The Van Buren press., 1893-11-18
1T LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.
Why q Travelling Man Gave Up Playln
Poker with Strangers.

foker with strangers.
II 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 a 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
moment or two and let me tell you"
The drummer, being an obliging per-
son, sat down.
"About five years ago. began the
quiet man, II was out in the west
country. at q wild town, and one night,
being fond of cards and pretty fair
player, asked four or five cowboys ut
the tavern where I 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 quarter the ante
with two-dollar limit, and it wasn't
long until was winning nicely; for,
as | said before, was a good player
After some time we took another deck
Of cards and, as usual, had good
hand. My winnings had made my
new-found acquaintance rather suspi-
cious, but as l was perfectly honest |
didn't pay much attention to that.
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 mems guns, and l was scared
almost to death. Icouldn't say a 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 addi-
tion, and he took an ace of diamonds
out of his hand. This restored my
consciousness somewhat, and after
waiting until each man had expressed
his opinion of me and the final de.
cision had been reached that was to
give up all l had won and probably be
shot later, got in word.
Gentlemen l said, appearances
are against me, but 1 am honest /
don't know how that extra ace got in
the pack; but if you will look in my
valise there you will find pack
exactly like this one lying loose in it,
and the cards must have got mixed in
there. I'm sure didn't do it. One
Of the men took the cards out of the
valise and ran them over and the ace
was missing. That much was in my
favor, but it did not restore confidence.
"'Send down stairs said next, TO
the clerk and have him come up; he
was playing here this afternoon
"Then they sent for the clerk, and
he said that he and q party of friends
had played with those cards during the
afternoon, and, further, that they had
used two packs to do some tricks with.
He also stood bond for my honesty,
and after an hour or SO of terrific
strain on me my friends concluded l
was all right. Then to establish good
fellowship firmly l insisted on their
taking their money back; they set up
the drinks all around, and left them
at last with solemn vow registered
that when played poker again must
know every body in the game and
everybody must know me. Don't you
think one experience like that is
enough for an honest man of quiet
temperament to go through?'-Detroit
Free Press.