The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-04-11
CALIFORNIA MONTE.
High Betting During the Famous Flush
Days
PhilddelDhia Times,

Philadelphia Times.
aMonte was the great California game in
made or lost at It,"
"What was the biggest single bet you ever
saw made ?"
"Sixteen thousand dollars. There was q
little gambler In Frisco who used to deal it..
Sandy Jackson was his name. He came, II
am not mistaken. from somewhere in New
Eagixnd.v George Walton, the banker, wan
dered into his plsce "a little full' one night,
and, after looking around rather unsteadily
for a moment, laid his hand on Sandy's
shoulder and said:
"'Sandy, how much in the bank tonight p
"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 q lncky night
for him. "A thousand ounces he replied
(S16,OOO).
"Will you take tap, Sandy' asked the
banker.
"Sandy seemed to study for a moment.
He was evidently little staggered at the
reckless proposition. The lights shone full
, on his peaked, old-mannish features Che was
barely turned of 20), countless freckles,
sandy hair and little twinkling ferret's 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 nervously.
Suddenly III lines about his mouth tight
ened; he leaned back In bis chair, and, turn
the one word, yes
"The banker seemed a 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. pook, filled 1t in for
the amount named, scribbled his name at
The bottom, and tossed 1t over to Sandy with
the remark, is that all right?'
"Sandy glanced at it. 'All right, guess
he muttered; 'does II go"
"The banker nodded. The gamblers at
the other tables stopped playing and clus-
tered around this one to 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 q queen, the second q
nine. Whichever came first now would win.
Sandy placed them next each other, few
inches apart. The room was as still as
death.
"Sandy gave q quick glance around the
gallery and then began to pull away the
cards from the bottom one by one. He was
as white as ghost, but otherwise betrayed
posed that all he had in the world was at
stake.
THE excitement grew intense as card
after card was removed and not nine nor q
face card showed itself. Ten, deuce, eight,
four, ace, Ska dozen or more cards had
been shown, when Sandy paused; the card
beneath the one he was pulling had thin
layer Of color along Its edge-it must be
face card, but was it queen, or only jack
or king?
SANDY paused, and taking his handker-
chief out of his pocket, passed 1t lightly over
his face and then replaced 1t. Again he
pressed his finger against the bottom card,
and as IL slowly yielded a hoarse voice
behind Sandy's chair called out: "A queen,
by -
"Sandy's face was the color of ashes, but
all he said was.
"I leave for the States In the mornin'.'
"Then he picked up the check, and, fold
Ing it up carefully, placed 1t in an enormous
red morocco pocket book. Games closed
for tonight he remarked, in answer to
question. Come, boys, let's 60 to the Belle
of the West and I'll set up the wine for the
crowd
"As the boys filed down the creaking stair
way, one very old, white haired gambler
whispered to another loud enough for me
to hear:
.sThe slckest ever see. Must done 1t
when he wiped his face on that thar hand
kercher.'"