Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-09

dy Hook was left, but the interest was soon
centered in a group of four. These were the
junior partner in big silk house on Broad
way, New York, a comedian who has fre-
quently visited San Francisco, Philadel-
phia iron merchant, and q rancher called
"Texas." The New York silk man played
heavily but cautiously, the comedian seemed
to trust entirely to luck, the Philadelphia
played with that savage recklessness that is
often seen in the business man when ont of
harness, while "Texas" was q model of ease
and aplomb. Nothing fased him. His bluff
was beautiful and his deductions from the
draws of the other players were little short
OF tne art. Needless to say he was the win
ner. More than that, he won necessarily,
sometimes slowing away a hundred pounds
or more as the result of single session
chiefly of the Philadelphian's playing. This
made the iron man mad, and he seemed &C
tually to thirst for revenge. "Texas" was
always willing to accommodate him, the 9TH
er two were having their fun and generally
coming out even, and 80 the fun went on
There was always crowd around this quar-
tette, and the way in which stTexas" won be-
came the talk of the ship. He seemed to
read the very cards the Philadelphian drew
or held, and would fight shy of his opponent
whenever the Philadelphian held fist full.
Yet there was no cheating that could be no.
ticed.
There was cheating though, and the come
dian's partner was the man to discover it.
The Phi!adelphian always sat on the seat that
ran around the smoking room, with his back
against the bulkhead; to his right sat "Tex-
as" opposite him sat the comedian, with the
New York silk man as the PhiladeIphian's
vis.a-vis. Between the Philadelphian and
''Texas" there lolled lad of stupid aspect
who had weak eyes and wore green shade
like the broad visor of a conductors cap.
He took an almost childish interest in the
game, and as coon as the parties were sitting
down he invariably squeezed his way into his
fsvorite place, took off his travelling cap, laid
it on his knee and began to enjoy himself.
He was of a nervous, almost hysterical dis
position, and was always playing DEVILS
tattoo on his cap and dropping and swinging
it in the air. The comedians partner was
also of nervous disposition, and this boys
conduct irritated him to degree. At the
same time the boys antics seemed to fasci-
nate him and he was always watching him.
One day while thus watching the boy he
suddenly turned pale, and then, after half
hour or so, walked out of the amoking
room and sent steward to tell the come
dian that his wife wanted him. As soon
as the comedian reached his stateroom his
partner shut the door and said:
"Nat, old man, you've got to quit play
ing up there. That fellow Texas is -
rascal and he's just robbing the Philadel-
phian."
"Oh, nonsense" said the comedian, 'sI've
been watching him. He's got good luck,
but he's as square as die"
| the partner, "and tell you he's black
guard. He's got confederate that gives
| the Philadelphian dead away every time u
I GA confederates Why, whoa"
"That boy with the green shade that al
| ways wriggles in between him and the
| Philadelphian. Now, hold on minute
| and I'll tell you how it's done. The boy,
l as you know, carries his cap on his knee
| and is always lingering it. Now, under that
| shade he carries pair of as goods eyes as
| either you or I've got, and a - sight bet
ter, I guess. If Philadelphia holds pair
that boy sees 'em and plays with two fingers
| on his cap. If he makes three Of a kind
the boy beats little tune with three fingers.
If he draws to flush or straight, or any
thing else, and fills, the boy grabs the cap
in his hand. while if he fails to fill the
boy drops the cap. All this Texas sect
out of the corner Of his eye; and is it any
wonder that poor Philadelphia can't get
| bean out of hima'
"Oh, you're wrong, you're wrong" said
the comedian. "It can't be SO bad as that.
s'Let's 60 quietly up and stand behihd tht
crowd where you can see his play withou
being seen, and you will soon find out wheth
or it is So" said his partner.
They went up and about five minutes af
ter the crowd was suddenly parted, yoic
cried, "Come out of that, you little skunk!'
and the comedian, with his face like fury
grabbed the boy by the collar and dragged
him out.
"Texas" leaped to his feet and his han6
few round to his hip pocket; then he sho
quick glance at the trembling boy and re-
NAMED passive.
"What's the matter!" called score o1
| voices.
"This young rascal has been telegraphing
'Philadelphia's' hands to Texas ever since
we've been playing" painted the comedian.
"It's - liel I never saw the boy til
now," said "Texas." edo you know me,
he continued.
"No," said the boy, 81 DON'T"
"Why, they occupy the same stateroom,
said voice in the corner.
At this there was great outcry, bu
philadelphia" asked that no violence shoul,
be done and the matter kept quiet, and so
was, but there was no more poker playin
on that trip.