St. Paul daily globe., 1888-06-24
st. Louis Letter.

TO De 1ul1y equipped Tor an all-nlght SeS-
sion. They had entered the room at
o'clock i'll the afternoon for a
couple of hours quiet poker
game, jackpot, so cents to come
in and 50 limit. Before they
left it yesterday afternoon nearly sl25,-
600 had changed hands, aud they had
played one of the largest games of the
kind on record, and had staked the
largest amounts on the slightest chance.
1t was game that would make the pro-
fesSionals who reigned before the gam
bling law went into effect turn green
with envy. And yet the participants
were only untutored business men, any
one of whom could sign his check for
several thousands, and each of whom
has made his money by counting proba-
bilities rather than possibilities, even
in speculation. Their names for the
present are kept secret-Jones, Brown,
Smith and Black sufficing for the ones
who took the prominent parts.
THE GAME BEGAN
mOdeStly, with soc jack-potS, S5 limit,
but few games of this were enough,
and to make the play more interesting
two 'jokers" were put in. To the un-
initiated 1t may be necessary to state
that the 'joker'' in poker will Flip in
with anything, jdst as in euchre il will
take anything. One joker is often used,
but the cases in which the second one is
introduced are very rare. At SOC and
IS limit person can lose money very
rapidly, and Mr.. Smith soon began to
lose. AS his loss grew he became hotter
and hotter, and offered several outside
bets on his hands. Then the fun began.
Finally Mr.. Jones took him on $25 bet
that he would have the biggest heart in
the first five cards drawn. Mr.. Smith
lost, and making another bet and los
ing, and then doubling, he soon found
himself in Jones' debt to the extent of
excited, and wanted to double up, $500
on the turn of the highest club. Jones
took him on $3.50 and won. This was
enough for Smith. and he offered to back
his friend, Mr.. Black, against Jones at
Seven-up, for S100a side. Jones esteems
himself the best seven-up player in the
city, and Immediately accepted the
proposition. Black is also champion
seven-up player in quiet West End cir
cles, and agreed to help his friend out
of the hole. Withdrawing to a side
table, four games were played-for 800,
$50, $500 and S300-each of which Black
won, squaring Smith on his side bets,
though both Smith and Jones were still
DSHlHU Oll SIIdlS Ill pOhcT.
REJoINING THE POKER CIRCLE.
all engaged in that game again, Brown,
then heavy loser, offering Jones $50
that he would draw the highest heart in
the first five dealt out. Jones again
won. and continued to win until he had
$1,000 of Browns money. The straight
poker game was running very lively,
too, with big jack-pots, and the side
bets made the scene very exciting. The
pots were running from $50 to 5000,
many of them the largest figure. Brown
continued to lose, but finally his sluck
turned, and, taking in a few pots, he
reduced his loss to 81 200 on the side
bets and owed the banker but small
amoant. Jones was getting tired, and,
with $1,000 of Browns money on side
bets, said:
''If you will agree to drop the side,
will go you the $1,000 that l have big
ger heart than you"
Brown accepted the proposition, and
the first of the five cards dealt him
turned up an ace of hearts. Jones was
not expecting this, and turned a little
pale, but turned in and won
A $3.50 JACK POT
on a dead bluff. having only a pair of
fOurs, an ace, jack and tray in his hand.
This carried the game up to O'Clock.
Smith was again a heavy loser, and was
vigorously condemning his luck. Jones
was ahead on the game and feeling
good. They had already established
themselves as the desperate players of
the evening, and bluffing Smith he
offered him $50 that he would draw the
biggest black card. Smith accepted and
same kind. Turning to Brown he
offered him $50 that he would turn the
biggest club, Brown accepting and los
ing. Brown became hot again, bet once
more and lost another $3.50, and
then offered to double $500. Jones OBJ
jected, but like all poker players yielded
to persuasion. 1t paid him, and Brown
increased his loss to him 5000, but took
in the jack pot on the same hand $40.
Jones was then about even on straight
poker, and 5000 ahead of Brown on side
bets. This carried the play up to mid
night. when supper was announced.
Everybody was gOOd-natured, and there
was great deal of fun about the pecu-
liar ways and bluffs that had been
made.
The luck was against Smith after sup
per, and handing out 500 on straight
poker he became little restive and
challenged Jones to seyen-up again,
with Black. Jones accepted, and, after
an exciting game, lost. This made him
very hot. He rather holds the title of
champion among all the gentlemen
players in the city, and it nettled him
that Black should beat him at every
game played. He wanted another, and
lost, placing Smith even ON his side
bets.
JONES WAS VERY MUCH RATIFIED,
and went into the poker game again
ready to bluff anybody on anything. He
had been playing in luck, had won large
amounts, but had dropped them again,
and the best he could do was to count ND
even. He started in on Brown. and
took S1G0 on high diamond. The side
bets then became so lively and interest
ing that they destroyed the interest in
the game, and there were some warm
objections to their continuance, but to
no avail. The side bet was a means of
making or losing money rapidly. and
the fun kept on. Jones naming the card
to be drawn each time, which he did
until Brown was sin the hole'' for
81, $50. This was at 9 a. m., and one of
the party retired $3.50 winner to re-
lieve his wife's anxiety. At the end
of another hour Brown owed Jones
S1,3S5. They had bet every deal. 1t
had been struggle, and Jones had won
bCdfily oCsCl0i tluiCSs Odt Ndo btCOili-
ing tired, and offered if Brown would
quit to go tbesl 1885 Oh the highest spade.
He Immediately changed to 1885 instead
of s1.3S5, however; luckily, too, as he
didn't
HAVE A SPADE
and Brown had a solitary four spot,
taking the 1885. 1t was discouraging
play to Jones. He owed the banker $3.50
and had all even $1,000, and to get out