The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-11-30
a Cola Deck.

Dan DE Qliife " tells the following
story in the Virginia Enterprise, Ia. the
early days of California, when the miners
were digging bushels - of money out o.
the gulches and hills, Reddy & Andrews
(Tom Andrews who is well known here and
in the mining towns of California; owned
immensely rich diggiDgs in Forest city. ST.
ezra county. They frequently cleaned up
from $50, 600 to $4,000. When cleanup
was made one of the partners would take
the dust down to San Francisco to the
mint.
In making these trips they generally took
turns. 1t was their habit to stop over
night in Sacramento, and take the boat the
next afternoon at 2 o'clock for San Fran
cisco. When Andrews came down to Sac
ramento he frequently did battle with the
"tiger," but Reddy's strong suit was po-
ker. Three aces was his big hand. When
he held three aces he would bet his g bot
tom dollar" This was well known among
the sports.
On one occasion keddy had been playing
all night with some of the Sacramento
sports, and in the morning quit $500 ahead
of the game. The sports-Clarle Daw son
among the number-did noL much relish his
getting away with the coin, and concluded,
"iust for the fun of the thing" as they
told Reddy, to take little run down the
Bay.
The boat had not proceeded far down
the river before, as the most natural thing
in the world, a poker game was started.
In the game was Reddy, Foster "a hotel
keeper from one of tho Southern mining
countes), Charley Dawson and two other
sports.
A job had been put up to "raise'
/" cold deck" and give Reddy his favorlte
hand of three aces. The game proceeded,
aud at the proper time Dawson '' raised "
the deck.
The cards were delt and Reddy got his
three aces, Dawson three kings. and the
others Indifferent hands. In the draw
Dawson got the other king. Re Idly drew
two cards, but having his three aces he
felt strong enough to fight an army, and
did not pick up or look at the two cards
drawn.
Betting began, and Foster and the two
other sports that were with Dawson did not
come III.
Having four kings, and being confident |
that Reddy had but his three aces, Dawson |
went in strong; and, having his three aces,
Reddy felt that nothing could whip him. |
He was so sure that he was right that he |
paid no attention to the cards gotten in the |
d aw.
The betting was red hot, and most of the |
loungers about the boat were gathered |
around the two men, watching the game /
with breathless interest.
Among the lockers on was Domingo Joe,
a nervous, restless little sport, who was
friend and chum. Joe was skip
ping back and forth in his restless way, l.
peeping over the shoulders of the two men
1t their cards as often as an opportunity Of
'ered, his eyes sparkling with excitement |
He felt quite confident that the cards had I
been properly stocked" yet he would
rave given much for a peep atthose Reddy
lad not yet picked M. .rl~..t..+
Several thousand d liars had already been
oet, and finally as stumper, Dawson went
g, 900 better. Reddy promptly "ssaw the
-aise = and said, 81 90 you another $4,000
,etter Quite absent nindedly be theu pick
ID mp the two cards that had all the time
,een lying unnoticed by his side.
The weasel eye of Domingo Ioe' de-
ected the other ace az the cards gere lifted,
md an ashy pallor spread over his visage = i.
t was as though be had been stricken by
learb. Il
He almost Instantly recovered his self
,esession, however, and, thrusting beth
,ands, into his trowsers pockets, he sheered
If from the party and, carelessly saunter-
ng up and down the b at, began singing
And the other fell in to-, boys,
And the other fell ii t,.ere. too"
This was enough + Dawson. The
words OF joe's preten6s ID song came to his
.ars as death knell. He turned pale, then
ed, threw down his cards and said, "Take
! all, squeel r
AS Reddy raked e.,ss. he whole pile he
hrew d glance around 1t the fat es of the
,rowd of silent spectators, and sang, as
hough the words Of Dorningo Joe had Just
cached his ears !:
q And tie other fell in. teo. boya
Aud thsuther fsll In there, too y