Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-23
HE THREW REV AWAY FOUR
QUEENS. Iaa

HE THREW AWAY FOUR
QUEENS. --Iae
stanley Huntley's Extraordinary I.uck In .
Poker Game at Bismarck.
One of the most famous games of
poker ever played in the Northwest
was between the late Stanley Huntley
and Maj. A. w, Edwards, the editor
and proprietor of the Fargo tAybas.
Mr.. Huntley had not been making
much money out of the Bismarck Hai.
oat'ae, and when he was taken sick and
was unable to attend to business for
several months, his affairs beeamd so
entangled that he determined to sell
out his share in the paper. As the Eri-
ou'ae was the only paper in Bismarck
at that time, and as there was a strSng
political ring in tho county, he had
hopes Of disposing of his property ITO
the politicians; but, fearing that he
might fail to do so, he dropped q limo
to Maj Edwards asking him to buy HIS
paper. Maj. Edwards had made a
fortune out OF his own paper, and, as
ne was ambitious to own more papers,
ne promptly responded to the letter by
drawing $4,000 from the bank and TAX
ing the first train for Bismarck. When
he reached that city he found that the
trade with the politicians was made.
and Huntley had come out of his diff
culties with several hundred dollars in
cool cash. 1t was several hours before
the return train left, and, having moth
ing else to do; the Major suggested
that they play a game of poker at So
ante.
The Majors fame as poker PLAYER
was not confined alone to Fargo. He
was recognized throughout the Torri-
tory as the best player in the North
west, and when it became noised about
the town that he and Huntley were to
play for large stakes there was no sa-
loon in the place large enough to ac-
commodate the crowd, and the game
was moved to the town-hall, over the
engine-house.
The game began at noon and contin-
ued until 2 o'clock, with varying sue
cess. AT last there was q Jackpot
containing 5000 on the table, and it
was Maj. Edwards deal. When Mr..
Huntley picked up his hand he saw
that he held four queens and an ace.
He was surprised. Cards had not been
running we'll enough to justify such
luck. He saw the Major throw away
one card and hold four.
"How much do you open it forP"
asked the Major nonchalantly.
Huntley stopped u moment to think,
and then replied calmly:
81 don't open it,
"Well, 1 will," said the Major.
''For how muchP" asked Huntley.
"For $780, replied the Major.
Cali right" said Huntley, throwing
away his four queens and keeping his
ace, "Tll come in. Give me four
cards"
- With a glance Of incredttty and pisss>>
the Major dealt them and took one
himself
"Tll bet $780," observed the Major.
t'Raise you $780," said HuntleJ.
The Major scanned his hand care
fully, looked at his youthful adversary
keenly. and raised it back for the same
amount.
"Raise it 500 more," said Humley.
This sort Of thing continued until
there were $2,4O0 on the table, and
the crowd was breathless with excite
ment.
"l'll raise you $780," said the M ajor,
':if you will trust me-"
''Rather have the cash." said Hunt
ley. H.
'Will you take this ring for that
amountp" returned the Major, as he
pointed to a magnificent solitaire dia-
mond he wore, which cost him $1,000
in Chicago. q
"Yes," said Huntley, as he saw the
raise.
''Then I'll CALL" said the Major.
Huntley laid down his hand. He
had caught the other three aces. The
Major had only four kings, just as
Huntley had suspected. 1t cost Hunt
ley $500 to treat the crowd, and when
the Major LETT for Fargo it was on bor-
rowed money.
The fame of this game spread around
the Territory, and when Huntley re-
turned from his trip into the North
west Territory, after interviewing Sit
ting Bull, he stopped at Fargo on his
way East, and gave Maj. Edwards back
his ring After dinner, as Hun tley was
about to take the train for New York,
the Major, accompanied by several of
his friends, went to the station to see
him off.
:.By the way, Stanley" said he,
''since you left Bismarck they have
told some pretty rough stories about
that game of poker we played.
''What are they?"
''They say that I dealt myself four
kings from cold deck. Now, | want
you to tell these gentlemen that IplD-
ed fair, square game. ID.
''The Major is right" said Huntley.
"He played an honest game"
''Thanks, Stanley" returned the
Major. "Now, 1 want to ask you one
question.
"Allright. "
II want to know how in the devil
you ever came to discard those four
queens l dealt youp''
''Ill answer that, Major" said Hunt
ley, with a grim smile, '.if you will tell
me how you knew l had four queens.
M Y. S@n.
London is now u city Of gardens.