Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-02
LEARNED A LESSON.
a WouId-be Billiard shark Meets Little
More Than His Match. ~

~
the other night, says the Dos Angeles
Times. A young fellow who works
for a small salary and has had a long
ing desire to become a dude was
longing abous the place watching the
PLAYERS. He sat silently for almost an
hour without opening his mouth, when
all of a sudden and without warning
he jumped to his feet and approached
a dandy-loOking gentleman who had
just completed a game and calculated:
Sir, | have not the honor Of your
acquaintance, but | nave watched your
last game with a great deal Of interest,
and if you are not too tired | should
like to play You just one game.
"All right, my boy, / am never too
tired to accommodate a gentleman who
is anxious to court sport, replied the
stranger.
In "a few minutes the two were in the
midst of an exciting game, for both
were good players, but an experienced
eve could see at "a glance that the
stranger was an expert, and also that
he was holding himself back for some
reason.
The first game ended in favor of the
sad-eyed youth. when the stranger
quietly remarked:
II seldom play billiards just for the
fun Of the thing, and if you don't OBJ
iect we will play for a small sum just
to make it interesting"
The sad-eycd Que attempted to put
on don't-care-if-I-do look, but his
features showed plainly that he was
hunting a game, and he mildly sug-
gested that $50 corner might not be
too high.
The weIl-dressed gentleman looked
little puzzled, but he CREASED his cue
and nodded assent in his most courtly
style.
BY this time quite crowd had gath
cred around the table, and what prom
ised to be IA very exciting game began.
The youngster We the cloth and
started off with a run of twenty points.
Things looked little corky for the
well-dressed gentleman, but he braced
himself up aud won the game without
difficulty. -Four more games followed
in quick succession, and the sad-eyed
man announced that he was "busted."
A sob was in his voice, and several of
the gentlemen about the table who had
been Watching the game with deep in
terest noticed couple OF big tears
forming in the young mans eyes. One
of them, who seemed to be well ac-
quainted with the victorious billiard
player, stepped up to him and whisp-
cred:
al COW OLD man Won howe bust,,I
that young fellow, and if mistake not
he doesn't know where under the sun
he will get another dollar. Give him
another chance, even if you have to
lose
The well-dressed gentleman APP
preached the youth, aud, taking him
to one side, said:
81 see by your looks that you can
not afford to lose that money, and if
you wish | will give you another
chance. | will play you one game for
500 a side
you are too good, sin" replied the
fearful one. IL am to be mar
ried to morrow to one of the
sweetest girls in the world, and had
saved that money for the wedding eX-
peuses, and to save my life | don't
know where | can Get even a S. piece.
| feel like blowing my brains out
And three or four big tears chased
each other down his pale cheek.
"Ail right, my young friend, I'll
give YOU chance 10 win it back,
and YOU can make your sweet girl
happy
The fearful one was given the first
shot, but TO save his life he could not
make point. His new friend threw
of all through the game. but he could
not beat himself, and when the last
shot was made the young man turned
from the table broken hearted.
Don't 90" said Che weil-dresscd
gentleman. 81 want to see you pri-
vately. You know | have Just won
another hundred from you, and You
must make some kind of an arrange
ment with me before we part
The well-dressed gentleman led the
young man to one side, and, after talk
ing to him in fatherly manner few
minutes, he said:
Now, / know you are too proud tC
accept the money ! have just won
from YOU as a present, but if you will
give me your note will lend you the
money, and You can pay me back
whenever you have the money"
A note of hand was promptly drawn
up and the young man pocketed the
money and was duly married ON the
following day.
The well-dresscd gentleman is none
other than one of the best-known
sports i'm the state. He is worth over
500 goo, and never takes money from
any but those who can afford To lose
it. He thought in this ease that the
Young man was a rich "sucber," and
he was proceeding to DO him up ID
hrst-class style when he was made ac
quaintcd with the true facts in the
case
The young man has learned a good
lesson, and it is to be hoped that he
will not again attempt TO earn money
in disreputahle manner.
cThAr. r-Ntc AADATu