The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21
DIED WITH HIS BOOTS ON.
a Game of Draw Poker which Ended In
the Death 81 n G nm bier.


Helena, in 1888, was rough mining
town. The Northern Pacific railroad had
just been built into the place, and civiliza-
ton had not vet had time to drive the
rowdy element into the savage hauLts OF
isolated mining districts.
/ remember walking along a business
thoroughfare in the evening, says a San
Francisco letter. with the sounds of bois-
ferrous voices, clinking glasses and repul-
sive oaths on every hand. | entered a
gambling den, it's broad doors were wide
open, and the great electric arc-light in
vited me to a study OF the crowded room.
/ watched a game of draw-poker. Till
the day OF nv death / will never forget it.
The players were three in number. AT
the right hand side sat a man whose tout
ensemble bespoke the villain. He wore a
black slouched hat, which was drawn low
down over his eyes, with the brim bent so
as To shade them from the gaze of the
other two. Not movement, not turn
of card escaped him. At every stage of
the game he had figured out bis exact
chances; he knew precisely what 10 do at
any given time. He played for gain. He
was constantly on the lookout for treach-
cry. He was silent. He had the devil in
his heart. He was gambler by profess
sion.
At his right was a young man with a
face flushed with liquor. His countenance
reflected his feelings. His eyes were mir
rors. and in them the gambler at his left
saw every hand he played. The youth
talked much, boosted occasionally and
sneered often. Nevertheless he lost and
lost heavily.
Thd remaining player was a middle
aged man, swarthy of feature and rough of
dress. He wore a flannel shirt, and held
his cards with two great rough hands that
knew toll with pick and a shovel. He
played recklessly, and, like all reckless
players, his luck was wonderful He
watched only his own hand he smiled
eood-na;uredly at the voluble and liquor
headed youth. for he was winning, and a
winner generally smiles. The gambler
and the youth lost steadily to the miner,
the first because his cards were poor, the
latter because his face was an index to
his cards, good or bad, an index which
the miner, though attending strictly TO
his own play. could not help noticing.
AT last there was a Jackpot" The
youth dealt and every one passed. The
miner dealt like result, but when the
gambler dealt he opened" To do this
he was obliged to have pair of Jacks or
much as a cat watches a mouse. ! saw in
the miners eyes a CLEAN so determined,
so reckless, that l involuntarily started,
He played calmly. Cards were drawn
and bets made. The miner wagered his
last chip. The youth, with a howl of
wrath, threw down his cards, and the
gambler drew out OF his pocket some shin
ing gold pieces. He placed them on the
pile of chips. The miner took large,
ugly-looking six-shooter from his pocket
and put it on the table, then he laid down
an equal amount of gold and demanded
to see his opponents hand.
Three kings and two aces.
"a full house." said the gambler,
calmly. He reached out his hand to take
the money.
''No you DON'T" cried the miner. "See
this hand?"
He laid his five cards face upward be-
fore the players. He mad not even pair.
The gambler smiled contemptuous!y and
made another movement to take the
money.
wait! You've seen that hand, now
look at this one."
His revolver was pointed full at the
gamblers breast. and his eye cleaned
along the barrel. The gambler never
nihCSu. lis WdAttu All dppdItlI SOuotSI-
nation for a second.
Boys" said the miner, appealing to
the bystanders, she took them kings from
the bottom of the pack, an he slipped the
cut before dealin'-"
Sping! Sping!
Quick as flash the gambler had drawn
a weapon and shot his opponent, killing
him on the spot
| was dazed and can remember nothing
more, but as / left the hall amid the con-
fusion that followed / recall these words,
spoken by some one beside me:
C. Joe Henderson. Good huff Teller
but allus lowed he'd die with his boots
on. Can't stick to gamblin' an live no.
| howl"