Morris tribune., 1893-11-22
IT 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 Pullman
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 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, 81 was out in the west coun-
try at wild town, and one night, being
fond of cards and a pretty fair player,
asked four or five cowboys at the tavern
where was stopping to play cards with
me. I 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 So 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 suspicious,
but as was perfectly honest ! didn't pay
much attention to that. I 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 a word, for l thought my
time had come, but nobody shot,
" Look herev calculated the man who
had first pulled his gun, applying several
disagreeable epithets in addition, 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 decision had been reached
that was to give up all had won and
probably be shot later, got in word.
Gentlemen said, appearances are
against me, but l 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 a 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.
n'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 party of friends had
played with those cards during the aft |
ernoon, and farther, that they had used
two packs to do some tricks with. He |
also stood bond for my honesty, and aft
er an hour or so of terrific strain on me
my friends concluded was all right.
Then, to establish good fellowship firm
ly, 1 insisted on their taking their money
back. They set up the drinks all around, |
and l left them at last with a solemn
VOW registered that when played poker
again l must know everybody in the
game, and everybody must know me.
Don't you think one experience like that I
is enough for an honest man of quiet
temperament TO go through? Detroit
Free Press.