Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-12-01
III LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.
Why Travelling Man Gave Up Playing
Poker With Strangers.

81 don't play cards with strangers
said a quiet-looking man on the Pull'
man in response to an invitation from
the drummer to join them in little
game of poker. The drummer flushed
up and was about to say something.
Hold on, remarked the quiet man
'and I'll explain. Sit down here a
minute or two and let me tell YOU"
The drummer, being an obliging per-
son. sat down,
"A bout five years began the quiet
man, 81 was out in the west country at
a wild town, and one night,
being fond of cards and "a
pretty fair player l asked four
or five cowboys at the, tavern where
was stopping to play cards with me. /
didn't know 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 81 limit, and it
wasn't long until was winning nice
ly; for, as / said before | was a good
player. After some time we took an
other deck of cards and, as usual,
had good hand. My winnings had
made my new-found acquaintance
rather suspicious, but as was perfect.
ly honest Ididn't pay much attention
TO that ! remember 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 iabbed
it into my face, and on the instant out
came all the other mems guns, and
was scared almost to death. couldn't
say word, for thought my time had
come, but nobody shot.
"Lool1 here. calculated the mar
who had first pulled his gun, applying
several disagreeable epithets in ad
dition, and he took an ace of diamonds
out of his hand. This restored my con
seriousness somewhat, and after waiting
until each man had expressed hi
opinion of me and the final decision
had been reached that ! was to give W
all had won and probably be sho
later ! got in a word.
Gentlemen, said appearances are
against me, but | am honest | don
know how that extra ace got in tn,
pack but if you will look in my wallis,
| there you will find pack exactly Xix,
this one lying loose in it, and the card
must have got mixed in there. In
sure | didn't do it One of the mel
took the cards out of the valise and RAJ
them over, and the ace was missing
That much was in my favor, but it dix
not restore confidence.
"'Send down stairs, l said next, tt
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 party of friends hat
played with those cards during tn
afternoon, and, further, that they haC
used two packs to do some tricks with
He also stood bond for my honesty
and after an hour or so of territi
strain on me my friends concluded
was all right Then to establish GOO
fellowship firmly | insisted on thei
taking their money back. They set Ii
the drinks all around and | left then
at last with solemn vow that when
played poker again ] must know every
body in the game and everybody mus
know me. Don't you think one eS
perience like that is enough for a,
honest man of quiet temperament t
go through" -Detroit Free Press.