Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-05
cAl,FoRn,A MONTE.
High Betting During the Famous
Flush Days.

Monte was the great California game
in 49," said e.. II have seen MANY q
big stake made or lost at Il"
'What was the biggest single bet you
ever saw nader"
Sixteen Thousand dollars There was
little gambler in Frisco who used to
deal it; Sandy Jackson was his name.
He came, If am not mistaken, from
somehere in New England. George
Walton, the banker, wandered into his
place q littl full one night, and, after
looking around rather unsteadily for .
moment. laid his hand on Sandy's shout
der and said;
Sandy, how much in the bank to.
nightr
The other players turned to look at
the new comer's handsome, intelligent,
but rather dissipated looking face.
Sandy took stock of his pile. 1t had
been lucky night for him. "A thou
sand ounces, he replied ($l6,0OO)
Twill you take tap, Sandy! asked
the banker.
''Sandy seemed to study for q mo
nient. He was evidently little stag
gered at the reckless proposition. The
lights shone full on his peaked, old-man-
ish features The was barely turned of 2O)
countless freckles, sandy hair and little
twinklihg ferret's eyes. He fixed his
gaze on the window 90 intently that his
eyes seemed 10 pierce the psnes and the
darkness beyond to seek some far sway
object; his hands opened and shut nerv-
ously. Suddenly the lines about his
mouth lighted; be leaned back in hts
chair. and, turning his face to look up
at Walton, uttered the word, Yes.
"The banker seemed little surprised. .
He evidently did not think his offer
would be accepted. Still he was too
proud and too game man to weaken
now. So he walked over to side table.
and, drawing blank check from his
pocket book, filed IL In for the amount
named, scribbled his name ct the bottom
and tossed it 6ver to Sandy with the re-
mark, Is that all rightr
SANDY glanced ct II. sAH right, /
guess, he Ihuttered; does it go!
The banker nodded. The gamblers
ct the other tables stopped playing and
clustered around this ono to see the re-
suit. In monte the first card shown is
for the dealer, tho second for the player.
Sandy turned mp two-ths first was .
queen, the second = nine. whichever
came first now would win. Sandy placed
them next each other, few inches apart.
The room was as still - death.
Sandy gave q quick glance around
the gallery aud then began to pull av
the cards from the bottom one by oI
He wss - white as . ghost. but other
wise betrayed no emotion, nor would any
one have supposed that all he had in the
world was at stake.
''rhe excitement grew intense % card
after card was removed and not Z uine
nor face card showed itself. Fen,
deuce, eight four, aco. six-a dozen or
more cards had been shown, when sandy
paused; the card beneath the one he was
pulling had thin layer Of color along
it sdgs-it must be face card, but was
it queen, or only jack or king!
SANDY paused, aud, taking his hand
ksrchief out Of his pocket, passed it
lightly over his face ani.Ater agMnst Che
A.asin, card and a. IL slowly yielded
hoarse voice behind Sandy's chair called
out: "A queen. by
''Sandy's face was the color Of ashes.
but oil he said was:
81 leave for the States In the
nornin'.'
''Thsn he picked up the check, and.
fielding It up carefully, placed IL IN an
enormous red morocco pocket-book.
Games closed for tonight. he remark
ed. in answer to . question. Come.
boys, let's 70 to the Belle of the West
and I'll sat up the wine for the crowd.
'..As the boys filed down the creaking
stsirway, ono very old, white haired
gambler whispered to another loud
enough for me to hear:
The slickest ever see. Must .
done II when he wiped his face on that
thar Handkerchief. ~ : Phila. Times.