Sharp County record., 1879-05-22
A STORY FROM LEADYILLE.
The Man Who Laid Down $4,000, Lost h'
Lit a Cigar and Left the Table

average American, or the foreigner TO
the matter of that, as a game OF chance
and the more desperate the chances Tn
more desperately it is played and TN
more persistently it is followed. I'm
game claims among its devoteeS mel
allured from all classes and conditions
and walks of life. The man who 1eei
like indulging his propensities IN thl'
direction can nowhere on the contlnen
find better opportunity or greater va
riety of games than in Leadville. Proo
ably one.quarter of the present pop,ula
ton of this city at one time or another
to use a gambling phrase, "hlts 1t
lick
A Chronicle reporter dropped in at
one of our most frequented gambling
houses last evening, and in the glddy
whirl of excitement, el6oWing his way
from one game to another, jotted down
some notes for general circulation;
Over there, about a table, above
which is raised notice that "the limit
to this game is $780," are gathered the
envied of the profession-the men thaG
"play 'em open" Seated at the enu
of the table, close by the "lookout, "
was a lean, cadaverouS man, with thin,
close-pressed lips and small, well-shapedi
head. In front of this man, who had
his hat pulled down to conceal his eyes,
more of course from habit than TO
avoid recognition, were several stacks
of "reds.n The slight noticeable
movements of his head denoted his close
attention to the case-keeper and dealer,
and at intervals he pushed to a card a
full attack ard intently watched the
turn. Others were playing there, but
none with the nonchalance of this man.
Whether he won or lost, he manifested
no uneasiness. Every "stack " he
placed on the board went to enrich the
dealer, the last two being put on the
king and "coppered." They were lost.
While the dealer was shuf1ling the cards
for another "whirl," the man straight
ened himself in his chair, showed his
hand into his breast coat pocket and
pulled out roll of bills. He counted
out $500, pushed the pile to the dealer,
and as he did so he spoke one word,
and that to the dealer" reds"
If any of the parties to this transac-
tion displayed any nervousness we think
it came from the dealer as he raked the
mans money into the drawer. The
gambler resumed his seat, and as he did
so man standing at the near end OF
the table leaned over and spoke to him.
There was . whispering conversation OF
perhaps two minutes carrie 4 on between
the men, during which time the players
at the table had their money down and
the dealer was already to draw, but q
motion from the hero's finger caused
him to wait. Another moment he sa1k
into the chair, and without any appar-
ent hesitation he placed stack on the
ten spot. The cards we're pulled and
the ten lost.
The reporter was no longer interest
ed in the play, but the player; and ac-
cordingly he stepped around for the
purpose of engaging in conversation
with the man whom he supposed to be
q friend of the player, who, of course,
at this time was attracting general at
tention. Tapping him on the shoulder
the reporter said:
"That gentleman at the end OF the
table is playing pretty stiff game, is he
notP"
"No, sir; not for him."
"You know him, thenP"
"Oh, yes; known him for years"
"He seems to have plenty of money!
eyes, and if he hadn't, he could soon
get all he wanted"
"Then he has friends?" said the re-
porter.
"Guess you don't know himP"
"No, sir, | do not. He seems to be
not an ordinary man of his class?" add
ed the Chronicle man.
Him; he's an extraordinary man,
sir. He's graduate of Oberlin law
school, and years ago he practiced his
profession in Nevada. He's a scholar,
that man is, and every inch q gentle
man. I have known more than one
man and score of families to be the
subject of his secret benefactions."
"He has been q sort of Good Samari-
tanp"
"He has for fact. Let me give you
an instance of that mans generosity.
In 1872 there was family arrived in
Virginia City from somewhere in lii
nois. On the road they were robbed Of
all the money they had in the world,
aud penniless they landed in Virginia
City. Some of the boys were telling
about them in Orndotf & McGee's, and
a proposition to get up a purse was
made. The paper was passed around
the saloon for signatures, and when it
came to him he said: "Boys, | can't
sign that paper"
"We all thought it was queer speech
for him to make. Well, about fifty dol
lars was secured and q couple OF the
boys posted off to secure cheap quartars
f.. ~. H. - Sc, \