The record-union., 1896-11-08

even nunQfeQ QOlIdrS, ana he puSueu
five $40 gold pieces to the center.
That's what T call burned mean
trick" said Billy. "Ef you'd a passed
that time I'd opened the gate fur a
cool five hundred, but got my chance
a-comin'. Gimme two cards
| The Texas man was satisfied with his
| hand and drew no cards. There was q
! knowing look on his face, and l could
understand his air of confidence when
| glanced over his shoulder at his hand
and saw therein four kings.
Il haven't got the top hand, pardner,
but the one 1 hev got is wuth a thou
sand dollars said Billy, and he counted
out that sum.
"Hain't got much confidence in it,
hev you?" retorted the Texan. Il see
double that value in these keerds o.
mine, an I'll stay right alongside yer
thousand and raise it triflin' matter
o. thousand more
Billy studied his hand a long time
and cast several keen glances into the
face of his opponent, endeavoring TO
read there the nerve of the man he had
to deal with. Finally he said:
Il haven't been a-studyin' about see
in yer raise, stranger, but on how much
of comeback you'd stand without
| jumpin' the game. Thar's your thou
sand hid outen sight, an I'll jest try yer
narve with five thousand lift
| He took a big wallet from his pocket
and slowly counted out the cash, and
| we could yet see some bills remaining.
And now it was the Texan who did the
| c c1,-in inn 11xy hn
| pulled a deed for large cattle ranch
! from his pocket, and said:
Pardner, I haven't quite enough
ready money, but thar's deed fur a
| ranch wuth twenty thousand o any
| mans money; kin it go as collateral?"
Yes; if you'll take the same medicine
yerself, pervided l want to git back
| at ye.''
This was agreed to. and the Texan
said: Then I'll see yer five thousand,
an raise We the rest o the value o the
deed-fifteen thousand"
Billy seemed to grow little excited.
| He didn't care so much for the money,
but his reputation was at stake, and he
valued that above any cash considera
ton. The Governor of the Territory had
dropped in and was an interested spec
tator of the game, and Billy had known
for some time that his excellency was
| looking on. He asked the Texan if he
could have ten minutes time, AMI the
request was quickly granted. Asking
friend to take his seat and guard his
hand, he retired to the back part of the
clubroom and wrote rapidly for sew
] eral minutes Then he returned with
the paper in his hand and, addressing
| the Executive, said:
| Governor, your life amt worth moth
in to me compared to my reputation as
the boss poker player O. the Southwest.
Now, that hand o. mine can't be beat,
an / amt goin' to lay it down on ac-
count o. not havin' the stuff to back it
up. You're the Governor an this Ter
rltory officially belongs to you. Thar's
a deed fur the hull blasted Territory
| @ Arizony, an If you don't sign it,
transferrin' the property to me, I'll Kill
you right whar you stand" And he
drew an ugly looking pistol from his
| belt
The Governor paled just little, but
quickly realizing the fact that such an
instrument would be entirely Illegal
and valueless, he secured q pen and
signed it.
Now" said Billy, Il see yer Texas
ranch, with all it's appurtenances, et
ceterey, an raise yer watts left O. the
Territory o. Arizony"
| The Texan actually gasped, and de-
spite his four kings, he now fel. sure
Billy had hand to beat him. He either
believed the deed good, or did not stop
to consider the legality of the transac-
ton, and after long pause he turned
| his cards face up on the table ard said
| i can't meet yer bet, pardner an ]
weaken an lay these four gents down.
hut If l had the Governor of Texas here
ar could get the drop on him, I'd raise
you clear out O. yer clothes"
| Billy coolly drew in the great pile OF
cash and paper, and handing the has
tily drawn deed to the Governor. said;
| Much obliged, Governor; thar's the
deed an you kin assume charge O. the
Territory agin. AM" pushing the
Texans deed to him, ''as / don't keer
about goin' into the ranch business. Ill
give yer back your deed. An here,
pard, SEEM as I'm still the champion,
thar's $4,000 to stake you fur suckers to
win back what you've lost. Thar's
nothin' small about the champion but
his losin's. Good-by, an better luck
mex time"
! He arose and walked away. The
Texan turned pale and exploded loud
oath when he saw the faces of the
cards.
Billy had two little fours.-New York
| Journal