St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-12
COST HIS WIFE's LIFE.
The Sad and Terrible Ending of a
Game of Poker.

oatAO VI OhOhs
Cincinnati Enquirer.
A party of men were sitting in the
back room of a West end saloon play
ing poker few nights ago. There were
five in the game and the limit was so
cents, made small because the players
were workingmen who had dropped in
to pass the evening over beer and cards.
Things went along slowly for the first
hour, when the beer commenced to get
its work in, the winners showing their
chips out more boldly, which made the
losers play more desperately.
So far the biggest loser was red
faced, burly sort of man known as
Jim Robertson, who lives with his fam
lily not great distance from the stock
yards. He is heavy drinker, and the
more beer he drank the more reckless he
played and the deeper he got into the
hole. At the loss of every pot he swore
and cursed his luck and the good luck
of others.
The clock struck 10 when a thin-faced
boy of ten or twelve years approached
the table, and stepping up to Robertson,
said:
PA, ma wants you"
"All right: I'll be there soOn," was
the gruff answer, and WITH that the boy
left and the game went on, the players
hardly noticing the Interruption.
Quick and often went the drinks, and
ivelier than ever went the chips. An
hour later TWO of the players were in
the hole to the extent of s. to 80 each,
while Jim was in deeper than any one
OF them. The winners were quite merry
over their luck, and rushed the jack
10 hi nj Than q
the hands of the clock were edglng
toward the midnight hour, one OF the
players said:
Lets play ten 5O-cent jackpots and
quit"
That's me-" said Jim, 81 think can
win out if you do"
''It's co." echoed the other
Two red chips each, 50 cents; $3.50 in
the pot, and only 80 cents to draw. What
a temptation to the loser trying to get
even.
And the loser was in every pot before
the draw, after the draw. in everything
save in raking down the chips-that
pleasure was left to the winner only.
Five minutes to IL O'Clock, and now
comes the last pot.
Lets make this 81 each"
"a dollar it is, and 81 to open it."
It's go with hurrah.
And jim opens the pot.
He is raised.
Perhaps it's only blind to keep the
others out. IL so, it doesn't work, as
the pot Is too big, and the Others drop
III with 81 each. Then jim scans his
hand like true sport, looks at his chips,
and, seeing that he has only two reds
and a few whites left. goes into his
pocket and brings out ", the remain
der of twenty that be had brought in
early in the evening, his whole weeks
earnings, and. with the grace of an old
time winner. says:
''Play for three"
'.PIay for four" says the next, the
man who made the original raise.
The others concluded it best to drop
out. They were not In it. Shook
hands. Had no business there.
'Play for FIVE" says jim.
Six" says the other.
"Play for the balance in the bill'says
Jim, calling sight?'
eyes"
swell. cards?"
"Dont want any," says Jack.
"Nor |. What have you gotp'
liking high straight"
mo good; ace high flush here"
I'll and damnation."
Just then boy stepped up to the ia
BILE. 1t was the same lad who had called
before. but his face was CHASTITY white
and his eyes were wet with tears. AS
he came up he touched Robertson on the
shoulder, and in low voice, but heard
by every one present, said:
spa, ma is deadw