Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-16

dresses dlscernlble on the streets, the whlrl OF
fans in saloons and restaurants, and with groups
Of people seated in doorways and on side
walks striving to keep cool, all things seemed
to indicate a warm night.
II know a cooler place than this, il you'll
CO." said an old schoolmate, q New York city
man. whom the writer had not seen for years
and whom shall call Col. James
Where is it?''
He whispered in my ear and then in louder
tone, Come on; you'll have lot Of fun and no
one will know anything about it,"
What did he say SO discreety in whisper?
He said, Lets take a cab, go across the river
and play faro. You can just look on; I'll do the
playing"
YIELDING TO TEMPTATION.
There were several reasons why the writer
consented to SO. 1t would be cooler. at least
l had my friends assurance to that effect that
old hotel across Long Bridge, the last lnger-
ing remnant Of jackson City. once used as
quarters during the war and naturally had
curiosity to see the inside of it again, third
motive was the desire TO understand the game
of faro.
While on one occasion, way back in the six
ties. two of us young lieutenants. in the ''wee
small hours" of the morning. effected an en-
trance into fashionable gambling saloon in
the vicinity of Wizards Hotel, there were
many colonies, generals. Congressman and
other dignitaries present, and such was the
pressure OF excited players. that we left the be-
wllderlng glitter of the apartment without hay
ing had chance to lose our money. and, so
far as was concerned, without understanding
the game Here was a chance to acquire knowl
edge; besides. | should oblige an old school,
mate-four excellent reasons.
''All right, I'll CO.
The cabby was hailed. and ensconced in his
vehicle We whiried down l4th street. past the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing and at
some what slower pace across the antiquated
and dilapidated drawbridge.
Here We are Gents
The long, low building seemed dark and de-
serted as we alighted from the cab. The room
we entered was also dark. 1t grew lighter as
we opened door and assembled a staircase to
the right. The head of a colored man APP
peared at an open panel.
''All right, sah."
We passed in and through another door to the
right We were i'll the tigers den. But where
was the dangerous beastie?
IN THE TIGLR's LAIR.
The room contained buffet, chairs and a
number of large tables covered with green
cloth. About one of these half dozen people
were grouped. This was the tigers inner cav
ern, where the victims were devoured How
ever the man who officiated behind the table
had smiling countenance, and the only APP
peaSance resembling gore was discernibe in
sevQhl piles Of red chips stacked in a tray at
his right. There were blue and also white
chips in the tray with the red.
All. colonel" said the dealer, addressing
my companion glad to see you back"
Il s'pose SO; give Us $40 worth OF chips."
Color. please!'
The white chips, it appeared. were valued at
rs cents each, the reds so cents and the blue at
$L25
Il bet two and half on the ace and copper
the king tor the same" said Col James, put
ting down his checks
Watching the cards in the dealers hands,
presently i noticed that he threw ont a king
and that an ace was left uppermost on the deck
Won both ways, said Col. James as he
raked IN two piles OF chips equal to his own
"Now place two and half open on the lack
and the same on the queen"
Give US show, can ye?" said a voice down
the table. Put marker on the ten for a dol
lar"
I'll put a marker on you, Blizzard. for
cent why don't you drop out, as gentleman
should when he's lost his money? All ready2'
Two cards were thrown out, the frat one
jack the second queen.
"A stand off, said the colonel
He had lost on the jack and won on the
queen.
THE GAME OF FARO.
The game Of faro is not difficult to under
stand There are thirteen ordinary playing
cards, representing full suite fastened in regu-
lar spaces on the green cloth in front of the
dealer on the table. An ordinary pack of fifty
two cards Is used in the game. After the pack
Is shuhied by tine dealer the cards are placed
In metalllc case open at the top to show the
face OF the uppermost card and with spring
below. which keeps the cards in position.
Checks or chips" purchased of the bank in
such numbers and representing such sums of
money as the various players choose to risk,
are then placed upon the cards, according to
each players fancy. The uppermost card,
called the soda" and which has no value is
then drawn and placed aside. The next card.
whatever it may be, wins for the bank; the
second one having value for the player
When the first value card is drawn it is placed
to the right of the box and then the bets are
inspected. If the first card is an ace all open
bets on the ace are raked in by the bank: if
the second card, however, is the only ace ex-
posed the players who have bet on the ace win
and receive chips equal to the number bet. II
1t happens that two aces are thus exposed, a
condition known as splits" the player loses
half his stake. In this is said to lie the sole
advantage the bank has over those who play
against it.
"copper"" resembling large black button)
placed on chip or pile OF chips changes the
bet to one against the card, 80 that when open
bets on the ace or any other card win the cop
pered bet loses, and vice versa.
SCRAPS OF EXPERIENCE.
'How are you getting on, Uncle Jim?" said
Col. James, addressing a player just opposite
the dealer, who had large pile of red chips in
front of him.
Uncle Jim, who was rather a young-looking
man to apply the title of uncle to- answered,
as he raked in q half dozen chips, "Oh, con-
sidering my age, am getting on fairly WELL"
The colonel had now won about $50, and I
suggested that we should be too late to meet
''the man" unless we went at once
Hold on till win another fifty and then
I'm with YOU"
We held on. New players came in and some
that had played long enough departed. There
was change in the dealers at regular intervals
Drinks. lunches and cigars were supplied from
the buffet by attendants desired
1t was quite as interesting to study the
players as the game.
How you getting on now, Uncle Jim?"
I'm pkeing' now, sure" was the answer.
His pile Of q hundred or more chips had been
reduced to two or three.
'-,-; $50 gone to - that had to
use tomorrow" said faxen- haired party "a
he rose from the table.
"You shouldn't play faro, 'Tootsey -Woot-
w said of ha