The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-10-03
SIXTEEN ACES.
An Old Time Story of Game of Draw
in Alabama.
Communication in Turf, Field and Farm


frequented his faro bank (and all of those of
any wealth or standing within hundred
miles OF Selma took turn at it when they
could) there was not one who would enter
tain a question as to Sans honesty. In
that little white cottage almost hidden by
the surrounding grove, none but the fairest
OF faro was delt, none but the squarest of
| poker was bet on. When the chips were
bought and the cards cut, each one felt that
what fortune meant the pack to bring him
would not be interfered with by any ma
nipulation of the cards.
But, alas, when was humanity beyond
temptation? Adam fell, Caesar fell, War
rem fell Cat Bunker Hill,) and even Beecher
is suspected. One day Sam was tempted
and he. But let me give the details.
Judge Humphrey, Col. Swain. old An
drews (whose plantation was measured by
the thousand aeres,) and Soi. Lovett, from
St. Louis, were sitting in Ogilvie's front
parlor playing a snug little game of draw.
All were heavy betters when they held the
cards; but just then the cards were running
light, and so were the bets. Sam who cared
very little for poker, had sat by watching
the game, rather than going in it. He held
hand, of course; but his thoughts were
rather on the layout in the next room thans
on the cards in his hand Several times he
had limited at abandoning the game, but
each time the others had insisted on going
on, so Sam had politely stified his impa-
tience and kept his seat at the table.
As the clock was telling ten, Sam was
called from the table, and excusing himself
for the moment, left the room. His way
was through the back parlor where lay the
sleeping tiger. The table with it's layout,
the case, piles of checks, decks of cards, all
were ready for the players. As he glanced
carelessly over them, sudden thought
seemed to flash through Sans brain. A
sardonic smile crept over his thin cut lips,
and his long fingers played with his
moustache, as if to hide the twitching lips
from some unseen observer. Advancing to
the eard-box, where cards by the dozen
packs, in unbroken packages, lay piled up,
he busted himself for a moment in opening
packs. breaking wrappers and asserting
cards; then, with an expression of guileless
innocence upon his face, but with "cold
deck" up his sleeve, he returned to the
poker table.
In a few minutes it was Sans turn to
deal. His hand faltered as he lifted the
cards; a deuce spot futtered into his lap,
and, in picking it up, rapid movement of
the long, 1.-the fingers had exchanged the
table pack for the "cold deck.''
A grain Of remorse seemed to touch his
heart when he came to serve the cards.
81 can't take ahand this deal, gentlemen.
| have got to step around to the hotel for a
moment"
The others acquiesced and the cards were
dealt. A good hand, one would say, by the
actions Of the players. There was thou
sand in the pot and very obstinate express
sion ON the faces of the players before the
drawing began.
Then singular circumstance was noticed.
The Judge only wanted one card; one card
satisfied the Colonel, and one card each
took Lovett and Anderson. Odd, thought
each one, and wondered whether they were
trying to bite full or a flush, or were
hiding fours. But each glanced at his own
hand, and calmly waited the issue, confident
of his own and plying the others hand.
The cards served, Sam lit his cigar and
started for the hotel If he had waited he
would have seen the tallest betting that
was ever done inside of that cottage. A
thousand dollars the first bet, 1,500 the
second, 1000 the third, and $500 from the
"age'' on the first round. Everybody in
and willing to lap his pile. Out came
check-books and pencils, and each one cast
up his own mind how much his credit was
good for among the commission merchants
of New Orleans. Check after check was
written, torn out and placed on the table,
until there was enough staked to cripple
the richest man if he lost.
The Judge stopped it. Why, don't
know, unless it was that he had reached
the last check in his book. AS he filled
that out he remarked, with judicial gravity:
"There is but one hand at the table that
can win that pot, gentlemen amt it about
big enough? will see you, Colonel" !"
This checked the game. The pot was
big enough in all conscience, and some of
them trembled a little as they thought of
the thousands piled there, and how poor
the call was to make three of the CONF
rades.
Two more sights and a call brought the
game to focus. Perspirations stood out
upon more than one forehead, and the fin
gers that gripped tho cards tightened per-
ceptibly. And heads had to be turned to
prevent the hungry eyes from feasting too
intensely upon the pile on the table.
The venerable colonel hardly looked up
as he gently laid down his hand: 9 Four
Aces, gentlemen!'
Then Andrews, with distendcd eyes and
pursed-up lips: Four aces for me-" and
the cards were laid upon the table to verify
the claim.
Reproachfully Loyett glanced at his COM
rades as at inhospitable barbarians from,
whom the title Of stranger was no protect
ion, and blandly remarked: Excuse me,
but mine are aces Fours!" and again the
cards proved the claim.
Dasliing his speetacles from his Roman
nose to his pcrspiring forehead, the Judge
sank back in his seat and gazed despairing-
| ly from face to face around the board. As
his eye met Loyctt's he partially straight
encd himself and said: Sixteen aces as /
am a sinner and again four aces lay upon
| the board.
| They waited for Sam that night, but he
| did not return to the cottage.
HAErUTIuS o. AfEtRDisfs Is ife- cid oi.
topper, who denied that any whisky could
/ be bad, though he admitted TINT some
/ kinds might be better than others, is not