The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-03
CHAMBERLIN'S PAT HAND.
The Most Dismal Experience In the
Hotel Mans Life

l IuI tefnDcflfilCUt no Olttii ctil lilhb bht
most dismal experience OF his life was q
| single of round Of two-handed poker
game that he played back in 1875, III
Washington, ID. c., with kentuckian
| of national fame at that time
Ii was after a dinner at Chamborlin's &
hotel one winter evening. Besides Cham
berlin and the kentuckian, Roscoe Conk-
lin and member of Hayes Cabinet
had helped to make away with the dinner.
After IL had been eaten, the four ad-
iourned TO Chamberlin's private smoking
room 10 enjoy their coffee and cigars.
They all felt pretty we'll. the only natural
feeling for the proper kind of man after
eating his share Of Chamberlin dinner.
They sat around Chaniberlin's famous
lacquered card table purchased for him
in Japan by Gen. Grant,, EARNING and
dawdling for a while. The kentuckian,
fumbling among the recesses OF the card
table, got hold or pack of cards In n
celluloid case, and, after lazily toying with
1t, said he:
John, let's play single jack, just to
see how the cards run.
"All right" replied Cham berl in, "for
what limit-the skyy'
"That's my game" said the kentuck
nan. and both men put hundred dollar
bill IN the center OF the table. They ar
ranged that IL should be plain case OF
Jacks or better TO open. The kentuckian
SHOOK IUt tllus Oui Vi ibc tuct
thcm and, at ned from Cham berlin,
dealt the hand. Conkling aud the cabinet
officer stood looking on with their hands
in their pockets
Cham berlain picked up his cards one
by one He was a cool headed man who
had learned the game OF poker at an age
when most boys are just mastering
shiny. but tho witnesses afterward de-
clared that his face certainly flushed when
he had gathered in all his five cards But
he didn't say anything until the Ken
tuckian slowly picked up his cards, and
ho was probably so wrought up himself
that he did not observe his opponents ;
suppressed excitement" as Conkling
put il, in coming the hand.
"phil " said Chambcrlin TO tho Ken
tuckiau, Il don't want to be hard on you,
but I'd never have anv more luck as long
as live If didn't play this hand ms it
deserves TO be played. SO I'm going 20
break it open for 500." showing the
money into the pot
John, replied the Kentuckian. with
little tremor in his voice, . feel IL my
duty To warn you right now that I've got
you beat on the go in, and j don't want
20 take any unfair advantage OF you; but
i can't afford To return ohurlish soowl
TO the smile of Fortune any more than
you can and so, John, it'll cost you
q 1000 more 10 draw cards.
"well," returned Chnmberlin with a
sigh, showing the rise into the pot. 81
never saw KeDtuckian yet who knew
when he was licked, and Pm really sorry
for you; but you're bringing 1t all on
yourself.
"CardsS" inquired the Kentuck ian.
"I'll play with these said Chamber.
lin. closing his hand and running over
his wallet
"well, +" said the Kentuckian, 81 don't
need any myself. Make your bet-but be
careful, John, bo carefulv'
when you adopt that imbecile tone,
Phil, " said Cham berlin, You do IL at
the sacrifice Of my sympathy. thou
sand -
John" said the Kentuckian, looking
at his opponent mournfully, You are
the stubbornest man in the Western Hem
ispherc and you certainly need some Of
IL taken out OF you. A thousand more
than you" o
Senator, said Chamberlin to Conk-
ling, who had been standing behind the
kentucl<iaD, "oome over here and have a
look at this hand OF mine, and add your
voice TO my warning TO our friend across
the table - CeBklin eiseyed- the request
and glanced at Chamberlin's hand. "I'm
not in this game, John, ho said, land 10
wouldn't be square for me to make any
remarks. " He said afterward that he
had to turn to the sideboard aud stuff his
handkerchief into his mouth TO keep from
roaring.
"Oh, very WE'LL then," said Chamb ber-
lin. You perceive, Phil, that I've done
To the necessity Of raising you another
thousand, pulling out his check book
and writing check for the amount
with fountain pen.
Handy things, thes, fountain pens"
replied the Kentuckian. Lend me it, "
He also produced check book and scrib
bled n check, which he thrust into the
center of the table with confident flour
ish.
John" he said "I shall enjoy your
discontinue less than that of any man
OF my acquaintance. But certnnly am
not going to fly in the face OF Providence
by laying down a hand like this or any
thing like it. Thousand more!'
Conkling broke into laugh, which he
turned of into cough. Il never came
so close TO suffocation In my life, he
said afterward.
When there was sl4, 700 in cash and
checks in tho center of the table the Ken.
tuckian, whose turn IL was To bet, cleared
his throat.
Cham BERLIN he said, solemnly, "this
thing has gone far enough. Neither ono
of US Is millionaire. l DO not purpose
INDUCING your notorious reckiessness
any lurtner. 4 see pialnly tndb you are
just wild red Indian enough to bet your
last blanket and pair OF moccasins on
that fist full of cards, even in the teeth of
my solemn assurance that you are the
worst thrashed man from here to Alaska
John l call you,
Chamberlin spread his hand out on the
table before him. Four OF the cards were
aces, and the other one was king. The
kentackian spread out his hand at the
same time. IL consisted OF four kings and
an ace. The two men gazed at each other
across the table with expressions of blank
stupefaction. They were aroused by "a
below from Conkling that might have
been heard over In Lafayette square.
Senator" said Chanberlin, severely,
wheeling around. what ails your
mir. Conkling, SUBJ" said the Ken.
tuckian, I'VE would be pleased sub, If you
would be good enough TO explain what
pleases you, sub.
Conkling took firm grip To his sides
and, after n few gasps and suppressed
shrieks, got the handling Of himself.
Il never saw duel with blank cart
ridges, no controlled himself enough to
say. but after all, L think tho tragic
earnestness of two men engaged in play
ing game Of poker with pinochle deck
A.