The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-24
An Old Timers Biggest Scratch at Keno
and Faro.


and Faro.
. ut does beat all how cards will some
times keep s-rupnin' all one way for n
long time. - remarked Old Scho, apropos
OF nothing in particular, during an infor-
NAL meeting OF the Gladstone Club at AL
b,ny, n. Y. las he toyed with stack OF red
chips which, like ali their blue end white
and yellow companions Ia this city have
become useless, except as counters in an
1lnocuous game OF whist or casino since
the reform ware came along and closed
up all the places where men used TO gam
bic on the green In the Empire State.
Cid Scho heaved a meditative sigh, re-
fiectively stroked his white chin whisk-
ers, and looked up and around to observe
whether any of the other members were
listening to him. Having satisfied him
self that there were at least three or four
who were ready to give willing ears to
the yarns that he spins on the slightes
provocation, or no provocation at ali, he
continued:
81 remember one night, years ago,
when Paddy Morris was running keno
joint up here on Broadway, l made the
biggest scratch OF my life. 1t was like
this: Im broke, an I'm Just going out
when a friend o. mine comes in am l
says to him: 'Lemme have $40, wilt ye?'
lie puts his hand in his pocket an pulls
out $40 an gives 1t to me. 20 in an
bet just one card, fer half dollar an
i win the pool. There was ST7 in the pool.
Well, ] don't play no more keno that
night, but i go over to the White House
an 60 up agin' the bank, an win
S2700. i simply can't lose bet. win
all the time that night"
AS those who had been listening were
old and well-seasoned members OF the
Gladstone Club. whose purpose is, and is
"A tats tIx.a Ill. A 4.
poration, the promotion of the social en-
joyment and the intellectual development
of its members, they did not show that
they had been profoundly impressed by
Old Scho's narrative.
They had often heard him tell similar
stories. all Of which he warranted TO be
true in every detail. But the old man
was not discouraged by the apparent want
of appreciation on the part of his audi
ence. With a little preliminary cough,
which had mo suggestion OF an apology
In its sound, he began again.:
81 remember another tin G, up in Sara
toga, one night, / see Gull Holland win
$50 with two cents of the roulette wheel
In Caie Mitchell's. Then he goes over
agin the faro bank and wins something
like two thousand"
This time the solemn looking member,
with the long flowing black moustsche,
felt himself impclleu TO ask:
"How could ne win anything with two
cents. They wouldn't let him put II
down.
"oh, yes they would. They'd let him
nut anything down, even a brass button,
and pay fhim, too. OF course, they
knowed him well, an he'd been losing
quite a little money"
A brief period OF silence intervened,
during which the old man stroked his
whiskers three times. Then lie resumed
his discourse:
can then again, I've seen the cards
run agin n man all night. | remember
one night when was dealing faro bank
In Chicago, there was n man paying-he
was brother OF some Senators; forget
his rame now--an' he lost 80 bets right
straight on the rect. He gets stand q n
now an then, bot he never picks a bet
of the layoot. Bimeby he wins few
bets. but putty soon be lose again, 'an
along to'rds midnight I guess he's tutty
near broke. lie reaches down IN hi.
pocket and pulls out gftv dollar bill. an