The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-15

ante by this time, was usually a thousand
calling two, but he played on as calmly as
if it had been a quarter
AT length the great hand of the game
was played. There's usually one deal
that exceeds all the others In interest
in every long game, and this was no eX-
ception. 1t was a jackpot, with twenty
odd thousand dollars in II before 1t was
opened by the governor for $40 600, and
they ell came in I'd give a lot to know
what the hands were all around, but only
one was shown at the end for the gov
ernor dropped out at the first raise after
the draw, showing queens as his openers,
which he had not bettered.
THE Pirate was next player aud he
drew two cards but contented himself
with simply coming in on the first round
after the draw. 1t was as it turned out a
part of his enormous bluff, giving the i'm
preston that he had bettered threes and
was waiting for customers before making
his play.
at worked, too The Russian who had
stood pat. raised it 5000, and the Arme-
Man, who had drawn one, stayed in The
governor dropping out left the Pirate
next player, and he raised it $4,000 The
Russian came back at him with $4,000,
and the Armenian quietly dropped his
cards in the discard pile. l have always
imagined that he had filed a small
straight, and that he played it for exact
ly what 1t was worth.
THE Pirate saw the Russians bet and
showed ten more blue chips into the pot
II was the heaviest single bet that had
been made-S50 000-but the Russians face
was imperturbable as he covered the
raises with his own blue chips, and then.
having scarcely any more ivory in 'front.'
of him, scrubbed an J. O. IT, for $780,
O0O and threw that on the board,
1.-THE Pirate smiled ever so slightly ana
ceased smiling so quickly and skillfully
that it passed at the value he intended.
Then he. 100, scrubbed his card, but the
figures were $4,000. 1t was a raise of
$500, GOETHE largest single bet on a poker
hand thut I ever heard Of
II looked lleenly as did every one else
i'm the room. at the Russians face but
IL was inscrutabie. He looked for a mo-
ment as Il debating a point in his mind
and at length he said 81 fear / cannot
make good with ready money, but if you
care
=" IT makes no difference whatever said
the Pirate, pleasantly You may take a
month if you Ike 70 settle
The Russian looked at him, a little
doubtfully as. il seemed TO me. and so did
the Armenian, who iu a moment more
spoke suddenly. / always thought he did
il to test the Pirates nerve but If he
did the test was futile, for there was no
s47A " any 4A-Ai-' ~ ~ 14-af'N-ttNh VA tilf
latter's face.
d" Il cannot accommodate your highncss
with a check for your stale of hand was
what he said but the Russian looked at
him a little cody, ! thought and. after
a moments pause he said: I thank you,
sir, but and he threw his cards into
the discard
1T was a supreme moment, and the Pr
rate disappointed me badly. Tire appeal
TO his vanity was too great, and he could
not forbear showing what he had done.
Drawing IN the pot with a triumphant
smile. he laid his cards on the table, face
up showing a pair Of sevens only.
"Not a word was spoken, though the
Russians face grew dark at the taunt.
The governor called for fresh deck and
dealt the next hand and the game went
on as before.
"The nerve that had carried the bluff
50 successfully failed under the rebuke
that the silence conveyed, 50 that the Pr
rates play after that was poor and when
the game stopped he was the heaviest
loser In the party, excepting the English
man. And ] don't think any one was
sorry though he was our host
81 couldn't play 81 limit with any sat-
isfactlon, though, for a long time after |
saw that game" said the gray-haired,
young-looking man, lighting his pipe.