Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-14
TIE HANDSOME srRANGER.
Captain Billy Connor's Thrilling story ola
Poker Game.


Il lived ia st. Louis some years ago.
during the days when big games of po-
| ller we're played on the fine Mississippi
steamers running TO New Orleans. Nat
urally have heard big poker stories of
ante-bellum times, where negro or two
would be staked on hand. ! must
confess. though, that | am not poker
player, and have not lost any time at
the card table"
So spoke Capt. Connor, of the St.
James Hotel, John McCullough's old
friend. poker is a good game to test
ones character, and the possibilities Of
the bluff always lend daring
charm TO the game that 9TH
erwise would be lacking. Many
years ago magnificent MiSSiS-
sippi river steamer was on her way to
New Orleans with cabin full Of passen-
gers going to witness Mardi GraS. The
usual brass band that played stirring
airs At each town landing was aboard,
flags were flying from the hurricane
roof. and a little brass cannon was
mounted on the lower deck, where it
belchcd forth roar whenever the great
steamer left landing. In the cabin
were passengers from all points along
the river and some from distant cities
The scene on board was animated and
gay. OF course there was poker play
ing in the social hall in the gentlcmen's
cabin. which was in the front part Of
the steamer.
when the boat landed at Natchez a
big game was in full blast. a stranger,
tall. handsome and we'll dressed, came
aboard. He had an honest, open coun-
tenance, and won confidence the minute
after any one had looked at him. After
he had registered at the clerks desk
and had been assigned to State-room,
he liz fragrant Havana cigar and
slowly Sauntered around. Then he
came TO the table where the big game Of
poker was being played and sat down
behind one of the players. Now, IL
happened that the man he sat behind
was not a professional gambler, but his
opponent across the table was a black
leg OF the most expert and cunning
kind The non-proieSSional, though.
had plenty of money and bet freely.
Several others were in the game but
they are quite SuperlluOuS to this mar
rativc. The handsome stranger sat
quietly behind the professional and
gave pointers to the gambler opposite.
He did il i'm such quick and telegraph
ic way that no one saw, or even suspect
ed him. The gambler, though, saw and
understood his signs thoroughly. Final
ly the non-profeSSional player began TO
lose. If he had Il good hand the
gambler would either pass out
or bet and win. The stakes were raised
and several thousand dollars were on
the table in one pot. After the nom
professional had dealt the cards he pick
cd up his hand and found four hearts
aud club. The anteS and raises were
too high to 90 out and so he drew one
card to a flush and the gambler drew
four cards to a king high.
The latter never got pair and the
flush was not made In an instant the
tall stranger communicated the fact TO
the gambler that his opponent had a
bob-tai flush and only queen high.
Betting began in a bluify kind of way
by The gambler putting up a cool $1,000.
The uon-profesSional saw il and went
- 900 better. They kept raising each
other until $4,000 was up, when the
gambler was called. He took in
the money with a king high and
the game came TO an end. The next
morning the tall, handsome stranger
was strollng on the hurricane deck when
ne was met by the gambler who re-
queSted the pleasure of meeting him
alone i'm his. the gamblers, state-room.
/ When they arrived i'm the gambler
statc-room he carefully bolted the door
and said: Now, pard ! wish to divide
with you. Here are $1,000, half of our
winnings. The tall stranger drew back
Indignantly and replied: i do not UNI
Iderstand you. What do you owe me
| s., 900 for?' Then the gambler explained
/ that he always divided with other pro-
/ feSSionalS who gave away the hands
of gentlemen at the card table. With
| out being embarrassed in the least the
stranger said: 4 just gave you point
ers because happened to sit behind
| that man. If l had been behind you
would have given your hand away to
the other fellow. That is the way do
| don't want any money. With that
remark he walked out OF the gambler
state-room. l defy any one TO match a
phase of character similar To that OF
the handsome stranger. He got of at
New Orleans and that was the last ever
seen Of him"