The Republican journal., 1875-04-08
Some One is Cheating.

The enterprising little village OF Copake
can, in the way of horse racing, poker
PLAYING, and whiskey drinking, double
discount any other place of its size IN the
whole world. But the natives are gen
erous, whole-souled race, in spite OF the
above named moral Drawbacks Because
when they, by stroke OF good luck, and
by superior dizziness in handling the CARDS,
held four aces against some unlucky OUT
sider's four kings, and had completely
busted the unfortunate outsider, theF
never refused to lend the unlucky one
sufficient means to reach his place OF
abode. Occasionally there would pc no
greenhorn on hand to pluck and they
would have to fall back upon heir own
resources and then talk about tall playing
and sharp practice
Several wears ago, one cold winter
nioht there was seated around a table in
| one of the bar rooms, halt dozen of the
old staoers. deeply interested in quiet
came Of loo, at a quarter Of a dollar a
deal. The game had been progressing
for some time without any of the party
either winning or losing any great
amount but after while they got quite
large sum upon the table, eight or nine
dollars. One of the players, old Tony, as
ne was called, had, as he thought unob-
served, managed to hide the ace, KING
and queen of clubs under the table, upon
his lap, and he was anXiously waiting ior
clubs to be turned for trumps, when ne
would have a dead sure thing Tor the
money; but no clubs turned up Hearts
spades. and diamonds, and the pot kept
getting larger until there was nearly
twenty dollars upon the board.
"B0ys." said old Tony, "clubs is my
lavorite When clubs is trumps l alters
win, you can bet your pile on that
But alas for Tony's calculation ore oil
| the other players had seen lohy moe 'he
| cards, and carefully removing them, de
Eyes. yes" said Tony, somehow OF
other clubs is alters lucky for me, and ii
YOU was ter turn up one, you'd see me
rake in that pile sure
"l'll bet YOU five dollars, Tony" said
the other, that if clubs is turned, You
don't win"
"You're toolish,'' said Tony, as he
planked down his Y, and felt carefully
under the table to ascertain if his stolen
cards were safe,
The pot kept on Increasing and still no
one won, and finally some one turned "
club Tony's face frightened. In an
| ticipation he saw the money that was
upon the board and the five dollars out
| side bet safely ensconced in his pocket
book.
Carefully he raised the cards from III,
| lap, and depositing the three that had
| been dealt to him in their place, he
! Strengthened up, prepared to 100 OF dle
| He was so certain of winning that he
never looked at his cards, but sat calmly
| awaiting his turn to play, and then rals
| inc one OF the cards from the table, he,
without looking at it, threw it down face
up, with the air of q conquerer.
But horror! instead Of being one OF the
clubs that he had hid it was the five o
diamonds.
Astonishment kept him silent for mo
ment until Tommy ID. who sat opposite
played the ace of trumps, and then II
quick succession the king and queen, rak
ing in the pot and Tony's five at the san'
time Tony could stand it no longer, ne
raised to his feet ''Gentlemen,' sad NJ
Il don't play at this game any longer; 1t
my private opinion that some one IS cheat
ing," and with his face expressing the
deepest Indignation and injured innocence
he left the room.