Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-28
COULD NOT FOOL OLD I'm.
A "Reminiscences of Former Days in old
Kentucky.
~ York Times.

4e1C York Times.
1t was a breakfast party in old Ken
| tucky. The gentlemen had gathered out
in the portico after the meal. with cigars.
| pipes, and a flask of old Bourbon, and
half dozen decanters within easy reach.
The air was still fresh, and the ivy which
overspread the porch protected them
from the sun, which was getting warmer
and warmer as it rose higher, and began
TO slit down through the big oaks In the
rear of the Old-fashioned homestead and
form network Of sunbeams on the rich
grass beneath. A few slender, graceful
horses feeding in the pasture beyond.
with number of sleek, fat shorthOrns,
which were already lazily moving toward
the shade, and half dozen little darkeys,
who were kicking up their heels and
playing hide-and-seek behind the lilac
bushes IN one corner OF the yard, made
the scene typical one.
Horses, dogs and shooting were eX-
hausted in time, and stories and anec-
dotes, with occasional Interruptions by
the flash of old Bourbon, followed about
Henry Clay, Tom Marshall, Breckenridge
and other Kentucky celebrities. Among
them was mentioned well-known law
yer, a celebrated wit, and at one time
close companion of Clay and Marshall.
Business reverses and drink brought him
| down, he grew too dissipated to longer
associate with his old friends, and with
few family ties to bind him he finally
drifted into the prophet orshIp of faro
bank, where he was known as "Old Jim
the Gambler" He knew every trick and
turn of the cards, and as poker player
he had few equals even in Kentucky.
my father used to tell story of old
Jim," said one of the party. HThere were
five or six old sports who were habitual
occupants of his little gambling room,
and their constant endeaVOr was to out
wit old Jim, although they never dared to
make their attempts too openly. You
know that in faro one of the profits of the
dealer is the 'cuH-that is, when two
cards of the same kind come out side by
side the dealer takes half of all the money
on the board, while the players get
nothing. One day just as old Jim was
about to deal out the first card some one
poked his head into the door hurriedly and
called for him to come out.
81 can't Gomez he answered.
"'Oh, but you must returned the fell
low, it's burned important, and if you
don't come you'll be big loser.'
"'But what is it?
'''I can't tell you. Come and see,' and
slam went the door.
sold Jim half raised himself from his
seat and looked around at the players,
who put on their most gIileless faces.
Now, look here,' said he, you fellows
won't monkey with the cards?'
"'Oh, no, no. said the whole crowd in
injured tones.
boys?
""Pon honor, pom honor was the
chorus.
"'Why, Jm,' said one of them, i
should hope you would trust u.s.
Wen, by gum, will,' said old Jim
frankly and ont he SSt.lmped. When he
came back few minutes afterWard,
every man had every chip and penny he
could scrape together stacked on the
queen to lose. Old Jim looked at the
stack silently, glared around at the play
ers, and sat down sullenly and thrust his
hands in his pockets.
$500 ahead, Jim. Deal on said one
careless1y.
"'Do you chaps think you can fool an
old chicken like me?' he roared,
"'FOOl you? Why, what do you meanY
"' won't deal, that's all. Look thereP |
"'WeH, what is it?"
"'What are all those chips doing staked |
up on that queenY
"'Nothin'. We all agreed to bet with |
Tom, here, who's had an amazin' streak |
of luck for nigh a month";
"'Do you mean to say you haven't |
looked at the card under the tOpY
"'Of course not answered the crowd, !
Indignantly. You don't think we'd cheat |
your
"'Well, that would be purity hard, see
ing that we've been together so long and |
such good friends. Well, Pill trust you.
Here gOes.'
''Ihen, as the old gambler turned his
head a moment, the crowd exchanged |
hasty looks of triumph. The triumph in
creased as old Jim's Disguised face show
ed that the queen had turned up. 'Stopr
he Numbered, as five hands reached out
to draw in the pile. The crowd did stop,
and old Jim quietly drew off the cua4.:
and disclosed below tho :, ,,,;,..oo ,,r4,o.,. -
anOo of n~-'' smllng cOunten-
~-4.Otner queen. With chuckIe
old Jim raked in half the pile, while the
crowd sat stupetied in their chairs.
"Half an hour later, when each disgust
ed player had disappeared through the
green door. the same face which had sum-
moned old Jim out peered through. we
worked that fine,' chuckled old Jim, as be
placed some coins in the hand which was
silently stretched out. They must git up
airly to fool this old hOss.'"