Omaha daily bee., 1891-04-05
Called the Turn ON n Safe key Behind
Which was $4,000.


pioneers on the golden shores and in the
glorious climate OF California was n
tevcrish one" says General William
Humphreys, an old pioneer, in the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat. ITO the 40ers
the oldest things of the effete east had
passed away and all things had become
new. 1t was not an unusual thing at
Billy Ovens place to see II man walk in
and lay down certificate of deposit for
$4,000 on the ace, having first cd the
banker to cover his bet Without a
change of muscle banker and player
would abide the coming out of the ace,
and If the bank won he quietly raked in
his $4,000 certificate of deposit, laid it
in his left hand drawer, and the man in
front of the table went out wiser and a
poorer man to begin prospecting again
at Poverty Flat.
II once saw rich man come in and
tiring of picking along with $500
bets on single card, he nonchalantly'
tapped on the high card with his pencil
as he said: Mr. Dealer, I'll Just go you
on the high card my three-story brick
house, near the Palace hotel, against
your $4,000, and drawing out of his
pocket his deed, the bettor laid it on the
ace. Done, said the dealer, who was
likely to have 4 $4,000 bank roll in his
pocket and a reserve fund of 300, 600 in
a small safe in the corner of his gambling
hell. Quietly the outside betting went
on ana nearly all the cards were out,the
ace being the soda card and three aces
stillin the box. The deed still lay on
the ace. At last, when king jack and
three aces We're the only cards in the box,
the better said: Hold, Dealer I'm id
tired of that ace. It's going to split |
want to put my brick house on the king
Are you agreed2' Cert, exclaimed the
dealer. He pulled Outcame the king,
falling at the right of the dealer. The
bank lost. The man with the brick
house won $4,000. How will you have
your money said Mr. Dealer Check,
laconically answered the lucky gambler.
The dealers side partner filled out n
check, while the game went on"
BILLY Owens and Judge Jones We're as
close as the Siamese twins to each other.
The bond that bound them was friend
ship that only ended with the life of
Judge Jones, who died with his boots on
in his own faro bank, killed by IA cowboy
who got the drop on him in fight over
a disputed bet. One night in May, when
the game run light, as gamblers say,
and Judge Jones had played in good
streak OF luck for month, Billy Owens,
flushed with old Otard, came back to
the faro layout from his sumptuous pal
ace of gin and sin. Walking up to his
chum he said he said: Judge Jones,
this is mighty mean game with these
hundred-dollar pikers around the board.
How much you got in that big safe over
yondery Just 49,, 600 in thar, old man.
eplied the judge, 'and that's just
$4,000 more'n you've got the sand in
your craw to try and win.' 'Ah, that's
your little game, is it, old Texas never
tireT exclaimed Billy Owens, just full
my check on the California bank
for S32, 600, cold 'plunllers.' % Put up or
shut up, Billy, sententiously answered
the Texas judge, as his steel gray eyes,
expanding wide, shone like two white
diamonds. Billy Owens walked over to
the gamblers escretoire-and we'll
regulated gambling place is never with
out table called secretary where
pen and ink are ready, and bank
checks, without any particular
banks name, can always be found. The
saloon keeper filled up a check on the
bank of California for $32, 900 and signed
1T up and walked back to Judge Jones.
up to this moment Jones thought
Billy was foolin'. He was mistaken.
III bet this is the pot-6, I, S-against
your Sale ana contents 1T Is we'll,
said Jones without a smile, pulling out
big safe key from his side pocket. and
slapping it down hard in the pot. That
represents my wealth. said dealer
Jones. All the other players ceased to
watch the game. The third turn, as the
key laid hugging the check for $32, 600,
the six, seven, and eight spots came out
of the box. Busted! by the everlasting
jumping jingo!' yelled the Texas Judge;
but d--n my eyes, Billy, you are the
very man L want to win if | must lose" "
The bank broke, and till daylight
Billy Owens made it lively for the boys,
and within week, the Judge, who
closed his bank and went away. struck
1t rich in a placer mine, and opened up
new game more gorgeous than the
first, in spite Of his Landlord calling the
turn on his safe key"