Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22

Mr.. skeggs drew from his pocket Q hand.
some new deck. We played several hands and
won them all. guess that vas about .e40
ahead whom Mr.. Skegss stroked his whiskers
slowly, then arose and said: I've only got =
Few dollars iefs young man, and I can't play
I begged him to play Just one more hand and
he reluctantly consented to do go. He dealt
and gave me four kings and jack. I discarded
and he gave me queen. Then Immediately
piece. Mr.. .Skeggs thoughtfully looked over
his hand, and was about 10. give up, when he
seemed to take more hopeful view of his
holding and put up another twenty. I ex-
cited!y covered It and put up my entire pile.
cal h gs ana .s s Mr., sassg. 81, wv; me and
queen and reached for that pretty little pile,
when Mr.. Skeggs calmly showed four aces be-
fore me and said: Young man, for once in my
life have held good hand, and I'm winner
But this game is too uncertain for me, and I
shall never play again % long as live.'
CAUGHT A SUCKER.
$50 saying, Mr.. skeggs arose, poured my
good gold into his pocket and strolled toward
the coach. I also strolled. The conductor
came to me and said: Lieutenant, how much
did you win? When I told him that had lost
my entire fifty he smiled, walked over to Mr..
Skeggs, then returned to me and handed back
my. money, saying: You're entirely too fresh
and want to play cards entirely too much. That
gentleman over there is Bill Skeggs the most
notorious gambler in this country. Tie travels
about over the various trails looking for suckers;
and he generally catches them, too
Il played no more poker ON that trip.
learned that my fellow passengers had steadily
days because they all knew Bill Skeggs and
would not sit in game with him. But. a. we
rolled away over the prairie toward Lesven-
worth, the gentlemen played poker nearly all
the time, bat would not play with them for fear
Of finding another Skeggs in their number.
One real good lesson is enough in that country,
if it ia hammered into 0 fellow hard and deep
enough"
RUNNING Up AGAINST 4 BILLIARD EXPERT.
'The first week I spent in Santa Fs learned
some thing about billiards. 1 used to beat all
the boys in our eastern town aud was con-
sidered quite billiard sharp. Well. Of course
found billiard room in Santa Fe, and also
found o nice. pleasant, quiet-looking young
man to play with me. could beat him, a. was
That was easy, too. As the crowd stood
around the table applauding my. bril-
liant plays double discounted my
young antagonist, and again won. By this
time the entire room was interested in my
phenomenal game. and 1 felt that was making
an impression. Aud I was. We started fifth
game. when the young man played it ont with
out giving me shot We commenced another
game and then I saw that was not in it. Col.
Kit Carson. took me By the arm and said: My
boy, you've been trying to play billiards with
Charlie Thayer, the champion billisrdist OF the
west, and you wild immediately proceed to
order the champagne And paid for several
quarts that night for my brother officers of the
fifth infantry.
1T was a great country in those days, and
every way young man would turn he was
liable to learn something. / learned q great
deal in a short space Of time. Everybody
seemed bent upon educating me. The united
efforts Of the entire community resulted in
success. When I came east, toward the close
of the war, my eye teeth were cut"