The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-01
POKER ON THE TRAIN
AM OLD CONDUCTOR TALKS OF THE
t@ALCvoN DAYS ON THE ROAD.


Cs1ldn't Loss-The Game In which Jsr-
ssy Jerrys Four Aces Were Beaten By
Unsls Zoe Reddy. the Old Drover.
was conductor on trunk line rail.
road in the flush days that Immediately
preceded the close Of the war and prevail
cd for few years after the close. had
been on -sthe road but week or two and
was not yet acquainted with all its pa
trons. In going through the train collect
ing fares this day speak of came to
four passengers who were absorbed In a
game of poker. newspaper spread on
their laps to play on.
Fares. please" said.
People didn't bother much about buying
tickets in those days, and large proper
tion of the fares were paid on the trains.
Three of the men handed over their mon
ey. The fourth, who seemed somewhat
excited, said:
Conductor, can't you come round a
little later?'
told him must have his fare then and
there He looked at his companions, hest
tated moment and then said:
"will you let me take little rake of
for my fare, fellowss'
They declined to do so.
Conductor" said be- holding up a
handful Of gun wads, "them stands for all
the money 1 got I'm goin to bet 'em on
this here hand, and the mischief OF it Is
I'll have to call before I've done IL justice
This il the hand"
He passed &c up to me, shielding 1t care
fully from all other eyes. 1t was four aces.
j became interested at once i had $50 In
nv pocket. reached In and took out SEQ
and handed it to the holder of the big
hand.
go ahead" said I. "Bet that on 1t
too
He Ad so. Two Of the other players
dropped out The fourth staid, and /
passed my remaining $40 to the man with
the four aces. That was my pile, and he
had to call He hated to, he said, and i
hated to have him do 1t, with hand like
that, but there was no help for It. He call
ed The other man showed down straight
flush. He got my money and the money
or the man backed, and hadn't even
got the mans fare / stopped the train
and put him of, and that was all the sat
isfaction got out Of IL. The next station
was the end of my run. That same even
iuR saw the man had backed and put
Oh the train and his three companions
board an east bound train.
"Do you know any of those chaps'" l
asked the station agent
know 'emp' he replied. Rather.
They 're four of the slipperiest card sharps
ON the line Of the r., G. and W."
They had initiated me; that was all
A great many drovers travelled on the
railroad during the war. They carried
plenty of money and were generally easy
and profltabl game for the professional
card plsyers Some Of the drovers, though,
had the reputation Of being very handy
with cards themselves and Dragged Of It.
I ussd 10 bear of Uncle Joe Reddy, Big Ike
Eloat and others as among the quick wit
ted drovers who were said to be able to
take care Of themselves against the tricks
Of the sharperx One day noticed among
my passengers a noted card sharp, known
hmiliarly as Jersey Jerry. At a way sta
tion little old man, gray and wrinkled,
but still active and spry, got aboard the
train. He was very loquacious old gen.
tleman and gave me the impression that
he had been indulging overmuch in apple
Jack, that being belt Of country famous
for that insinuating and lingering tipple.
He talked to every body within hearing
and finally expressed a willingness to play
any one game Of old sledge for quarter
. corner. Nobody paid any attention to
the garrulous old fellow for long time,
and then Jersey Jerry began to take an in
terest In him. This surprised me, as the
old man seemed to me to be rather small
game for that farreaching individual. At
any rate before long Jerry was busy play.
ing him old sledge for quarter corner,
and the old man was winning every game,
much to his apparent delight, and In the
process of putting away and producing his
stakes he displayed wallet the plethora
of which explained the interest Jersey Jer.
~ was manifesting in him.
After awhile, In going through the
train, noticed that the game had changed
TO poker and that Jerry had evidently led
his intended victim afong until they wers
playing a pretty stiff game, but the old
man was winning, and he was elated be
yond measure and more garrulous thar
ever. / stopped to watch the play. 1t wal
Jerry's deal. knew somehow that nov
he had worked up to his game and tina
the climax was ut hand. felt sorry fo
the old man, but 1t was not my affair. HI
had paraded himself too much anyhow
As Jerry tossed his opponents cards Il
him l caught glance of each and woult
nave sworn tnht TOUR Oh tnein Were kings
The old man took them up cautiously ant
held them close. He seemed to gloat owe
the possession of them. He drew no cards
Jerry drew one. Then they began to bet
The old man was game, and came back q
Jerry without quaver. Four kings wa
. tremendous hand, but / knew that Jer
sey Jerry had given himself better one a
we'll as I knew i was there BY and By
there was more than $500 In the pot, ant
the old man seemed satisfied He called.
what "a ye got, ye young smartys" h,
sid
-Four aces, pop" said Jerry. "That'
all."
"Ye hain't got enough on EN-, Jerry,
exclaimed the old man, and Jerry starte
20 hear his name called "Ye hain't &c
enough on 'em, cause got five on 'er
myself"
And the old man, with grin ths
meant q great deal and look In his cy,
that meant great deal more, spread Il,
zoos on the newspaper they wero playin
ON and cooliy raked the money In an
slowed 10 in his wallet To the utt,