Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-10-08
A Pure Hand,

In the latter part Of 40 a number Of
professional gam blers in large practius
were residing at the Graham house.
(Who that was in San Francisco in 40
and 80 does not remember the Ora.
ham house, which stood on the corner
Of Kcarney and Pacific streets y In
the party, two wero especially 70.
marked for the boldness Of their play
and tho steadiness Of their business
nerves. These were o hunchback,
named Briggs, and Joo Basset, q bet
ter sort OF graduate of the old Vioks-
burg school. Both bad been signally
successful 10 many sharp operation,
during the year, and had considerable
property in lots, which, for their con-
venieDce in business, they had COM
vertcd into cash, and banked partly
with Burgoyne or Wright. partly on
various monte tables. One day, in an
aiter.dinner chat, they compared notcs
aud found that they stood equally fair
on the gamblers change, each being
good for just sl20,0O0 Immediately
available dust. Both being more than
usually enterprising under the inspir.
alton of wine, Briggs offered daring
banter, which was recklessly accepted
by Basset, that they should ut once
adjourn to an upper room, fill up each
q check for the entire sum he was
worth in cash, divide equally between
the two $4,000 in red chccks, and
play for the wholc--ncither to leave
the room on any pretcxt whatever un-
I'll all the red checks were lost and
won. Accordingly, with no less equi.
nimity and pleasant singloness OF pur-
pose, they retired, with few choicc
spirits OF their set, to the privacy CT
reserved apartment, and having pro-
vided a store Of choice liquors, cigars
and viands for the company, executed
the required documents, divided tho
rosy counters, they took their seats at
the opposite sides of the table and be-
gan the extraordinary and most inter.
esting contest--a contest which called
out such feats of memory, sagacity,
discrimination, self possession, quick
recognition OF signs and detection Of
finesse, such fine feihts, nimble thrusts
and parries, hot assaults and well Or
dered retreats, as would have made the
fortune and fame of q statesman, gen.
eral or q 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 ell
bow Of each stood glass of water,
moderately heated with brandy. Nei-
ther smoked cloud between them
would have been as culpable blunder
as the sun in the eyes of duelist.--
Ten o'clock next morning, yet in their
placcs-bolh looking somewhat pale
end haggard, but very quiet. Briggs
had 81, 900 left of all that he was worth
in the world. The cards we're dealt.
The table at which they sat was near
door of the room, and just as Basset,
whose 'say" it was, was making up
his mind, some one entered and stood
behind him. Briggs eyed his antago.
mist over his shoulder, and with q
searching stare that held his very
breath. Without noticing She entrance
of the newcomer, with no futter ol
his cards, without one startled glance
or even the move of finger, Bassel
"went six thousand dollars" "Take
the money" said the hunchback and
be took il. Briggs had two jacks
Joe Bassett three kings AS the two
quaffed great bumpers of raw brandy
Briggs remarked, as he rose to 60 tC
,, bed, "I( you had noticed that man
nigh. have borrowed the money ant
! held on a little longer; but when saw
:, that you did not turn To look ovel
your shoulder or drop the face of you
. cards, knew you had pure hand.
y A few days aftcr that the hunchbaci
u invested fifty dollars, borrowed from
/, Basset, in n miners outfit, and startet
!. for the diggings, where he died in
= month, helpless pauper,