The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-24


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he hands 1t over an says: Put that on
the five.' / put 1t on the five an he lose
the next turn. Well, that man then
just gave one gasp an fell back in his
chair. Some OF the players that was sit
ting 'longside OF him began TO rub his
hands, an one called for water. They
thought he'd tainted. But looked at
him just once sn' i says: 'Oh, no, he
amt tainted; he's dead Ye see I'd seen
fellow die just like that once before, an
i knowed the signs"
Then the solemn king member spoke
up again and remarked
"Well, now, I'll tell YOU people just
one little story. It's little, but it's true.
i see fellow go up against the faro bank
up in Johnny Mack's one night and he
only has half a dollar TO begin with,
ana he begins to play the high card, and
Pm blamed II he don't beat every turn
through a whole deal, from top TO bot
tom. At the end of the deal he has about
Sl6."
"How much did he bet at a timer
asked the smooth faced, dark-haired
member with the streaks of grpy at his
temples.
"only so cents, five white chips, all the
way through the deal"
"Then he couldn't have had SIC, even
IL he beat every turn, Tor there are only 70
turns in deal.
"Aw, say, you're too particular. He
might have bet little more toward the
last. Anyway, he had about s16.
"Did he win any more, or did he lose
1t all again?" inquired the member with
the flowing gray moustache and the
slouch hat.
81 really don't know; came away just
them"
"You must have been broke"
"Wby?"
"Else team OF horses couldn't have
dragged you away"
"Oh, don't know. guess I've come
away winner as often as most pepole. y
"Yes, l guess that's so, too"
"1alk about being broke, resumed Old
Scho, who had been smoking vigorously
while the oil hers were talking, reminds
me of one time when me an another fell
low out in Chicago run a faro bank for
thrse days with only 80 in the bank roll:
You see, we had tho use of the rooms and
the layout, but we couldn't get no mon
ey, SO we Just thought we'd take chance.
We had several close calls. One time
fellow had out about $500 worth of chips,
but he kept a-playing, an OF course he
lose 1t all back again. Another time some
small players got "a of our five, an things
looked mighty blue for US. At last there
come along a fellow with big wad one
night, an the cards go agin him from
from the start Putty soon We have
about thousand dollars of his money;
then he strikes a lucky streak, an win 1T
putty near all back again. but he don't
quit an timeby he lose sgain, an he
Keeps on a-losin' until about 5 O'Clock IN
the morning, when he gets up an says
he's broke. An how much money do ye
spose we win of that fellowT'
"Oh. about hundred thoussnd,"
gravely remarked the solemn member.
"Probsbly about a million, If we let
you tell it," said the fat member.
Old Scho looked up with an expression
evidently intended to he one of injured
innocence. "No, gentlemen said he,
"what I'm telling you is the honest truth.
We win just five thousand an nine dol
lars, an not a cent more"
"Is that all2p asked the short, stout
member with the smiling face and the
stubbly, black moustache, in tone Of
deep surprise.
Old Scho took few vigorous puffs at
his pipe. Then he began again:
''Say, you people remember the time
when they used to deal draw poker
around the table, just like stud9 Well,
in them days they used to give prize of
q hundred dollars every week over here in
the White House for the best hand held.
Well, one Friday night sit in the game
an putty soon have four aces. That's
the best hand that's been held that week,
an there's only one day left, so my
chance of getting the prize is putty good.
But fellow who sits next to me offers
me SO for my chance, an / saya. sGive's
Yer $40. some of the other i,llows say
I'm foolish; but ! know what IN doing
all the time. / know there amt nothing
more uncertain than cards. sure enough,
before I'd been playing great while
longer hold straight flush. An / sell
that, too. An I'll be darned IL that
wasn't beat the next day by higher
straight flush. T"
"scho, you're a bird, remarked the fat
mem ber with great Intensity of feeling.
and several of the other members looked
at the old man with renewed interest,
noticing that he was getting back into his
60-year-old form when, as all who know
him will acknowledge, he was at his best.
Thus encouraged, and refreshed with a
few more vigorous puffs at his pipe, whsch
perceptibly thickened the atmosphere of
the room and gave the lemn mem bers a
violent ut OF coughing, he came once more
TO the scratch, not the least bit winded;
"The funniest thing ! ever had happen
to me was one night when was dealing
faro bank In New York. man came
before, an he buys 90 worth of chips.
He says he only wants to double his
money. But he strikes winning streak
an he keeps on a-playing till he has So7.
Then he cashes an | hand him his
money. lie takes IL an looks at Ii a
moment; then he hands IL back again,
all but $40, an he says to me: "iIere,
take your money; ! don't want TO to take
no advantage of you. / only wanted
to double my money. II it's so easy for
a man TO win who never played the game
before, what must II be for a man who
knows how to pIay3' Well, nearly fell
of the chair, but / don't let on that
there's anything surprised me. says TO
the r,an: MY friend, you'd better take
your money; you win II fair an square.
an you may want II bimeby.' but he
won't take 10. so l put IL back In the
drawer an ne walks out"
At thi. point all the members arose.
formed serni-circle In front OF the old
49,, bo,..a t.xv bofora him .na .ho.,