The herald., 1896-11-11

! ground. You would think the details
of game like that would fix themselves
| In the memory, so that would be able
to tell you every hand held and every
bet I made. wouldn't you? Well, can't.
In fact, l can't tell anything about the
first game excepting that was the first
man to lose all his chips. l had played
often enough for what 1 thought were
high stakes, but the thought that was
playing for my life ratified me complete
ly, and l really believe l bet al random.
Whatever 1 did lost and the man who
had proposed the game won out. He
was shot in a gambling den three weeks
later-had an extra ace in his sleeve,
believe. or something like that.
THE next freeZe-out, between three or
u.s. was comparatively short one. 1t
did not take more than twenty minutes
for the scout to gather in all the chips.
but short as it was, l managed to get
myself together little, though l was
still full Of the thought of the value OF
the stakes-a thing which have notlceu
always interferes with my play. When
I consider the value of a chip 1t always
influences my betting one way or the
other, even though l try not to allow !.
to do so, and in this case l said to my
self that each bean represented the looth
part of my life. In other words was
gambling away months and years IN
stead of money.
err l pulled myself together with most
tremendous effort, and really became as
cool as ever had been before at game
of cards. The man played against this
time was a young nEglisnman Whom
had grown to esteem highly in the snort
time had known him. He was gentle
man clear through, and as CHEEKY and
companionable man as / ever met
with. His people at home never heard
this story, and l hope they never will
They know he was killed by the Indians
and that he was on hunting trip, but
they never heard of his last game Of
cards nor of the way he rode to his death.
We had each 300 beans. and half 6ozen
hands were dealt before either of us got
cards to bet on. Then on my deal l
caught three deuces and made it fifty to
play. He looked at his cards aud
raised me fifty, which l covered. He drew
one card and let it lie without looking at
it, while he watched me. I saw him look
ing, of course, and 1 am more glad than
l am of almost anything else ever did
in an almost worthless life to think that
l made the worst play I ever saw made.
/ liked the man well. as / said, and some
impulse that couldn't understand then
and can't explain now. told me to give
him little the better chance. l had
played with him before, and I was GER
tain that he had not come back at me
the way he did on two pair He was
drawing to flush. and somehow felt
that he had filled it. OF course, should
have drawn to the strength of my hand,
but didn't. drew one card only, hold
ing up an eight-spot to my deuces, AMI
showed all my beans into the pot with
out looking at my draw.
He gave me one look, in which read
perfect appreciation of what I had
done, and without word and without
liftlng his fifth card he pushed his
chips forward Then NV parua ro,-a
out. l grew as white as death, know,
though no one ever told me so, and !
actually could not lift my cards. His
nerve never shook, though, apparently.
and he turned his fifth card over as he
laid the other four on the blanket.
They were all clubs. He looked at me,
and l swear l cav regret in his eyes 1
tell you he was man. Then l man
aged to control myself to turn my hand
over | had drawn the other eight"
The Westerner stopped. He drained
his glass and then said:
Waiter. bring another bottle, and
bring me some whisky besides. This
stuff doesn't go to the right spot"
Then, after he had had his drink, he
said:
You don't wonder, do you, that I
don't play poker any more?"
No" said his hearers, but finish
the story
"Oh. there isn't much more TO it. At
least that is the end of t,as think about
it. The Englishman shook hands with
us all and walked away. We watched
him until he fell. and he must have
gone fully three miles A good many
Indians fell before he did, for he was a
clever shot. Later in the day the com
pany came to our rescue. and ] am glad
to say good many more Indians paid
for his death with their own"