The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-31
A REMINISCENT OLD SPORT.
HOW TWO GAMBLERS SCORED a BIG
WINNING.
which "A Double Dealing Friend
PLAYED "A Trick.

Played "A Trick.
From the Philadelphia Times.
It vas in the spring Of 1880 in California
Hank sat on the bottom Of an overturned
fishing boat gazing at me in a way he had
of trying TO read my thoughts.
We'll. Ted" he said at length. the
game looks played out here; let's shift"
~Where?' asked.
"Oh. any place. 1t don't matter much
10 you and me where we alight so the
game is good. But lying around this
California beach, won't replenish the ex-
chequer Of our wants. 'Tis the old story.
my dear boy. there is no soft side TO
board. So We must give up dreaming and
leave Santa Monica"
Sfrolling up the nDeach together we
talked over our plans. Dear old beach.
few are the spots on earth that give one
the sense Of peace and happiness derived
here The noon sun shone on the smooth
sand on that January day with the warmth
of summer, and was loath to leave its
warm embrace for the cold comfort of
uncertainty.
We stroIed past the Arcadia and up 10
Low hAluGg EaAtohs AAAA0 was a 1iAAfNtA
game of poker running, but Hank and ]
old not care to play. IN fact, we only
cared for parlor games now; We were'
either getting aristocratic or lazy, for
we shirked the toll and danger of a pub
dc game.
Lew Kinney's saloon was one Of the
Aemi-respectable places at the beach.
n Il xrrhoIa-cop1nH 4o11xr
fellow, good to anyone and generous to
q. fault; a true sport He would have
Ycorned a man running a brace game,
but. would slip a card If mis- opponent
fwinked. He was man with a cast-iron
constitution, and would not drink water
dor fear he would rust. He would lay
bet on any proposition, from horse race
40 a pie-earug match. he called Hank
and me to follow him into his private
room. We did so. lew ordered the drinks
and said! Boys. have fallen into a sure
ching. It's what call a lead-ptpe, copper
bottOmed, alright cinch. There is no
earthly chance to lose. This amt no horse
race with measly jock to pull the head
or your horse and SINCE your money.
1T amt no poker game, with pal to
give you the doble cross. It's a man-to-
man contest, and I have the right man.
its a prize fight, and have the winner,
and don't you forget it."
who is ft?" asked Hank.
sssWho is it?" repeated Lew. "Why It
amt nobody but Jim Mason, that's who
It is. Jim Mason, the champion middle
weight of the world, that's who 1t is; Jim
Mason, that run that mug Dempsey from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, that's who it
is. Now. do you know who it is? He's
a personal friend of mine, and he is going
TO train right here at my house. Think of
the honor. It's a cinch, and 1 am going
to bet every cent can raise on this place
that he wins the fight"
who is he to fight? Dempsey" asked
Hank.
Dempsey snarled Lew. disguised. He
run that paper fighter clear up to Frisco
trying to get a fight, but the Nonpareirs
afriad Of him"
.'Then who does he hght?" asked Hank.
impatiently.
Hes going to fight Jack Savage" re-
piled Lew, "and he'll make mincemeat
of him in two rounds. Savage won't last
as long as a snow ball in the lower re-
gions" And, kicking a chair over In dis
gust of Savages fighting ability, he rang
for more drinks.
Hank and / drank and then strolled
down the beach to the Arcadia. Hank
was silent for awhile, then said: Tied,
there may be something in this for u.s."
mo telling" 1 answered, what may
come out of 1t. i'd you ever hear Of
Mason before?"
mo; but will run up to Los Angeles
find out about him." replied Hank you
stay here and keep you eyes open. If this
fellow comes here he viii bring a crowd
of sports and then we will be in clover.
Look around for a good place to run a
bank Take Lew in on the play. and 1 will
let you know in two days what 1 can fnd
out about Mason"
Lew acquiesced with me on the idea of
running faro bank and suggested having
It over his place, arguing that the cham
pion of the world would be drawing
card and give US the game. 1 decided to
accept his proposition and wired Hank to
bring down the faro layout. In two days
Hank was back with the necessary para
phernalia and plenty of information about
Mason. HE is the talk of the city, ex-
claimed Hank, 'and from report must be
a good one He has whipped everything
of his weight In the east, and came here
TO get fight with Dempsey. Being I'M
successful in that he made this match
with Savage"
who is Savage?" I asked.
IT don't hear much of him." replied
Hank. He is from New York, and hasn't
much of a reputation.
''Is he in Los Angeles?''
mo" laughed Hank, but Mason is,
and at this moment the most important
parsonage in the city of the Angels. In
fact, the place has gone daft over prize
fighters. But there may be something in
1t for US. Mason will begin to train In a
few days, so we had better get our game
started. to receive on deposit any surplus
cash the sporting gentry and admirers
of the champion may care to firt with the
worries"
Informed Hank where had decided TO
run the game, and he approved of my plan.
1t was a week before Mason arrived. Lew
received him with the Difference due his
highness. In Lewis eyes he was the per-
sonihcation of specific blending of all
physical and mental qualities necessary
to mold a hero. Mason accepted his favors
with a majestic toughness appalling to che
pigmies in muscular development that
crowded around him in open-mouthed
wonder, feasting their gaze on a real
live" champion. These demonstrations of
public admiration did not seem to please
Mason. and now and again he would re-
monstrate, and his request was always
complied with alacrity
Outside of a. few breaches of etiquette
we found Mason very interesting. He
certainly was fine specimen of the hu-
man. His principal topic of conversation
was how he would punch Dempsey's face