Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-04-24
CALIFORNIA MONTE.
High Betting During the Famous
Flush Days.

"Monte was the greatest California |
game in 49, said q. II have seen
many a big stake made and lost at it."
"What was the biggest single bet
you over saw nader
"Sixteen Thousand dollars. There
was little gambler in Frisco who
used to deal it. Sandy Jackson was
his name. He came, if I am not mis-
taken, from somewhere in New Eng
land. George Walton, the banker,
wandered into the place n little full
one night, and after looking around
rather unsteadily for moment, laid
his hand on Sandy's shoulder and
said:
"Sandy, how much in the bank to
night"
'Thc other players turned to look
at the new comer's handsome, intelli-
gent, but rather dissipated looking
face. Sandy took stock Of his pile. It
had been lucky night for him. "A
thousand ounces he replied ($16,O00.)
evil you take tap, Sandy7" asked
tho banker.
"Sandy seemed to study for mo-
ment. He was evidently little stag
gered at the reckless proposition. The
lights shone full ON his peaked, old
mannish features (he was barely
turned Of 2O) countless freckles, sandy
hair and little twinkling ferrets eyes.
He fixed his gaze on the window SO
intently that his eyes seemed to pierce
the panes and the darkness beyond to
seek some far-away object; his hands
opened and shut ncrvously. Suddenly
the lines about his mouth frightened;
he leaned back in his chair, and, turn
ing his face to look up ut Walton,
uttered tho ono word, Yes
"The banker seemed little sur
prised. 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
a side table, and, drawing blank
check from his pocket book, filed it
in for the amount named, scribbled
his name ut the bottom, and tossed it
over to Sandy with the remark, Is
that all right?
"Sandy glanced ut it. All right, ]
guess he muttered; does it go?'
"Ihs banker J! nodded. The gH,m. g,n,.
ing and clustered around this one tc
see the result. In monte the first card
shown is for the dealer, the second
for the player. Sandy turned up two
the first was queen, tho second q
nine. Whichever came first now
would win Sandy placed them next
room was as still rs death.
"Sandy gave quick glance around
the gallery and then began to pull
away the cards from the bottom one
by one. He was as white us a ghost
but otherwise betrayed no emotion
nor would any one have supposed
that all he had in the world was a
stake.
"The excitement grew intense n
card after crrd was removed and no
, nine nor u face card showed itself
Ten, deuce, eight, four, ace, six,
dozen or more cards had been shown
when Sandy paused; the card beneath
the one he was pulling had thiI
r layer of color along it's edge-it mus
be n face card, but was it queen, o
only a jack or king?
, "Sandy paused and taking his hand
r kerchief out Of his pocket, passed j
lightly over his face and then replaces
!, it. Again he pressed his finger agains
:. the bottom card, and rs it slowl.
I yielded a hoarse voice behind Sandy
4 chair called out: "A queen by!
"Sandy's face was the color OF ashe
y but all he said was:
"'I leave for the States in tn
mornin'.'
i "Then he picked up the check, ant
Q folding it up carefully, placed it j
r an enormous red morocco pocket
! book. 'Game's closed for tonight
he remarked, in answer to question
Come, boys, let's go to the Belle {
t, the West and I'll set up the wine fo
$ the crowd
p "As the boys filed down the creal
!, ing stairway, one very old, white
+ haired gambler whispered to anothe
loud enough for me to hear:
"The slickest I ever seen. Mus
a done it when he wiped his face 0
that thar handkerchief.