The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-02-23
A Planters Small Pair.

ADout Ten yedrS ago al aged, Call ana
thin gentleman with equity leg, got out
of an omnibus at Hurst's hotel, and hob
bled up into the office, where after the
customary conference with the clerk, he
was assigned to room No. 30 on the fourth
floor. He registered as Col. Star, of
Mississippi, and when anybody made an
inquiry about him as he waltzed by with
a thumpety-thump of his bandaged leg
and heavy cane in much the same style
as Capt. De Merrimac hobbies through
the music of Olivette, the invariable an
wealthy Southern planter, who had no
other way of spending his time than in
spending his money. Col. Star has main
tanned his reputation as rich, leisurely
and swell foot planter among the serv-
ants and guests of Hurst's hotel up to
the present time. He remained in his
room day and night except for short in
tervals devoted to visits to the restau-
rant or to an occasional ride into the
subursb for the purpose of airing his
equity limb and brushing his aged face
against straying breeze. he had
constant visitor to his room in the
person of Sylvester Howard, whose
first name is chopped down by
intimates to the monosyllabic but
euphonious "Syl." Mr.. Howard is well
known around town among professional
gamblers, and the inference was that he
was setting up with the equity stranger
to entertain him and enrich himself with
friendly games of draw poker. Syl
Howard not only allowed people to think
in this way, but he occasionally vouch-
safed bit of information, to the effect
that the Colonel was an easy prey to any
body who had the slightest acq uaintance
with the game of poker. This informa
ton he was particularly Jealous in i'm
parting to professional gamblers, and
lately he went among them and offered
not only to "steer" them against the
planter, but to combine with anybody
who felt disposed to combine against the
old gentleman to win his money and
make him pay as dearly as his unlimited
purse would permit for his pleasure.
''If you want to make a big stake" is
the way Syl would begin when he met
professional friend. "Ill tell you how
to do it. There is hi of a wealthy
planter from Mississippi up at the hotel,
as green as grass, and with cotton seed
sticking all over his clothes. He's got
the govt and can't leave his room, but
he's just dying to play poker, and he
knows no more about it than a sucking
pig knows about Free Masonry. I've
won a pile from him, but he's got ON to
the fact that I'm gambler, and he won't
play with me any more. Now you're
good-looking fellow, and he'll never
drop to you. I'll take you up and intro
duce you. You can get up the game,
and I'll give you the tip every time, SO
therell be no trouble in getting away
with him. What do you say?"
The professional not dreaming of How
ards relations with the ''planter"
usually jumped at the offer, and the two
made their way together to room %.
There they found Col. Starr seated at
the table with one leg up in volumin-
Gus bandage and cleverly displayed on
chair. The Colonel was seen to be a
gentleman of about 60 years, with short
white hair and a small snow-white
hirsute tuft on the end of his chin. His
manners were found to be very gruff,
and after the opening salutation he had
little to say except to the offer to
join the newcomer in atwo-handed game
OF poker. Chips were produced and the
tity he wanted with his money, which went
into small drawer with q spring lock,
under the table upon which the game
was played. Then came out an old
time pack of cards. The planter ex-
planned in a. few words as possible that
he had no confidence in the new style OF
cards, with the value of the face so
marked in one corner and he was always
afraid of marking cards used against
hin. There were so many gamblers 60
ing nowadays that man had to be very
careful, and therefore carried the
old style cards that must be spread
out in the hand in order to get ct
the value OF each. He was very fond
of cards as an Innocent pastime, and be-
ing obliged by reason Of his infirnity to
indulge in this pleasure he took every
precaution against the possibility Of be-
ing cheated. All this, of course, only
made the professional feel more conf
dent Of his prey, and caused him to look
With little distrust, II any. upon the sub
sequent proceedings. Then the game
began with Syl Howard standing behind
the ''planter," 20 as to give his friend,
the professional, the promised Tip. .
The ante was 81 so and there was no
limit to the bet. Al the game went on
Howard, by means Of signs, informed
the professional of the value Of the
planters" hand, giving him the
straight tip" every time. But strange
70 say, the professional lost right along.