Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-09-19
HE THREW AWAY FOUR QUEENS.
Stanley Huntley's Extraordinary
Luck in a Poker Game at
Bismarck.
New York SUM-

poker ever prayed III the
was between the late Stanley Huntley
and Major A. W. Edwards, the editor
and proprietor of the the Fargo Ar
gus. Mr.. Huntley had not been max
ing much money out of the Bismarck
Tribune, and when he was taken sick,
and was unable to attend to business
for several months, his affairs became
so entangled that he determined to
sell out his share in the paper. AS
the Tribune was the only paper in
Bismarck at that time, and as there
was a strong political ring in the
county, he had hopes of disposing of
his property to the politicians, but,
fearing that he might fail to do SO, he
dropped a line to Major Edwards,
asking him to buy his paper. Major
Edwards had made a fortune out of
his own paper, and, as he was anxious
to own more papers, he promptly re-
sponded to the letter by drawing
$4,000 from bank and taking the first
train for Bismarck. When he reached
that city he found that the trade with
the politicians was made, and Hunt
lev had come come out of his diff
culties with several hundred in cool
cash. It was several hours before the
return train left, and, having nothing
else to do, the Major suggested that
they play a game of poker at IS ante.
The Majors fame as a poker-player
was not confined alone to Fargo. He
was recognized throughout the Terri
tory as the best player in the north
west, and when it became noised
about town that he and Huntley were
to play for large stakes, there was no
saloon in the place large enough to
accommodate the crowd, and the
game was moved to the town hall,
over the engine-house.
The game began at noon and CON
tinued until two o'clock, with varying
success. At last there was a jack pot
containing 5000 on the table, and it
was Major 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 n card and hold four.
How much do you open it for?"
asked the Major nonchalantly.
Huntley stopped a moment to think,
and then replied calmly:
q don't open it,"
'sWell, I WILL" said the Major.
For how much?' asked Huntley.
"For $780," replied the Major.
sAll right" said Huntley, throwing
away his four queens and keeping
his ace, III come in. Give me four
cards"
With a glance of incredulity and
pity the Major dealt them, and took
one himself.
"Ill bet S100," replied the Major.
"Raise you $780," said Huntley.
The Major scanned his hand care
fully, looked at his youthful adver-
sary keenly, and raised it back the
same amount.
"Raise it $10O MORE" said Huntley
This sort of thing continued unit
there was S2,40O on the table, and the
crowd was breathless with excitement
"IH raise youS5O0," said the Major
IF you will trust me-"
Rather have the cash." said Mr.
Huntley.
"Will you take this ring for thai
amount?" returned the Major, as he
pointed to a magnificent solitaire dia
mond he wore, which cost him $1,000
in Chicago.
!. eyes," said Huntley, as he saw the
raise.
"Then I CALL" said the Major.
Huntley laid down his hand. Ht
had caught the other three ices. The
Major had only four kings, just as
Huntley had suspected. It cost Hunt
ley $500 to treat the crowd, and wher
the Major left for Fargo it was OF
borrowed money.
The fame of this game spreat
around the Territory, and when Hunt
: ley returned from his trip into thu
Northwest Territory after interview
ing Sitting Bull, he stopped at Farg'
on his way east and gave Major Ed
wards back his ring. After dinner
J as Huntley was about to take the trail
for New York, the Major, aceompan
led by several of his friends, went t
t the station to e him off.
by the way, Stanley" said he
, "since you left Bismarck they hav
told some pretty rough stories abou
that game of poker we played"
i "Nhat are they2"
, "They say that I dealt myself fou
kings from acold deck. Now, I wan
YOU to tell these gentlemen that