The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-07-02
Why lie Foreswore Cards.|
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THREE ESCAPES THAT INDUCED A !
MAN TO GIVE UP POKER. !
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~ DON'T care to play" said the quiet

\
little man in the smoking COM
partment on the first evening of the
trip eastward from San Francisco. There
were only four men on the car who had
thus far shown signs of being COM
panionable, and he was one of the four.
They had dined and were enjoying their
cigars together. Thetalk was desultOry
and amounted to little. One proposed
game of cards, and two of the others
were ready, but the little man declined.
The pause that followed was little
awkward. They did not even know one
another by name, and the wording of
the refusal seemed curt. The little man
seemed to realize this, for after mo-
ment of silence he continued:
Nothing would have given me great
er pleasure year ago than to join you
in a game of poker. In fact, nothing
would give me greater pleasure now,
but [ am done with cards, and believe
anyone of you would refuse, as do, if
cards had cost you what they have me-"
The others spoke a few polite moth
ings, to the general effect that it was a
free country and nobody was obliged
to play anything he didn't want to play,
and one-the youngest in the party
said:
"Unlucky, l suppose"
Him! Well, don't exactly know as
you'd call it that" said the little man,
reflectively. Il most always win when l
play, or used to, that's; butI've had some
OF the cussedeSt, narrowest squeahs
in the game that could easily be i'm
agined, and l made up my mind some
time since that I'd had enough of 'em.
And as l can't play cards without get
ting back into poker, 1 just naturally
quit cards.
STORY about it?" asked the young
man.
"Y-yes. Sort of. But I'm no story
teller"
Man won't play cards. Ought to do
something" This was the young mans
appeal to the other two. They nodded.
well, L don't know as L mind spin
ming the yarn" said the little man after
little hesitation, seeing that you don't
y
any of you be likely to see me again
after we separate at the end of the trip.
If you knew me l wouldn't care to tell
1T Just as it was, and it wouldn't be
worth telling any other way. The
first narrow escape l had was from
state prison, and good deal worse. At
least | count it was worse, for would
have taken with me to prison the con-
seriousness that 1 deserved to go, and
according to my notion the knowledge
that you deserve punishment is a deal
worse than the punishment itself.
The game fascinated me, as it fas-
clnates everybody, think, who plays
it much. l played more and more, and
as 1 generally held my own, and won
more often than I lost, I got to playing
harder and harder till I was not con-
tented with anything but big game
the bigger the better. L have travelled
three times all the way between Chi
cago and Washington to get into game
with genuine high rollers. Of course
couldn't do that sort of thing without
good supply of ready money and a
considerable amount of spare time. 1
had both, for had fair cash capital
and business of my own that paid me
well. And my business was in such a
condition that could leave it to nv en-
ployes for week at time
Zone night there was particularly
stiff game at the club freguented most
in New York, where I then lived. The
limit was off, and raise of a thousand
was made several times during the even
ing. l had expected hot work, and had
put $4,000 in my pocket that afternoon,
There was one man in the game that ]
particularly wanted to beat, partly be-
cause he was noted player and had
never met him before. watched him
carefully. and twice in the course of
Mr.. c. L. Hasbrouch, druggist at
Mendon, Mich, says all of the good
testimonials that have been published
by the manufacturers of Chamber.
lain's Collie, Cholera and Diarrhea
Remedy could be duplicated in that
town. Sold by all Druggists.
You may hunt the world over and
you will not find another medicine
equal to Chamberlain's Collie, Cholera
and Diarrhea Remedy for bowel COM
plants. It is pleasant, safe and re-
liable. For sale by all Druggists.