Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-15
PAID HIM TO FORGET
1T WAS LUCKY THE PROPRIETOR
TOOK HIM FOR A REPORTER.

1T WAS LUCKY THE PROPRIETOR
TOOK HIM FOR A REPORTER.
Quiet Little Game In New York Where
They Played '.senator"-The Man Who
Played For the House Gave S25 For tho
Privilege of Drawing to Ace and King.
One of the tightest squeezes that I
ever got out of, said the inveterate pok-
er player, was in New York during the
rise Of the great moral wave that was
being felt in every gambling house in
the city.
1 was almost a total stranger in the
city, but the second night after my ar
rival let the clerk Of the hotel know
that wanted to find some place where
there was little game, not too steep.
in progress. and after sizing me up for
time he whispered number in my
ear. i
After sundry rappings and waitings ]
passed through series of halls and
rooms and was shown into q large gam
bling parlor that was apparently doing
good business in spite Of the reform.
ers.
seated myself at table where they
were playing "senator. The game is
nothing more nor less than poker with
the exception that it is all jaokpots. and
man can open the pot on any kind Of
hand he wishes instead of having to
see before him the traditional "jacks or
better This scheme makes the game
a much livelier one and more attractive
to men who are good at blufing.
There were six of us playing. The
cards were dealt by man employed by
the house, who dealt to every man in
turn. Any player had the privilege Of
dealing for himself if he wished, and
this permission was supposed to allay
all doubt as to the disinterestedness Of
the dealer.
The game was comparatively new to
me, and as it is a confusing one to a
man who has been accustomed to sizing
up the man who opened the pot as sure
ly having some sort of hand I lost
steadily.
From several things I gathered that
the man at my right was "playing for
the house''-that is he was supplied |
with chips free and paid'to the proprie- |
tor a certain per cent Of his winnings |
As the game is one Of bluf6ng and a |
man free from care and betting other |
peoples money can bluff better than a /!
man who sees his little pile steadily !
diminishing, the man who played for |
the house very generally won.
When came into the room had with !
me $500, money that I had collected for |
my employer, for 1 was out Oh collects
ing tour In one brief hour was down !
to 500, and then came my first good /.
hand. /
I had three big aces pat, and opened |
the pot for good sum. The most of the !
players at the table who had noticed my |
timid style of play at once dropped at !,
my exhibition Of strength, and began /
to kick myself for giving my hand away !
So The only man that staid was the !
one who believed was playing for the !
house.
He drew three cards, and drew one
and bet S25 The other man looked at
my pile of chips and said, "How much
have you on the table?''
answered, FIFTY dollars. -
"Well, will raise you that $50,
said he, with laugh.
Of course called, and he laid down
straight, ace high, with the remark that
it was pretty lucky draw to an ace and
king that he had held up. remarked
that it was a wonderfully lucky draw
and asked how often he paid $40 for
chance to draw to an ace and king.
Every one could see was suspicious
Of cheating when rose from the table
and remarked that had had enough.
It was enough, for didn't have anoth- |
-er cent with me and little at the hotel.
/ loitered about the different games
for awhile, for it is great source of in
terest to heavy loser to see other men
win and notice how easy they take 1t.
While standing near the outer door
took out my notebook to see what chance
7 had Of collecting enough to cover my
loss until had time to make it good. !
had hardly made a couple of figures
when. saw the man who had won the
last pot from me get up from the table
in hasty manner and address another
man, who was presiding at the wheel
This man was the proprietor, and he
at once came over to me and in conf
Dental tone inquired if was report
er. saw my notebook had given him
the impression and answered in an as
sured sort Of way, YES"
"Well," said he, ''how much is it
going to take to make you forget this?"
I didn't realize exactly what he
meant, but answered that it had taken
$500 to make me remember it. He rush
ed me into the hall, handed me 81, 900
and said, "Well, forget it now."
was saved and have never been a
reporter since. Boston Globe