Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-10-02
Baked A JOKE AND WON.
new . hanker Held stx Cards at Poker
Swallowing the Extra One.

Hsw Ranker Held stx Cards at Poker,
Swallowing the Extra One.
The west is q great place for poker
playing, and some of the largest jack
pots ever opened have been west of
the Mississippi river. In the early and
haicyon days OF Colorado, Nevada and
California, when every body was either
prospecting for gold or specializing in
real estate, money was very plentiful,
and much of 1t was spent with an
abandon that would have done credit
to the count of Monte Cristo. Pretty
nearly everyone gambled more or less,
and poker was always the favorite
game, from All Sin up to the bonanza
kings
One of the best business blocks In
the city OF Denver is or was owned by
q man who laid the foundation to q
big fortune with money won at cards,
and many Of the high rollers who
have taken a hand in the games where
he held cards have quit sadder but
wiser by reason Of their experience.
When Denver was but q small place it
was the rendezvous for many skilled
players. There was a banker there at
that time named Cook, who had an
abundance Of cash and who could
handle the cards like an expert.
Jerome B. Chaffee, at one time United
States senator from Colorado, with
two or three others who used to play
with Cook a great deal, concocted a
little scheme by which they figured
they could have q great deal Of fun at
Cooks expense aud at the same time
get champagne supper out Of him.
So Chaffee and his companions, who
had plenty of money and who had suf-
fsred financially by being caught in a
good many jack-pots 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 hurry.
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. lie got
four aces. 1t then dawned upon him
that something must be up, but he did
not quite grasp the situation. Chaffee
called for two cards and bet the limit.
Cook raised him and they had it back
and forth. The others dropped ont
after several rounds just to swell the
pot. The betting Tortinued until at
last there was an even ten thousand
dollars in the pot, when Chaffee called
him and made him show down his
cards.
Cook threw four aces and jack on
| n I'D 70 LA In, he
pot. The one who had dealt objected,
stating that he saw Cook have six cards
In his hand. The others at once in.
sisted that they saw him have six cards.
''Prove it. them" cried Cook. II did
not deal; you dealt, and If he gave me
six cards, where are they%
Chaffee and his companions at once
inaugurated the most rigid search for
the missing jack. They looked under
tables, IL drawers-everywhe a card
could possibly get. They made Cook
disrobe, which he did without objec.
ton, and subjected him to the most
rigid exa animation, but the card could
not possibly be found anywhere. This
was q 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, It was not
to be found, and Cook asserted that he
had but five cards, and expressed the
greatest indignation AT their doubts
and hung on to the money like grim
death. To say that the would-be
jokers were crestfsllca would bs
putting it mildly. 1t was not so funny
as they had figured it would be. They
went out and gave vent to their feel
ings by first swearing and then laugh
ing at the way Cook had turned tn,
tables on them.
Cook, as he used to relate after
ward with great glee, got the six card
all right. but under cover of taking ,
chew of fne-cut tobacco, of which HI
was very fond, got the extra jack il
his mouth, chewed it to q pulp ant
swallowed it, tobacco and all. He sait
he guessed he could risk little paste
board for ten thousand dollars, even
it did make him a little sick. At an,
rate, he thought the other fellows wer,
sicker than he was
, TimeA-