The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-18

that he take a hand in the game. and
he being more than willing, he sat at
our table.
"'were playing ten dollars limit,
Gill; said one of the party, who knew
that money was not always plentiful
with the big fellow. But he laughed
carelessly and said: That's all right
as he pulled out $50 and bought chips.
Martin looked at him rather keenly,
as / thought, for an instant, and said:
" Been out to st. Paul tonight, CLIP
"'Yes, l have said Gilmartin, and 1
was sure that l saw a half-laughing
look of defiance on his face as he
answered. 1t puzzled me at the mo-
ment, but l understood the question
and answer afterward. Martin, 1t
seemed, suspected that Gimartin had
perfected his arrangements to go cleo
tioneering, and that he had the money
in his pocket with which he was eX-
pected to do his work. 1t was this that
he had asked by implication, and Gil
martin, understanding him perfectly,
and knowing that he could not keep his
secret long from the other, had ad-
mitted it. AS it proved, he had $1,000
in greenbacks with him.
THE game went on without any spe-
cial development for perhaps half an
hour before I noticed that Martin was
playing against Gilmartin as heavily
as he could and only trying to hold his
own against the rest of u.s. Gilmartin
held his end up fairly. and was not far
from even when Martin got his first
good chance at him. 1t was a pretty
play too, for Gilmartin thought, as the
rest of us did, that Martin was bluff
fipp WI ba or
| himself with coming in without a raise
every time it came his bet, until the
rest of us had dropped out. Then he
raised Gilmartin the limit. Gilmartin
had "a jack-high flush and was conf
| dent, so they had it back and forth till
| Gilmartin called and gave up $400 to
| an ace flush.
THAT was the heaviest pot for long
time, but presently the two got to-
| gether again and Gilmartin lost two
! hundred more. Then he grew a little
nervous and Martin grew cooler. Then
| Gilmartin became angry, though he
controlled himself tolerably well, and
| | was sure that Martin would beat him.
| So it proved. 1t came my deal soon
| after in a Jackpot, and Gilmartin
| opened it. We all came in, standing
| Martins raise. / had aces, but didn't
better in the draw, so l laid down after
one raise. Martin drew three cards, as
did each of the others, excepting Gill
martin, who drew two. He bet the
limit, and the next man laid down.
Martin raised it the limit, and another
man and myself dropped out. Gilmar-
tin raised and the fourth man threw
down his cards. That left the two
alone again, and Martin raised back.
THE FIGHT BEGINS.
"'Ten better than you,' said Gilmar-
tin savagely, and then with a short
laugh he added, You won't get away
with me this time.
'If you think So said Martin quiet
ly, what do you say to taking off the
limit?'
THAT will suit me exactly said
Gilmartin, and Martin pushed up his
last blue chip and a hundred-dollar bill.
"1'll see that and go you five hun
dred better said Gilmartin eagerly,
and he skinned the bills off from big
roll that he drew from an inside pocket.
"'Does my check go?' asked Martin.
I haven't so much money with me-
Its good for fifty thousand, and
you know it, said Gilmartin.
" L raise you thousand said Mar
tin.
"'And I'll go you a thousand better,
exclaimed the other.He was getting ex-
cited, but nobody dared to speak II
was a serious matter to interfere in a
game like that.
"a thousand better was the re-
sponse.
"Gilmartin hesitated. He looked al
his cards and thought for a moment
Then he counted his money.
"I'll have to call you he said final
ly, for I've only got twelve hundred
left
Martins face was perfectly impass.
i've. He, too, hesitated a moment, and
then he spoke.
"I'll put UP five thousand more, Il
you want to play for it, he said.
} "'Rut how can 1? I tell you 1 haven't
any more money said Gilmartin, look.
; ing puzzled.
IF you will give me your promise tC
, go as far south as st. Louis for sixty
) days and tell nobody that you are go
ing, Ill take that as an equivalent fol
| the five thousand said Martin yer!
slowly and distinctly
"Gilmartin flushed. He knew tina
everybody in the room understood th'
: proposition. He was asked to sell ou
his honor, for going away in that fash
: ion meant betraying his employer anC
, running away with his money, as wei
r as leaving him in the lurch. l eX
, | pected to hear an indignant outburs
: of invective and abuse, and indeed tn
man was about to speak when an
t other thought seemed to strike him
1 and he grew deathly white, TIL
= gambling fever had seized him, and h
S looked at his cards again.
a PROPOSITION ACCEPTED.
e while he was hesitating Marti
e spoke again, and the devilish coolnes
e of his speech made me shudder.
i 81 need not say anything to impres
4 on the minds of all the gentlemen pres
e ent that this is a private party he SAID
g and that nothing which happens her
= can be told outside while 1t can by an
e possibility work injury to any one con
e cerned'
t "Gilmartin looked around at ever
n ] man in the room, and seeing by ou
a faces that we all recognized the obli
= cation, he seemed nerved as Marti
l. had meant that he should be, to TAX
: the risk.
I'm take the bet,' he said at length
; and he spoke desperately. But Go
| holm win n don