The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-30
POKER LORE.
WATTERSON AT THE GRAVE OF CHUNKY T0WLES
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL

greatful heart, the genial admonitions of
Chunky TOwles, as, leading him outside the
door, he observed. "Now, this amt no
place for SIGH as you. I've know'd your
campmeeting together, an amt agwine to
let you bet your money, or lose cent, here.
It's only matter O. time in game like
this, an you've got no more show to win
| nor grass-hopper"' Robin Hood himself
WAS hardly more courageous, benificent and
clrcumspect, as to the objects of his atten-
| ton; more generous with the weak and
poor.
The oral historian of those times to
| whom l am indebted for many remi-
niscences of this hero of thousand laps
and slams, though remember him very
Illustrative at once of his goodness of heart
and his genius for his vocation. At a fash
ionable watering place he observed some of
the young gentleman of his own vicinage
playing recklessly and losing heavily
against gambler from distant country.
as the current phrase put it, "he rung in a
Gold deck !" which he artfully deposited on
the lap of one of his youthful disciples.
But the novice was clumsy in the higher
and more finished evolutions of the game,
and having made three unsuccessful efforts
began to fear that failure would crown his
well-intentioned effort; whereupOn. going
behind the gambler, he suddenly brushed
an imaginary spider off the lRtter's coat.
In the momentary diversion, the substitu-
tion was accomplished, the hands were
dealt from the false deck, and the betting
began. The game was, of course, draw
poker. After a great deal of raising and
back raising, and the accumulation of q
great heap of symbolical coin upon the
table, the transaction came to what was
then and may still be technically known
ks-t S-~~l>.- n So ~pt
displayed four kings and the amateur four
aces, winning the stakes. The gambler be-
trayed not the smallest emotion or surprise.
His voice was perfectly steady and tranquil
as. gently pushing the ivory counters to-
ward his antagonist, with a courteous
faintest suspicion of a drawl. "Mr. Towles,
the next time you see spider biting me,
please let him bite on!''
Chunky Towles was never a politician of
the class with which the public has been
made more or less familiar by the career of
of the contemporaneous Mr.. Michael Nc
Donald. He did not at any time aspire to
seat in congress- He would have scorned
the bosship of anything except card table.
school of jefferson and jackson; the latter
of whom, indeed. he knew very we'll, having
had many friendly encounter with Old
Hickory on the race course and in the cock
pit, Chunky did not trouble himself much
about candidates or platforms. He voted
the straight democratic ticket right from the
shoulder, and, when occasion seemed to make
it necessary, he voted early and often
1t is related of him that in 1852. grown
weary waiting for the coming of the latest
intelligence from the national democratic
convention, then sitting in Baltimore, b,
retired to his bed. An hour or two latel
tidings of the nomination of Franklin
Pierce arrived: and Mr.. Samuel Bugg
Chunky's political cnide. philosopher ant
friend-an earnest democrat withal, and
gentleman of extensive knowledge-pro-
ceeded at once to awaken the sleeping
sportsman. "And who in the h is Frank
lin Pierce?" says Chunky. why" sayi
Mr.. Bucg, Franklin Pierce is the son o.
Gen. Benjamin Pierce. of revolutionar,
fame. He was a distinguished representa-
tive and senator in congress from New
Hampshire: he was offered a seat in MIR
Folks cabinet, and declined it, and b,
fought calamity in Mexico rs the younges
and most brilliant of New England's brig
adiers.' I'm that case" says Chunky
with decision, III get mp and dress
He did SO. and came down TO the cit,