Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-26
THE MISSING CARD.

ME-. Cook Swallowed 1t With His Chew
of Tobacco and Won $4,000.
From the Philadelphia Times.
When Denver was but O small place it
was the rendezvous for many skilled play
ers. There was q banker there at that
time by the name of Cook, who had an
abundance of cash and who could handle
the cards like an expert. Jerome B. Chat
fee, at one time United States Senator
from Colorado, with two or three others
who used to play with Cook great deal.
concocted little scheme by which they
figured they could have great deal Of fun
at Cooks expense, and at the same time
get champagne supper out of him So
Chaffee and his companions, who had plen-
ty Of money. and who had suffered flnan-
cially by being caught in good many
jackpots that Cook had opened, arranged
among themselves that the very next time
they played with Cook they would show
him a trick he would not forget in a
hurry.
The scheme was to open a pot, and If
Cook stayed, to deal him enough cards to
make six in all, and II he stayed on pair
he was to get four aces; then when the pot
had reached a soodly size to call him.
make him show his six cards, have the
laugh at his expense, and, after giving him
back his money out of the pot make him
set up the champagne. 1t generally made
Cook very mad to lose a pot OF any consid-
cradle size, and they knew If they made
this a large one his wrath would know 10
bounds.
The day at last arrived when they were
all together in Cooks office. and Chaffee
suggested a game Of poker to while away
the afternoon, which was a stormy one
Cook readily assented, little dreaming OF
the good time that was to be had at his
expense. The cards were dealt and several
hands played around when at last Chaffee
opened jackpot on three kings. Cook
stayed on a pair Of jacks and called for
three cards. He got four aces. 1t then
dawned upon him that something must be
up, but he did not quite grasp the situa-
ton. Chaffee called for two cards and bet
the limit. Cook raised him, and they had
after several rounds just to swell the pot.
The betting continued until at last there
was an even $4,000 in the pot, when Chat
fee called him and made him show down
his cards. Cook threw four aces and a
jack on the table and started to rake in
the pot. The one who had dealt objected.
stating that he saw Cook have six cards in
his hand. The others at once insisted that
they saw him have six cards.
Prove it, then" cried Cook. 81 did not
deal; you dealt. and if you gave me six
cards, where are they?'
Chaffee and his companions at once in
augurated the most rigid search for the
missing jack. They looked under tables. in
drawers-everywhere a card could possibly
get. They made Cook disrobe, which he
did without objection, and subjected him
to the most rigid examination, but the card
could not possibly be found anywhere.
This was sumner. Cook had not moved
during the game, and they were sure of
the six cards, but where was the other
jack? At all events 1t was not to be found,
and Cook asserted that he had but five
cards end expressed the greatest tndigna-
ton at their doubts, and hung on to the
money like grim death. To say the would
be jokers were crestfallen would be putting
it mildly. 1t was not SO funny as they had
figured it would be- They went out and
gave vent to their feelings by first swear
ing and then laughing at the way Cook
had turned the tables on them.
Cook. as he used to relate afterward with
great glee. got the six cards all right but,
under cover Of taking a chew of fine cut
tobacco. of which he was very fond, got
the extra jack in his mouth, chewed 1t to
pulp and swallowed it, tobacco and all.
He said he guessed he could risk swallow
ing chew of tobacco and a little paste
board for $4,000, even If it did make him
little sick. At any rate, he thought the
other fellows were sicker than he was.