The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-07-03
A $500 ROLL.
Up Against . Half Dollar For q Whole
Evening Without Knowing 1t.

The sporting man stood at the bar
toying idly with the dicebox.
Funny thing, Joe," he remarked
to the bartender, chow little saloon
gambling there is nowadays. Now,
there was a time, only a few years
ago, when you couldn't go into a
saloon up this way without hearing
the rattle of the dicebox."
A plainly dressed young man
came in and ordered a drink of whis-
ky. He gave it a dash of absinthe,
tossed it off at one gulp, threw Is
cents on the bar and glanced over
at the sporting man.
shaker" said the latter.
Zone or two to kill time" said
the stranger.
The sporting man tossed a halt
dollar on the bar. The stranger did
likewise, the dice rolled out, and the
stranger won. He won the second
and the third time, then lost twice
and won once more.
Lucky start" remarked the
sporting man. "Have something's
Nothing for me, thanks"
The sporting man drank a hot
Scotch, and the game went on. Halt
an hour passed away, and the sport
was $40 behind the game.
Make it a dollar and one shake
he suggested. g.
II never change my game" said
the stranger.
Very WE'LL" said the sporting
man good naturally. Its a little
faster, that's all"
"This is fast enough for me-"
Have a drink"
mo, thanks"
The sporting man drank another
hot Scotch, and the game went on.
The luck was against him, and his
losses grew with every shake. Once
in a while he'd make a squirt and
win three or four straight pots.
Then the stranger would win half a
dozen to make up for it. Two hours
had passed, and the sporting man
was $40 in the hole. He grew ex.
cited.
I'll shake you for $50 or quits -
he said, hauling out a roll as big
around as his leg.
81 never change my game, -" said
the other quietly.
In another half hour the stranger
was $50 ahead, and the sporting
man was very nervous.
Friend, will you oblige me by
having a drink?" he said.
II really don't care to drink"
said the stranger, and the sport
drank his Scotch alone once more.
Then there was a turn in the luck.
Ten dollars went back to the sport.
ing man in less than Is minutes.
Ten more followed it, and the sports
brow cleared. The stranger neve1
turned a hair. Gradually the half
dollars went back to their original
owner, and finally, after three hours
of play, the men were just where
started. II. -, d.,
"Now have a drink" said the
sporting man, with a sigh of relief.
mo, thanks" said the stranger,
tossing a half dollar on the bar and
picking up the box. Let's shake.i''
In three throws he rolled out four
deuces. The sporting man threw
four trays and hauled in the money.
THANK you, remarked the stran-
ger, "for a pleasant evening"
You're not going to quite" said
the sporting man in amazement.
Cant do anything else. Only
started with a half dollar. 1 couldn't
drink with you without asking you
to drink, and l couldn't do that
without using money which 1 meant
to give you a chance to win back.
Good day." and he walked out of
the saloon"
"Well I'm BANKED" said the
sport to the bartender. ITO think
had a roll of $500 up against his SO
cents. Great Scott! If the luck
hadn't changed, he might have had
the whole roll, and l never had a
chance to get more than that half
dollar. Give me another Scotch. y
And, looking very pale, the sport
drank up his liquor, buttoned his
coat and went out.-New York Sun.