Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-14
DO ARMY OFFICERS lsAMBLEl
A Little Game OF Poker In which q
Wizard Took n Friendly Intercst.

From the New York SUM-
'DO army officers gambler" well-knewn
Indian fighter on Through repeated the ques-
tion OF a reporter of the Sun with an air of grim
amusement. ''Well. sir, can only answer for
myself. but I do not; and may add for your
satisfaction that / do not beat my wife. In
fact, added the brave old major gravely. 81
shouldn't dare to do either"
But you are familiar with the recent scan
dals-the case of Major Nickerson, whose wife
seems TO have beaten him in the courts, and
that Of Paymaster Wasson?'
1.-Two wives, like three aces. are never safe to
gamble on" observed the major sententiOusly.
''They look pretty, but they confuse a mans
judgment ard are relatively weak
us not poker playing very common among
the officers of the army. especially on frontier
p0sts?' asked the reporter
II don't mind admitting to you that this card
playing for money is very bad thing for the
army It's against army regulations, and con-
trary to good discipline, and it plays the very
devil with the youngsters; but. bless my soul.
sir, you might as well try to cashier blizzard
abolish cards in the army. Human nature is
human nature, even when it reports for duty
at Fort Sill or Fort Arbuckle and the days out
there. especially the stormy ones, are apt to
stretch out as long as an Indian bucks idea of
his treaty rights. They will play poker. sir,
l.
a good lesson twenty years ago.
"Yes. sir. he continued, "it was near the
end OF the war. just before Appomattox. that I
got sick of cards. Poor ----, who was in the
Custer affair, and l were on our way to the
front to be in at the death. We were both cap
tans in the same regiment, and he was quar-
termaster.
''We had Just left Washington, and sat
quietly smoking. when two men on the car
asked us to make up an euchre table. OF course,
fb,. I.,ft ;v%a ~a1y t. H.
and after losing all 1 cared to risk I quietly
dropped out and gave my whole attention to
watching the two strangers, who. | suspected.
were Systematically cheating, but whom could
not detect in any unfair play.
"The hands ran small, and the game dragged
Once, when all three were in. one of the
strangers bet $50 and, when the captain re-
fused to call. exposed a worthless hand on the
table with an evil laugh. / noticed, though
that the other stranger did not indulge in
like folly, neither showing his hand nor calling
1.-The next deal the captain received four
queens and a small card. There was lively
betting before the draw, and then he drew a
king. l saw the king as he picked it up. The
dealer drew cards, how many do not remem-
Der. and the other stranger after some clumsy
hesitation, decided to stand his hand, hold
ing the age.
Presently the dealer, the man who had once
bet fifty on a worthless hand raised the cap
tain hundred and the age man, who had
stood his hand. dropped out. Then the storm
that had been brewing broke; the dealer made
no disguise of consulting with his moneyed
partner, and the captain no longer tried to look
as If he were bluffing. Out of their combined
funds the strangers managed to make raise of
a thousand dollars.
Their cards lay on the table in front of EACH
the dealers arm lying across the pack as he
looked triumphanty at his adversary. The
strangers had evidently gagged the captains
resources to fine point. AS the train stopped
/ leaned over him and whispered a word of
warning. while the scamp across the table
scowled as if he would like to pick a quarrel
with me tor interfering.
Lay down such hand as that? Nonsense
was all the satisfaction got from the captain,
but he held up his cards for my inspection, and
l assure you. sir, on my honor as a gentleman
and an officer, that, in place Of the stray king
had seen him draw, was an ace, an ace of dia-
monds, sir, f1anKing his four queens OF course,
the hand was rot intrinsically worth more than
before, but the whereabouts of that floating
king had become an important factor and when
the captain asked me to lend him money | de-
termned to see the thing out, and emptied ms
pockets as eagerly as he did. Unfortunately. I
had but seven hundred and, ali told, we could
only muster eight hundred.
80 Not enough sneered his opponent with an
insOlence that made me in turn long for the row
he evidently sought.
"' Will you take my watch and chain for the
baance? asked the captain.
Not much; We amt pawnbrOkers' And
his companion added. We'll show YOU what we
are, If You want to know bad, when the game
is DONE
1.-THE pair had thrown of all disguise. and
looked just what they were, two fourtil-rate
sharps.
81 call sight for the money on the table ,
and the captains voice showed the self-control
Of an angry man.
''The two gamblers broke into loud laugh
no hoI.I
Stop said; it is a call for that sum by the
rules of the game
THE h it is. We don't play no such
child's game. It's play. pay or travels
just here q benevolent, pions-looking patri-
arch across the aisle, who had watched the
game with sort of ministerial interest in orig
inal sin, quietly handed roll Of bills to the
captain. saying in singsong nasal tone
Friend, if thee will gamble, thee may use my
money to thy salvation
1.-THE captain hesitated, but the gambling
fever conquered, and the peaceful calm on the
face OF his new ally treasured him. His face
fell, however. as he found only the needed two
hundred not enough to teach the gamblers
their own lesson. With an air of disappoint-
ment he flung the bills on the board. With an
insolent leer the gambler turned his cards face
up with one hand while with the other he
reached to draw in the mOney-reached only
half way. though. for his jaw dropped and his
face grew white with rage and establishment as
he saw his own cards facing him. Three aces
and two kings The wandering king had found
shelter. and the ace Of diamonds was hostage
Of war with the captain.
Jim. you're a fool, a - fool Kissed the
dealers pal; How did it happenT
''Happen!" shouted jim. I'D take ten years
to know who happened It'll 'Tweren't YOU" he
said to my friend, who sat astonshed at the out
burst. but watchful of the money. cor YOU" he
said to me; Eyer don't know enough, but the
cards was all right until-curse me- if don't
believe that canting old Quaker played 1t on us.
Who are we, anyway" and Jim started toward
the old gentleman.
you don't seem TO care to see nv four
queens" said the captain, showing his hand.
Curse yer four queens. Yes, l thought so.
Where'd yer get that ace-say, old man, do
l know ye:"
s The venerable stranger turned slowly. 81
think not, friend; but, that thee may know one
honest man by name, / give thee mne''
Jim snatched at the engraved visiting card
and read it in loud. angry voice: