The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-06

whisky the landlord and the plainsmaI
came in together, and Overland Jacl
instantly called TO them both TO come
over and have drink. They came, ana
the plainsman put out his hand, laugh
ing.
= You are good one, he said
What did you throw down four aces
for?'
My friend said Overland Jack
when you have played cards as much
as l have you will know that there are
times when four aces are not worth
four cents And when you have been
through what l have you will know
that it is damned foolish to pull the
second gun. When you hear a click
and your own gun is not out, it is
time to quit the game
Well, you are a good one, said the
plainsman again and they all drank. 9.
At that time the old Morton house
was the center of a good deal of the
excitement of various kinds that was
going on in the city, and it was natural
enough that Overland Jack should put
up there when he arrived in New York.
He did so, and looked around quietly
enough for few days without making
himself known. 1t was not hard for
him to strike hotel acquaintance with
jim Morton, who was then running the
house alone, after Ryan's death, and
II was not long before Overland Jack
managed to be in the room as a spec
tator when there was a t0lerably stiff
game of poker going on. He hadn't
been invited to play, and he was not
making proposals. He was simply
aW aiting his chance, and it came sud
denly.
Morton was in the game. So was
Shed Shook, and so were the late Cen
eral Owens, Ed Gilman and a senator
from Albany, who spent considerable
time in the city. They were betting
pretty well and playing table stakes
Morton was called away by summons
from the office. and. not caring to quit
the game, he looked around for some
body TO take his hand while he should
go down stairs for a few minutes. 1t
happened that he saw Overland Jack
first among the lookers-on, and he
asked him if he would keep the seat
warm for him.
Naturally, Overland Jack didn't re-
tuye but as he sal down he said: If
you want me to play for you, you'd
better leave me some more money, for
l snail play your cards for all they are
worth"
Morton had 5000 or $500 on the table
at the time, but he didn't hesitate an
instant. Putting his hand in his pocket
he pulled out a roll and tossed it down
IN front of Overland Jack. VINO did not
even count it, but nodded and showed
the money all together and waited for
ms cards. He never made any charge
a1terward that anybody was trying to
play tricks in that game, but he did
say that he was satisfied in his own
mind that certain man in that party
was going to hold four deuces the next
time II came to Overland Jacks deal
1t was jack pot and the deuce man
opened 1t for $50. The others came in
ana Overland Jack raised il $50. The
deuce man raised it $50 more and all
stayed
"On the draw the deuce man called
Tor one, the next man stood pat on a
flush, the next drew two cards and
didn't fill, the next drew to two pairs
ana ana didn't better, and the dealer took
three. The opener proceeded to make
merry at his expense. You raised it
on palr, eh! he exclaimed. Well you
nave nerve, TO be sure. Do they pIav
that kind of poker where you came
from? II they do you have come to a
good place TO learn the game. Why, 1
have you beaten without a struggle
And he showed 500 into the pot.
Yes, said Overland Jack, cody. I
opened it on pair of queens and he
turned them over, while ne let the three
ne had drawn lie where they had
Iallen, without looking at them him
self. A pair of queens is a good hand
TO draw to- he continued. speaking
with calm Indifference to the open
amusement of all the others. There are
more queens in the pack, L suppose,
ana may get some of them
Yes, you may, said the opener.
with sheer. You may get struck by
ginning, but I'm not looking for it to
happen this evening"
The flush man stayed, and the next
Two dropped out. Then Overland Jack
saw the hundred and raised it a hum
lred, stlll without looking at his cards.
The opener skinned through his
land to make sure that he still had
al ms deuces, and then said with pa
.ernal severity: Young man, I'm sorry
or you, but you certainly ought to be
aught something of the rudiments of
ms game. If you are determined TO
oet' III give you a chance. I'll see
our hundred and raise you two hun
ired and fifty
1T was too rich for the man with a
lush, and he threw down his cards
Lhen IL was Overland Jacks turn. He
pretended TO be greatly provoked. and |
'ald notify: l may be a younger man
nan you are, sir, but where L came |
rom we call two queens. with a chance /
or TWO more, good for a small bet
anyhow So I'll just cover your two
itty, and bet you the balance of the !
ne And he showed the whole of Nor |
on's money to the center of the table |
I'LL without counting it,
The others We're astonished but he
lad made the play and there was only !
ne opener TO talk to. He counted the 1
money. 1t was eleven hundred and |
id dollars. Then he counted his own. |
lie had only FIVE hundred with him and |
lie began to sputter
If you'll take check he began. |
nut Overland Jack stopped him.
NO cheeks he said, excitedly. This
3 table stakes.
Well if you'll wait till I go down
tairs and
=" oh, yes, sneered Overland Jack.
so out of the room and gather I'D four
I kind. ! suppose
And there was more talk that re-
ulted in the opener getting angry for
air play and calling the bet for the
mount of his pile. He slammed down
is four deuces as he did so and ex-
laimed: 'Therei Is that good, or do
GU think you have drawn the other
wo queens?
" Well, 1 don't know drawled Over
and Jack. Maybe / have Let's see
nd he turned over two queens and an
ce.
Everybody else in the room saw the
ONT, but the opener was furious
They're not good he shouted. You
ever got that hand honestly
= oh, yes, they're good said Over
md Jack, with still more of a drawI.
'our of kind is good-when you get
m out of the pack
There was a shout of laughter as
ne opener grew purple with rage and
verland Jack raked in the pot.
That was only one of his adventures
l this city. He had a number, and