The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-04-01
POKER PLAYING.
The Experience of Henry Alexan-
der in Texas.
How He Met n Cattle Dealer Who Had
Just Sold Herd and Was Well Heel
ed-Eow He Was Cleaned Out
Satisfaction ut Last.
pittsburgh Dlspatch.l

| pittsburgh Dispatch.l
Shortly after the discovery at Leadvllle
I was In that great mining camp. In less
than an hour after my arrival I met Henry
Alexander, an old friend, whom ] first saw
In Kansas during the flush Of the Texas
cattle drive. Alexander was a cattle
grower; but he was also a professional
poker player, whose business called him to
the towns that spring into active life along
the lines of now railroads. lived with
Alexander for three days. Every night
after the games closed we drew our chairs
before the fire and talked of the old times
when we drove cattle together and hunted
together on the plains. One night our talk
drifted to the Texas cattle men and the
gambling at the cattle towns Of Kansas,
when the business Of driving long-horned
steers to the Northern market was highly
profitable. Alexander's eyes blazed with
fury when he spoke of the Texans. He
raised his cllnched hand high above his
head and struck tho table that stood by his
side savagely, as he exclaimed with q
fierce oath: "How hate themp Then,
turning to me, he said:
"When / left you on the Cimmaron
River, the day after the buffalo hunt l
went to Baxter Springs. There / met
three Texans, who coaxed me to go to
Ellsworth to play poker. with the cattle
men, who had sold herds and were d aush.
agreed to go, and they on their part
agreed to stand in with me, and also to
protect me in the game. You see, the
Texas gentleman you are playing with Is
apt to have partner. This man, II the
game is going heavily against his friend,
is liable to step in behind you and blow
the top of your head of. In the yernacu-
lar of the courageous Texans, this Is
called getting the drop on you.' SO l
stood In with Bill Good, his brother Asham
and Tom Clavering. All had killed their
men.
"Well, these three were to see that no
one got the drop on me. They were to
play in the game II necessary. We were
10 divide the winnings. So 1 went to
Ellsworth. Ihad fair luck, but had not
been able to get at the men who had made
big sales. One evening, while l was at
supper, received note from Bill Good.
He told me TO come to certain saloon as
soon as possible, as Hutchinson, n CATTLE
man, who had Just sold herd was there and
wanted toplay poker. went at once and was
soon playing with Hutchinson. The cards
ran against me, and / speedily lost a few
hundred dollars. Then the luck changed,
and made up my losses and couple of
hundred dollars In addition. Hutchinson
was apparently growing angry. He dealt.
/ picked up four aces. I'VE had no straight
Hushes in those days pressed the bet
ting. There were 81, 900 In the pot before
the draw. I took one card. He stood pat.
1t was Hutchinson's bet, but before he bet
so much as a chip he wrote a note and
called bootblack to him, and told him tc
go to another saloon and give IL 10 his
brother.
"Instantly knew he had determined "a
fight for the pot, and had sent for his
brother TO come 10 him, and to come heoled.
was not worried. Irelied on my part
ner TO prevent my assassination. SO
slammed a fear that was far from feel
ing. made my hands tremble, made my
legs shake, and / tried TO turn pale; but
that was not success. Hutch
inson's brother-a cool, determined
man-came In and stood behind
him. Then, with an oath and q
sneer on his face, Hutchinson leaned over
the table and said, Il bet $780, and
dropped the money In the pot l saw II
and raised him 500. now had 81, 800 OF
my money in tho pot, about all the cash
| ha1 oh
book out Of his pocket and took three Ger.
tificates Of depost Of 5000 each out OF IL
These he indorsed. Then, raising himself
from his chair, he sat on the edge OF the
table and shook the three certificates oveI
the pot, saying the while: Il bet SIS, 200.
Ho almost dropped them into the pile
then withdrew them, and sat gazing In
tently at me. / trembl ed away the best
could, and watched him as a hawl
watches chicken. The click Of cooking
revolver broke sharply on my ear. II was
behind me. Then counted two more
clicks, both behind me.
~ said TO myself: There Is going to b,
trouble hore.' Still watched Hutchinson
and trembled away quite cheerfully. Ht
leaned toward me- shook the certificates
in my face and said: The pot is mine.
felt the cold muzzle Of q six-shootei
thrust against the back Of my neck ant
another one against my right ear. stop
ped feignlng fear, and began to tremble II
earnest. Hutchinson took the pot and de-
liberately divided the money had in 4
into four piles. He took one. My pals eacf
took one. Thy made me stand up iant
disarmed me. They gave me no chance
They ordered me to leave town within
fifteen minutes. left In three, but re-
turned in a couple Of weeks and squaret
accounts with the thieving cowmen.
got my money back, and got satisfaction
also"
My friend ceased talking. His yellow
Ish-gray eyes blazed with the light OF bat
tie as the scene Of day. arose before him
Course the Texans how hate theml" b.
repeated, and relapsed into silence.