The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-19
HIS ACES WERE GOOD.
An Interesting Poker Story Told by
an Old Player.

perienoes of the Passengers on an
East Bound Train With a Man Who
Was Picked Up at Cheyenne
George Devol Took the Money of
Some Sure-Thing Investors-They
Guessed at the Weight Of Rock.
Julius Chambers, in Chicago Times.
He looked ''tenderfoot'' sure enough.
he boarded the train at Cheyenne, mod
estly accosted the conductor, secured a
stateroom that had just been vacated,and
took possession with the shyness of a
young man taking his first long journey.
He did not attempt to make the &C
quaintance of his fellow travellers. Sew
eral of US, who had Travelled all the way
from the Pacific coast together, knew each
other so well that we did not feel
Sighted, however, by his lack of appre-
citation.
In our car and that ahead of US we're
several suspicious characters. He who
caught my fancy particularly was tall,
grizzly-haired man clearly shaven ex-
cept fierce black mustache, evidently
dyed. The skin of his face was yellow
and parchment-like
Day and night, ever since leaving Sac
ramento. these men had been playing po-
ker In one or other of the smoking COM
partments. They had kept mostly to
themselves, taking in a stranger from time
10 time as was necessary TO complete their
number Although they were PROBES
slonal gamblers they were looking for
other game than the mere casual trav-
eler from whom they might be able to
win a few dollars OF course was too
old to lie deceived by the pretense that
these mel were strangers The old thor
ough bred whom have described affected
TO treat his associate from the forward
car with absolute disrespect This latter
parsonage was dressed after the manner
Of a cowboy so far as the brOad-brimmed
hat and top boots were concerned, but he
made no display of firearms, said nothing
about the mum Der of his victims, and
treated the sarcastic remarks of his as
soclate with an indifference that really
commanded good deal of respect for
him.
A Mormon elder, who had stacked up
against this game during one whole days
session between Elko ana Ogden had
lost considerable money, but the regu-
lar players stood almost even and no &C.
casion for any i'll feeling or bitterness had
arisen. ~ ,-.ts
The next morning after we left Chey-
enne | went into the smoking COmpart-
ment after breakfast. 7 he young ten
derfoOt' soon followed me thiUher He
lit cigar and gaZed out OF the window,
apparently quite Indifferent to the game
already il progress.
Only five men were playing and the
young stranger was asked if he did not
want to set iu.'' At first he demurred.
saying ne did not know much about the
game. Besides, he did moi feel very well;
travelling upset him, he explained.
He then inquired regarding the charac-
ter of the game, and was told that it was
modest table-stak game nominally
50 ante. He didn's appear TO understand
very clearly what ''Iable-stake" game
was, but finally agreed to take a camp
stool at the table.
On being asked to declare the amount
of money he was prepared to risk he said,
inditterentlyti 'lI1-ii II E1.G st
81 don't care. What is the average
stake among you - he asked, turning 10
the first man on his left
II declared $500, was the reply.
"Ihree hundred SAID the next man
"A thousand dollars was mine added
the fine old man with the black mustache
as his eyes keenly sought the face OF the
stranger. The statements of the other
two players escaped me, but they de-
Clared for amounts IN the neigh borhood of
5000 each. According to these statements,
therefore, there was about s., 800 on the
table. The "tendertoot" drew a large
roll of bills from his irocket and quietly
counted ou0 $1,000, mostly in 500 bills,
and placed the money before him, de-
Claring to lose that amount
There was an expression Of manifest
surprise on the faces of most of the play
erS, but the old mans eyes 1gleamed with
satisfaction. Here was bird Tor the
plucking at last Patience had been re
wdrded and tho fine old man would be
able to leave the train at Omaha with
enough money to enable him to play faro
bank when he reached Chicago.
However much the average gambler
may care for short card game. faro is
his delight. 1t is to him the uintessence
OF earthly pleasure, and he would be sat
istied to die any hour if he were sure of
an eternity at faro table in the world to
come. -...
The cards were soon dealt and the game
ran along smoothly for an hour or more.
1t was so dull and uninteresting that af-
ter watching the muddy banks of the
River Platte for awhile / had fallen
asleep. was awakened by the porter
announcing dinner, and was about to
leave the compartment to prepare 10 go to
the dining car when my attention was at
tracted by the conductof the old gam
bier who happened to be the dealer l
OWNED more than detected an attempt
on his part to draw a card from
the pack. The result was that |
sat still and watched developments. The
CARDS were. frequently changed and the
discarded packs were thrown out of the
window. Having seen the young tender
foot defrauded out of one jackpot with
more than 500 in it by card dealt from
the bottom of the deck, my sympathies
were strongly enlisted in his behalf One
thing about him impressed me very much
felt sure that he had detected the fraud
ulent deal but he said nothing whatever
ana lost his money like a thorough bred.
The deal had gone round the table and
was again in the hands of our old fellow
traveller of the black mustache. He had
called for new pack of cards. When
they were brought the ''joker" and the
blank were destroyed. the deck shut
fed by the dealer, and finally cut by the
man at the right of the dealer.
The "tenderfoot' who sat opposite the
old gambler regarded the pretty pink
backs OF the cards as they were thrown
out with the curiosity of a child. He
commented upon the artistic designs that
embellished them The ante had been
raised 80 blind, and it therefore cost $40
to get cards. "Tenderfoot" casually
looked over his hand, and in way quite
unprofesstonal threw out two Of the paste
boards, made good his $50, and raised the
ante $50 more. Both the men behind
him stayed and the fine old man, who
Ksfu de- linz . 81. !