The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-01-20
LAMBERTVILLE, N j., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 90 1897.

Then we had to decide who should
go, and l supposed, of course, that we
would draw lots, but ono of the men
spoke up unexpectedly:
"Whoover goes, he said, doesn't
want to start for some hours. The scout
says just after day break is the best time.
What is the matter of settling this thing
with poker? We can play freeze out, and
three games will settle it. the winner
dropping out each time =
The proposition caught me- You
know l used to pride myself on my
poker, After little hesitation the others
agreed The man who proposed it had
the cards, and we counted out 600 coffee
beans for chips and began playing on n
blanket folded and laid ON tho ground
You would think the details Of
game like that would fix themselves in
the memory so that would be able To
tell you every hand / held and every
bet l made, wouldn't you: Well. |
can't. In fact, can't tell ANYTHING
about the first game excepting that l
was the first man TO loso all his chips
had played often enough for what |
thought We're high stakes, but the
thought that was playing for my life
ratified me completely, and l really be-
lieve bet at random.
Whatever l did | lost. and tho man
who had proposed the game won out
lie was shot in gambling house three
months later-had an extra ace in his
sleeve, believe or something like that.
The next freeze out, between three OF
Us, was comparatively short ono. 1t
did not take more than 20 minutes for
the scout to gather i'll all the chips, hut,
short MS it was, managed to get myself
together little, though was still full
of the thought of the value of the stakes
"a thing which. have noticed, always
interferes with my play
when the third game began, how
ever. / pulled myself together with
most tremendous effort and really be-
came as cool as | ever had been before
at "A game of cards. The man | played
against this time was young English
man whom had grown tn esteem highly
Ill the short time | had known him.
His people mt home never heard this
story. and hope they never will They
know that he was killed by the Indians
and that ho WAS On n hunting trip, but
they never heard Of his last game of
cards nor of the WY he rode to his
death.
"Wo had eaeh 200 beans and half
dozen hands We're dealt before either Of
us got cards To bet TN Then ON my deal
l caught three deuees and made it 90 to
play. He looked at his cards and raised
me so. which covered He drew ono
card and lot it lio without looking at it,
while he watched me-
II saw him locking, of course, and |
am more glad than am Of almost any.
thing else | ever did in nm almost use.
less life TO think that | made the worst
play l ever saw made | liked the man
well, rs i said. and some impulse that
l couldn't understand then, and can +
explain now, told me To leave the thing
to chance and to give him little the
better ciunea.
Il had played with him before, and |
was certain that he was drawing to %
flush, and somehow | felt that he had
filled il. OF course | should have drawn
To the strength of my hand, but didn't,
| drew ono card only, holding up an
eight spot 10 my deuees, and | showed
all my beans into the pct without look.
ing at my draw.
lie gave me one look, in which
read perfect appreciation Of what |
had done, and without word and
without lifting his fifth card he pushed
his chips forward.
Then my nerve gave out. | grow ns
white as death. | know, though no ono
ever told mo So and actually could
not lift my cards His nerve never
shook, though. apparently, and he turn
ed his fifth card over ns he laid il On
the blanket. They were all clubs.
"lIc looked At me. and swear saw
regret III his eyes | tell you he WAC "A
man. Then | managed to turn my hand
over had drawn the other eight. "
The westerner stopped He drained
his glass and then said
Waiter, bring another bottle and
bring me some whisky besides This stuff
doesn go to the right spot " Then,
after he had had his drink, he said:
"You don't wonder, do you. that
don't play poker any more2'
No, said his hearers. "hut finish
the story
''Oh. there ism much more to it. At
least that Is the end of it, as | think
about it. The EnRlishman shook hands
with us all and rode away. We watched
I 4. a
fully three miles. A good many Indians
fell before he did, for he was clever
shot. Later III the day the company
came to our rescue, and | am glad to
say II good many more Indians paid for
his death with their USn. New York
SIM.