The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-11-11
1T LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.
why n Travelling Man Gave Up Playing
Poker with Strangers.


Poker with Strangers.
"I don't play cards with strangers"
said 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,
land 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
luiat man, II was out in the west
country. at wild town, and one night.
being fond of cards and a pretty fair
player | asked four or five cowboys at
the tavern where I was stopping 10
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 n quarter the ante
with two-dollar limit, and 1t WASH t
long until was winning nicely: for,
rs said before, was good player.
After some time we took another deck
of cards and, as usual | had good
hand. My winnings had made my
new-found acquaintances rather suspi-
cious, 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 mems guns, and | was scared
almost to death. couldn't say word,
| for thought my time had come, but
nobody shot
"Looi here! calculated the man
who had first pulled his gun, applying
several disagrecablc 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 tc
give up all had won and probably b'
shot later, got in word.
Gentlemen 1 said, appearance
are against me, but l am honest.
don't know how that extra ace got il
the pack: but if you will look in my
valise there you will find pacl
exactly like this one lying loose in it
and the cards must have got mixed il
there. Pm sure | didn't do it Ont
of the men took the cards out of th'
valise and ran them over and the ac,
was missing That much was in m,
favor. but it did not restore confidence
"'Send down stairs 1 said next, tt
the clerk and have him come up; h
was playing here this afternoon
"Then they sent for the clerk, ant
he said that he and party of friend
had played with those cards during th
afternoon, and, further. that they hat
used two packs to do some tricks with
He also stood bond for my honesty
and after an hour or so of terrif
strain on me my friends concluded
was all right. Then to establish goot
fellowship firmly l insisted on thei
taking their money back; they set Vi
the drinks all around, and | left then
at last with solemn VOW registere
that when L played poker again | mus
know everybody in the game an
everybody must know me. Don't yo
think one experience like that i
enough for an honest man of quie
temperament to go through?
| Erna prnSS