Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-14
IT LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.
Why . rrsvsa1ng Sgsa Gave Up F1ayiag
Fs6oe with strangers.

Why Travelling Ngsa Gave Up Play1aG
fseee with str.sgers.
81 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 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.
nse or two and let me tell you"
Ttse drummer being an Obliging person
cat down.
about five years ago." began the
quiet man, Il was out in the west coun-
try ut wild town, and ono night, being
fond Of cards and n pretty fair player, /
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 ali right, and they went to my
room, where had two or three decks Of
cards. We started the game ut quar-
ter tho ante with g limit, and it
wasn't long until was winning nicely;
for. as said before. / was u good player.
After some time we tool. another deck
OF cards, and as usual ] had good hand.
My winnings had made my new
found acquaint:.uces rather suspicious,
but as was perfectly honest didn't pay
much attention to that. remember
very distinctly had an acc of diamonds
i'll my hand, and VIXEN it came around to
show down knew the pot was mine,
but just rs laid down my hand the man
opposite me whipped ont his revolver
and jabbed it into my face. and ON the
instant ont came ali the other mems
guns. and | was scared almost to death.
couldn't say = word, for l thought my
time had come, but nobody shot.
Look here: calculated the man who
had first pulled his gun, applying several
disagreeable cpithets AZ addition. ard he
took an ace of diamonds ont of his
hand. This restored my consciousness
somewhat, ana 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 sho: later. / got in = word.
Gentlemen / said. appearances are
against me, hut l am honest. l don't
"uc" nv" 'hAt III iilt
bu: if you will look in nv valise there
you will find n pack exactly like this one
lying loose In it, and the cards must
have got mixed i'll there. I'm SIRE
didn't do it. One % the men took the
cards OFT Of the valisc and ran them
ovcr. and the ace was missing. That
much was in my favor, bat Ii did not
restore confid,nce
Send down stairs said next. to
the clerk and have him come up. He
was playing here this afternoon
Then they sent for tbs clerk. and he
said tia, he and 4 party of friends had
played with those cards duriI. the aft
ernoon. and farther. that they had used
two packs to do some tricks with. lie
also stood bond for my honesty. and aft
er an EOur or So of terrific strain ON me
my friends concluded was all right.
Then. to establish good fellowship firm
ly, j insisted On their taking. their money
lack. They set Ep ilo drinks AL around.
AID left them ~ last viii, q solemn
vow registered ti.a: when played poker
again 1 must know everybody il the
game, and everybody must know ne.
Don't you think one experience like that
is enough for an honest maa of guie.
temperament 10 80 ihrous h:--Dctroit
Free Press.