The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-11
NEVER PLAYS FOR Dig STAKES.
Actor Keene's Poker Experience on
Mississippi steamer.
From the st. Louis Republic.

From the st. Louis Republic
Tom Keene, the tragedian, is very fond
Of a little game of poker during his leisure
hours, but he has made II rule never to
play for big stakes. His definition of big
stakes" is any sum that was too steep for
single one of the men around the table.
Mr.. Keene is rich himself and can afford
to part with dollars easier than many OF
his opponents can with cents. When he
sits down with men as well Off as himself
he is willing to play table stake for any
reasonable amount; but when the men are
poorer than himself he insists that the
amount involved in the entire game shall
be no more than even the poorest player
could loose.
''The wisdom OF sticking to this rule
was impressed upon me very forclbly
many years ago, and have never for
gotten the impression" said Mr.. Keene
one day, when asked about It,
ut happened when l was a young man.
I was going down from Natchez to New
Orleans on a Mississippi boat. With me
on the steamer were planters, town dan
dies, tourists and large aggregation Of
professional gamblers
"Of course there we're games all over
the boat stiff game was going on all
was siX-handed. In 1t sat a Louisiana
planter. a New York drummer, rancher
from the west, a Boston merchant, a
young fellow from Charleston and typi-
cal Mississippi river gambler.
1T was a tremendous game. All of the
five older men were plungers, and the
young fellow was determined that none of
them should Guido him in recklessness.
Everybody was winning except the
Boston merchant and the youngster from
the Palmetto state. / was standing be-
hind the Charleston boy, watching the
gambler narrowly, for his luck made me
suspicious.
There came a big pot. Everybody came
in and stayed for several raises after the
draw. The youngster in front OF me had
a splendid hand He had held three kings
before the draw, and had gotten his
fourth on the run off. AS straights were
not played, there could be only one hand
to beat his.
'"The gambler apparently had a good
hand, too. He bet cautiously Turing en-
the others, especially the Boston man and
the Charleston lad. The planter, drum
mer and rancher dropped out and waten-
ed the play with keen interest.
Then the Boston merchant got tired OF
raising, and let the other two see 1t out.
When the game narrowed down to the
gambler and the boy the latter suggested
that the limit be waived.
"'Goodg replied the gambler.
'Srhe youngster piunked down every
cent he had, and the gambler, who mad
just enough to cover the raise, called him.
With look of triumph the boy spread his
cards over the table, displaying his four
kings and reaching for the pot.
Hold on said the gambler, laying
down four aces and raking in the money.
Dead silence followed. We all felt sure
that the gambler had not come by bis
cards honestly, but we could prove Moth
ing.
You internal scoundrelP broke out
the boy.
THE gambler jumped to his feet and
whipped out a bowie, but before he could
use 1t the boy had caught him by tho
throat and dragged him half across the
table. Cards and stakes went flying on
the floor. We attempted to pun them
apart, but 1t was useless. They fought
like tigers, and just as we had succeeded
in throwing ourselves on top Of them the
gambler plunged the heavy blade into the
boys abdomen. The young fellow fell
backward with a groan. Four hours later
he was dead helped TO ship that boys
body home. and signed my name to tho
letter notifying his father Of his cruel
fate.
Nothing could be done to the gambler
down at New Orleans. where we turned
him over to a magistrate. We had TO an
init that he had been insulted. and he got
off on the plea of self-defense. l have
never forgotten the tragedy. and that il
why never play for big poker stakes"