just $4,000 immedi-
ately available dust. Both being more
than usually enterprising under the inspi-
ration of wine; Briggs offered daring
banter which was recl<Iessly accepted by
Basset that they should at once adjourn
to an upper room, fill UP each a check for
the entire sum he was worth in cash, di-
vide equally between the two $240, 600 in
red checks, and play for the whole-neith-
er to leave the room on any pretext what
ever until all the red checks were lost and
won. Accordingly, with no less equinimi-
ty and pleasant singleness of purpose, they
retired, with few choice spirits of their
set, to the privacy of a reserved apartment,
and having provided 4 store of choice
liquors, cigars and viands for the compa-
ny, executed the required documents, and
divided the rosy counters, they took their
seats at the opposite sides of the table and
began the extraordinary and most interest
ing eontest-a contest which called out
such feats of memory, sagacity, discrimi-
nation, self-possession, quick recognition
of signs and detection of fineSSe, such fine
feinCs, nimble thrusts and parties, hot as
saults and well ordered retreats. as would
have made the fortune and fame of states
man, a general or a fencing master. The
first deal was made at four o'clock in the
afternoon, and the game went on with
changing fortune all night. At the elbow
of each stood glass of water, moderately
heated with brahdy. Neither smoked
a cloud between them would have been
as culpable bIunder as the sun in the eyes
of duelist. Ten o'clock next morning,
yet in their places-both looking somewhat
pale and haggard, but very quiet. Briggs
had 81, 600 left of all that he was worth in
the world. The cards were dealt. The
table at which they SIT was near door of
the room, and just as Bassett, whose tfsay''
it was, was making up his mind, some one
entered and stood behind him. Briggs
eyed his antagonist over his shoulder, and
with a searching stare that held his very
breath. Without noticing the entrance
of the newcomer, with no futter of his
cards, without one startled glance or even
the move of finger, Basset event six thou
sand dollars.'' Take the money" said
the hunchback, and he took it. Briggs
had two jacks Joe Basset three kings.
AS the two quaffed great bumpers of raw
brandy; Briggs remarked, as he rose to 60
to bed, eff you had noticed that man
might havo borrowed the money and held
on a little longer but when 1 saw that
you did not turn to look over your shoul-
der or drop the face of your cards, knew
you lad a pure hanG." A few days after
that the hunchback invested fifty dollars,
borrowed from Basset, in miners outfit,
and started for the diggings, where he died
in month; helpless pauper.