St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-25
POKER WITH rHE INDIANS.
A Pot Opened With Calf. Raised IA
Cow and Seen for Two More.

New York Sun: Butch was a 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
atter-supper pipes, group of Indians,
driving cattle before them. rode from be-
hind 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 a cum
ningly-devised harness that held two navy
siX-shooters 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 perform
ance if anything more than a rehearsal
should be required. In few minutes a
party of horsemen drew rein in froutof the
cabin. They were three young bucks from
Moses camp in the Grand Coulee. Butch
greeted them cheerfully and helped to cor
raj the cattle. Then he told me that these
men were the selected poker players of the
Columbia Plain Indians; that they had
been staked by the tribe to play with him
in hopes of winning a number of cattle.
Yes, he said. the cattle were the stakes.
Before the first hand was dealt Butch
quietly informed the Indians that English
and Chinook only could be spoken at the
table, and that the first Indian who spoke
in his own land to Butch unknown) tongue
would have the top Of his head shot Off
The braves cheerfully agreed to this con-
ditiOn. Then the relative value of cows
calves and steers was agreed upon. They de-
cided to play table stakes. The checks were
pistol and musket balls. Ten pistol balls
were equal in value to a call or to musket
ball. Three musket balls equaled cow in
value.
heavy California blanket was thrown.
over a rough table. A candle was thrust
into tomato can that was filled with
beans, and the game began. Hour after
hour passed and not a word was spoken by
the players. With faces as interchangeable
as bronze the three Indians played. aud ia
vored 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. l dropped asleep, and when l
awoke it was nearly morning.
Butch's back was toward me. l saw
some cards thrust under his coat collar. |
knew ne was waiting Tor 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 for those in reserve, and
then thrust the cards he had received below
his shirt collar. Then he turned to me, ex-
posing the back of his head to the Indians.
and he winked wink of great sagacity at
me. He talked to me for an instant and
then turned to the table. He was an aged
man. The Indian to his left bet calf.
The next one straddled it. The dealer
went COW better, and Butch saw it all and
raised the pot two cows. All stayed. All
stood pat. Then the betting began in earn
est. 1t went on until all the cattle the In
dams brought were staked. Then came the
show down. Butch had four queens and
an ace. The Indians all had tours, 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, singing 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
Butch'S right trousers leg