The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-29
IT LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.
why y Travelling Man Gave Up Playing
Poker with strangers.

Poker With strangers.
II don't play cards with strangers"
said quiet looking man on the Pullman
in response to an invitation from the
drummer to join them in a little game
of poker. The druminer flushed up and
was about to say something.
"Hold on," remarked the quiet man,
.and Ill explain. Sit down here min
ute or two and let me tell you."
The drummer being an obliging person
sat down.
"About five years ago. began the
quiet man, Il was out in the west coun-
try at wild town. and one night, being
fond of cards and a pretty fair player, I
asked four or five cowboys at the tavern
where was stopping to play cards with
me. / didn't knew them, and they didn't
know me. but they took it for granted
was all right, and they went to my
room, where had two or three decks OF
cards. We started the game at quar-
ter the ante with e. limit, and it
wasn't long until was winning nicely;
for, as l said before, was a good player.
After some time we took another deck
Of cards, and as usual l had good hand.
my winnings had made my new
found acquaintances rather suspicious,
but as was perfectly honest didn't pay
much attention to that. l remember
very distinctly had an ace of diamonds
| in my hand, and when it came around to
show down knew the pot was mine.
but just as / laid down my hand the man
opposite me whipped out his revolver
and jabbed it into my face. and on the
instant out came all the other men 5
guns, and l was scared almost to death.
Icouldn't say word, for thought my
time had come, but nobody shot.
' Look here. calculated the man who
had first pulled his gun, applying several
disagreeable epithets in addition. and he
took an ace of diamonds ont of his
hand. This restored my consciousness
somewhat, and after waiting until each
man had expressed his opinion of me
and the final decision had been reached
that ! was to give up all had won and
probably be shot later. got III a word.
Gentlemen l said. appearances ART
against me, bat l am honest. dom
know how that extra ace got i'll the pack
but if you vii! look i'll my valise tner'
you will find pack exactly like this on,
lying loose in it, and the cards mus
have got mixed in there. I'm snre
didn't do il. One of the men took TIN
cards out of the valise and ran then
: over, and the ace was missing. Tina
much was in my favor. but it did no
restore confidence.
Send down stairs said next, Il
the clerk and have him come up. II
was playing here this afternoon
: Then they sent for the clerk. and h
said that he and ii party of friends ha
; played with those cards during the at'
/ ernoon, and farther. that they had us
. two packs to do some tricks with. Il
, also stood bond for my honesty. and af
. er an hour or SO Of terrific strain on III
my friends concluded | was all righ
Then, to establish good fellowship firm
ly, insisted on their taking their none
$ back. They sci up the drinks all aroun'
t and | left them al last with a solem
s vow registered that when played poke
;. again | must know everybody III IL
). game, and everybody must know III
Don't you think one experience like tn;
is enough fer an honest man of qui
temperament to go through hs-Detro
Free Press.