The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-09
POKER AND NO MISTAKE
Cost Big Money to Play Before the
Draw Was introduced.

Draw Was Introduced.
Il was very much interested in that
story that was published the other day
about the game of draw poker that
Henry Clay played in said the gray
haired young looking man TO the New
York Sun, and especially so, as the
date of the game was given explicitly
as 1S4S. That particular game was
! played at least a dozen years before
draw poker had been evolved from the
old original game of poker.
Thy did play poker as long as As,
but it was straight poker with no
draw. You bet on the first five cards
you received in the deal without get
ting any more, and you made the bet
very often without looking at them
yourself, wherefore the game was ap
propriately called bluff as often as it
were often very high, so that the $685.
600 which Mr.. Clay is said to have lost
betting against four kings and an ace
was not an unprecedented wager. Ben
Ash of Mobile, saw a game in that
same year in which the stakes were
much higher. Over $4,000 changed
hands in one pot, and even that, he
declared, was only small part of the
real wager that was made, won and
lost.
Ben was a youngster then, but was
old enough to have won the affection
of a charming young girl who was the
daughter of French planter named
d Aubigny. He was exceedingly
anxious to marry her and she was
stacle in the way. The paternal
D'Aubigny, though born in the United
States, was the scion of an aristocratic
family in France and had retained all
the pride of caste that belonged to his
ancestors. while Ash though a worthy
young fellow enough, with fair social
standing, was the son of Dave Ash,
the veteran theatrical manager of
Mobile, who was a Philadelphia
Quaker by birth.
A PLUNGER FROM WAYBACK.
IN. D'Aubigny was a friend of Dave
and was a typical southern planter.
This, being interpreted, means that he
was not averse to cards, and being
extremely wealthy he was a plunger
from the head waters of Plunge creek.
Ash was a stiff player himself, and it
was a very usual thing for game to
be going on in his private office after
the play was over and the theatre was
supposed to be closed for the night
And D'Aubigny was often among the
players.
Ben made confidant of his father,
who told him frankly that he saw no
hope of winning D'Aubigny's consent.
and that showing the Frenchman as
he did he was by no means disposed to
urge Ben'S case. 1t would only lead
TO quarrel he said. that would hurt
your chances more than anything
could do would help them But Ben
was desperate, and still urged the old
man to make some kind of trial.
CO..
for DAubigny had already fatty re-
fused, and that he. Ben, could see no
chance of moving him. So Dave prom
ised to see what he could do.
THE chance came sooner that he had
expected, for only a few nights later
D'Aubigny was playing in Ash's room,
and there came a duel in the game be-
tween him and the manager. They
each held four of a kind, and in the
old game tours were big enough for a
man to bet his entire fortune on. The
others in the game dropped out after
Ash had raised the bet $1,000, but
D'Aubigny doubled his raise as coolly
as possible, and they had it back and
forth $4,000, and then $4,000 at a clip,
till there was over $4,000 in the pot.
'It was tremendous betting, and so
far beyond what Ash had ever seen
that he was staggered. He was still
as confident of his four Of a kind as
ever, but it seemed like insanity to
gamble at such figures He hesitated.
as ne well might, when. with 100000
already up, D'Aubigny raised him $780,
900 more, and thought for several min
utes before speaking. There was no
question of doubt as to the payment
involved. for though they were playing
in an unlimited game, and fortune
was on the table in the shape of pen
ciled scraps of paper only, a gambling
debt was a debt of honor, and each
scrawl was as valuable as certified
check There was, however, serious
question in his mind as to how far he
should go, when suddenly he hap
pened to notice Ben's eager face in the
small circle of lockers on.
WON THE GIRL. Il
81 will see that s2O,OOO, he said, |
slowly, and l will make you another
bet in addition if you are willing to
close the pot on that. We have enough !
money up now, and this bet will settle |
a question that is more important than |
money to both of u.s..
What is it?' asked D'Aubigny. in /
surprise. He would probably have
kept on betting as long as he had any
thing left TO put up, but even he re-
allied that the stakes were already I'M |
reasonable.
MY son wants to marry your
daughter said Ash, and as l under
stand the matter, she is willing, but |
you will not consent. Now, l will bet |
you his wishes against yours. If lose, /
will guarantee that there shall be !
no marriage, and no further annoyance |
to you from him. If you lose. you give
your consent
well the Frenchman didn't know
to be insulted or not. His |