The morning call., 1891-06-15
AN INNOCENT GAME.
How a Wicked Man Was Caught
in His Own PitfalI.

The Lonnger once witnessed the wicked
caught in his own pitfall in Ia neat and ex-
peditous manner. 1t happenedin this wise.
In the little town of Colfax a select cotere
were in the habit of assembling frequently,
if not oftener, and INDUCING in the insin-
uating seductions of "a cent ante and FIVE
cent limit" 1t was mild dissipation, and
one could hardly get hurt badly at it. One
of the PLAYERS in that game, which has since
moved to New Orleans, we will call Conf
dence," for the reason that while that is not
his name it means the same thing his name
does.
One night the game was progressing mer-
rily in the Sitting-r0Om of the boarding
house, when Confidence, who was playing
his hands right up against his apron string,
invited an old gentleman, q stranger, who
was sitting by the fire, to take hand. This
old gentleman had snow-Yhite hair, his face
was cleanly Shaven, he wore white necktie
and he looked more like minister than the
drummer for New York clearinghouse
that he was. We will call him 'Old limo
cence, on the luciS non lucendO principle.
In response to the invitation, Old Innocence
expressed his willingness to take hand if
the game were explained to him.
This was done, and he was duly initiated
into the mysteries Of fours, -" straights,"
"all wool" "a full house." "two pairs"
etc. The banker counted him out dollars
worth of Clips, for which Old Innocence
made no motion to pay; and when asked for
the dollar, he said: why, do you pay for
them2" Yes, sir" was the answer. land
what you have left at the end of the game
we will buy back" Excuse me-" replied
0. l.. as he panked up his dollar. 1t is
needless to say that the traditional "snow
beneath a summers sun" was adamant COM
pared with that dollars worth of chips. In
short while Old Innocence was "going to
the bOne-yard" again,
Alter awhile there was jackpot on the
table, and big Que for five-cent game; it
had dollar and half or two dollars in it.
Confidence " had the age, and it was "Old
Innocence'S first talk. "Confdence sat
serene in the possession of three aces "pat."
Old Innocence opened the Jackpot in this
wise: " Do you have to have two jacks to
open itP" Yes. sir. Two jacks or bet
ter" " Is this jack? Showing card) /
have not my glasses on" Yes sir, that's
a jack" "And if l have two of them can
open it p Yes sir" 'All right; open
it," And, snting the action to the word, lie
put up red chip.
One or two others did likewise until it
came to Confidence" and he put up two.
Old Innocence went back at him; the others
found they had no further business in that
little difficulty, but coincidence" put up
two, then Old Innocence two and Con-
fdence two, until at last Old Innocence
asked: "When does this thing stOp?"
upon DeIUR INFORMED t0dt Ub C0uIu SCOp IL
whenever lie pleased by putting up only one
chip, he seemed greatly relieved, and did so.
Confidence took two cards to his three aces
(discsrding one jack, and did not help
them.
When Old Innocence was asked how
many he wanted he said: IF | have two
big cards, like an ace and king, or king
and a queen. with these jacks, can l hold
them and take only one card?" Confiden e
immediately answered: Eyes, sir well,
then, give HE one card" And he discarded
one, face down. Then the interesting part
of the game began. 1t was raise. raise,
ba kward and forward, until some of the
PLAYERS turned away disguised with the
barefaced robbery of the old man. At last
Confidence threw his last chip in the pot,
saying: That's my last cent; | call for
sight" To which Old Innocence replied
You are entitled to it, believe, by the
rules of this game" and showed up four
tens.
The jack he had shown was the card he
discarded. The sympathizers were COM
fOrted Old Innocence had played poker
before Confidence was bOrn.-N. o. Delta.