Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-03
Poker With the Indians.
A POT OPENED WITH A CALF, RAISED COW
AND SEEN FOR TWO MORE.

POT OPENED WITH A CALF, RAISED A COW
AND SEEN FOR TWO MORE.
From the New York Sun.
Butch was grand scamp, a brave reckless
ruffian, but he had some very good points. For
instance, he could make excellent hoecakes, and
he was cheerful and companionable, and could
tell highly interesting lies. One evening, as we
sat side by side on the sandy soil, leaning
against the house and smoking our after supper
pipes, group of Indians, driving cattle before
them, rode from behind a rocky point that was
thrust into the waters of the Columbia.
Instantly Butch sprang to his feet and rushed
into the cabin. He put on O cunnngly de-
vised harness that held two navy six-sho0ters
In handy position under his arms. He put on
his coat. He pulled at the pistols to see If they
were loose, and that there would be no hitch in
the performance If anything more than a re-
the party OF hOrsemen drew rein in front of the
cabin They Were three young bucks from
Moses camp in the Grand C0ulee. Butch
the cattle. Then he told me that these men
were the selected poker players Of the Column
by the tribe to play with him in hopes of win
ming number of cattle. Yes, he said the cat
tie were the stakes. Before the first hand was
English and Chinook only could be spoken at
the table, and that the first Indian who spoke
in his own tand to Butch unknown tongue
would have the top of his head shot off, The
braves eheerfully agreed to this condition.
Ihen the relative value Of cows, calves and
steers was agreed upon. 1Hey decided to play
table stakes. The checks were pistol and mus
ket balls. Ten pistol balls were equal in value
to calf or to a musket ball. Three musket
balls equaled a cow in value.
A heavy California blanket was thrown over
rough table, A candle was thrust into a to-
matO can that was filed with beans. and the
game began. Hour after hour passed and not
word was spoken by the players. With faces
as Interchangeable as bronze the three Indians
played, and; favored by the dim light and the
fact OF Butch's having but one eye, how they
did cheat! The luck varied, as it always does
In poker game. Now they would be ahead,
now Butch. 1 dropped asleep, and when
aWoke 1T was nearly morning.
Butch's back saw toward me. was some
cards thrust under his coat collar. knew he
was waiting for the end to come. One of the
Indians dealt. Butch picked up his cards,
raised his right hand TO scratch the back of
his neck, adroitly exchanged the cards he held
Tor those in reserve, and then thrust the cards
he had received below his shirt collar Then
ne turned To me, exposing the back of his head
10 the Indians, and he winked O wink of great
sagacity at me. He talked to me for an Instant
and then turned to the table. He was aged
man. The Indian to his left bet a calf The
next one straddled il. The dealer went COW
better, and Butch saw it all and raised the not
two cows. All stayed. All stood pat. Then
the betting began in earnest. 1t went on nth
all the cattle the Indians brought were staked
Then came the show down. Butch had four
queens and an ace. The Indians all had fOurs
which they had stolen, of course. They grunted
loudly. They struck their mouths with the
palms OF open hands. to express surprise Then
they babe us goodbye and mounted and sing
Ing as they rode, disappeared in the faint gray
light OF early morning. Butch had won thirty
head OF cattle. AS we got breakfast the king of
clubs fell out of Butchs right trousers leg.