The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-07
CLAWS BAD LUCK,
Also His Bad Poker Playing, Likewise His
Presence OF Mind.



Presence OF Mind.
baltimore Herald.
ssYes, sir; that's the very same table on
which Mr. Clay used to lose the greater part
of bis Congressional salary. As said, Clay
and Bright sat down to play at O'Clock.
Now, Dick said Mr.. Clay, as the game be-
gan, understand l can not play later than
II o'clock. promised to attend church at
Alexandria tomorrow morning, and l don't
want to go there looking as if 1 had been up
all night
THE blind was half dollar, 81 to come
IN, and no limit to bets. In those days there
was no limit, as there generally is now. AL
q man could demand was q sight for his
money. The cards were cut, and Clay got
the first deal. He was a noted card shuifler.
He could hold his hands four feet apart and
fly the cards from one to the other without a
single card falling. His favorite style was
20 mix the cards from the end and not from
the sides, holding half deck in each hand,
flirting the ends with his thumbs, and mix
ing them into perfect pack with one move
meDt. He usually dealt with one hand,
of the arm, his long, muscular fingers
enabling him to throw each card to
its proper place. But Clay was not goon
poker player. Like most intellectual men,
he played for the excitement, not for gain,
and, as q rule, be was so careless about his
passion for big bets. and he rarely failed to
strsddle the blind or raise the bet after the
game got fairly started. So, If the luck came
his way he would win heavily as long as it
lasted. But he was great buffer, and bet
high whether he had q card or not. The men
be played with found this out. OF course. and
be never came out Of prolonged game with
out being deeced.
"For nearly two hours that night Clay
bad everything his own way with Bright.
If he didn't hold q king-full four times
hand-running, followed by q isck-full, then
/ hope l may be shot for lying. Bright
tried his best 10 catch Clay in bluff, but it
wss no use, Clay came to the front every
time with hand that nothing but fours
could phase. A. 1880 Bright had lost
81, 500, and had borrowed $500 from John
Hancock. After that Clay's luck deserted
him and he failed to recognize it. He con-
tinued 70 bet as high on a pair of deuces
as he had been betting on sn acefull. By
midnight he had lost all his winnings
and 81 600 besides-all the cash he had with
him.
az guess we'd better quit, said Bright, as
you want to 20 to church tomorrow
"'Oh, blow the church, replied Clay. DO
you suppose 1 want to hear man preach
right on top of losing 81 600 at poker? Not
much. You Just lend me $500, and let the
game 60 on
so the game proceeded, and at daylight
Clay was in debt to Bright to the amount of
81 500 and that is the way it stood when
the game ended. heard afterward from
Hancock that Clay liouidated that debt by
giving Bright deed of 800 acres of Ken
lucky land, and transferring to him six
shares of stock ia Louisville bank.
"Clsy went to his room that Sunday morn
ing, shortly after daylight, to 60 to bed, but
he took q sudden resolution TO go to Alex
andria anyhow, and keep his church engage
ment. he went in the carriage of friend.
Quite a crowd followed him when he went
out ~ get in bis carriage. There a number
OF people were presented to Mr.. Clay, among
them the rector OF the church. The story
was that while he was talking to the reverend
gentleman Clay put his hand in his pocket to
pull oat his handkerchief, and in doing this
a pack of cards was suddenly spilled on the
ground. Clay WAS not the least sbashed, but
deliberately gathered up the cards, repleced
them in his pocket and remarked to the
minister and others who were standing there
that friend had put the cards in his pocket
as practical Joke"