Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-13
TAKING A TAP.
High Betting at Monte in the Flush Days
of California
NPhaladetDhid Times.

NPhi&adeiDhid Times.
"MOnte was the great California game
in 49," said e. II have seen many a big
stake made or lost at it."
"What was the biggest single bet YOU
ever saw made?'
E'Sixteen thousand dollars. There was
a little gambler in Frisco who used to
deal it; Sandy jackson was his name. He
came, if | am not mistaken, from some
where in New England. George Walton,
the banker, wandered into his place "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 to-
night?
''The other players turned to look at the
newcomers handsome, intelligent, but
rather dissipated looking face. Sandy
took stock ofhis pile. 1t had been a lucky
night for him. "A thousand ounces he
replied $16,00O).
"'Will you take tap, Sandy?" asked
the banker.
SANDY seemed to study for moment.
de YVES evidently little staggered at the
reckless proposition. The lights shOne
full on his peaked, old-mannish features
Che was barely turned of POI, countless
treckles, sandy hair, and little twinkling,
feTret's eyes. He fixed his gaze on the
to pierce the panes and the darkness be-
yond to seek some far-aWay object; his
HIND opened and shut nerYOusly. Sud-
denly the lines about his mouth frightened:
he leaned back in his chair, and, turning
his face to look up at Walton, uttered 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 a man to weaken now. So he
walked over to a side table, and, drawing
blank check from his pOcketbook, filled it
in tor the amount named, scrubbed his
name at the bottom, and tossed it over to
Sandy with the remark: is that all
right?'
''Sandy glanced at it. All right, 1
guess he muttered; docs it COP
''The banker nodded. The gamblers at
the other tables stopped playing and
clustered around this one to see the re-
suit. In Monte the first card shown is
for the dealer, the second for the player.
Sandy turned up twO-the first was a
queen, the second a nine. Whichever
came first now would win. Sandy placed
them next each other a few inches apart.
The room was as still as 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 as ghost, but otherwise be-
trayed no emotion, nor would any one
have supposed that all he had in the world
was at stake.
"The excitement grew intense as card
after card was removed and not a nire
nor 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 a thin layer of color along its
edge-it must be a face card; but was it
queen, or only jack or a king?
-'Sandy paused, and taking mis- hand
kerchief out of his pocket, passed it light
ly over his face, and then replaced it.
Again he pressed his finger against the
bottom card, and, as it slowly yielded, a
hOarse voice behind Sandy's chair called
OUT A queen, by -r
''Sandy's face was the color of ashes,
but all he said was:
~ leave for the States in the mornin'.'
"Then he picked up the check, and,
folding it up carefully, placed it in an
enormous red morocco pOcketbOOk.
Games closed for Tonight he remarked,
in answer to a question. Come, boys,
let's 90 to the Belle of the West, and I'll
set up the wine for the crowd
''As the boys filed down the creaking
stairway one very old, white-haired gam
bier whispered to another, loud enough
for me to hear:
"'The sHckest l ever see. Must done
it when he wiped his face on that thar
Handkerchief ,"