The sun., 1897-10-03


would spend money levishly about the hotel.
always maintaining the proprieties to an emf.
nent degree, however, and after n while the
women Of tho hotel would begin to form her ac.
the acquaintance OF the husbands, and she
usually contrived that tho women with whom
wealthy husbands. She was a brilliant woman,a
musician OF excellence, and Just the sort Of wo.
man man that other ,women's husbands would feel
ulsposed TO be gallant to, and 1t would not be
long, before she had the cream Of the moneyed
portion of the hotels guests just where she
wanted It. There would be exchanges of visits
among the women, and after while she wou
make her M inevitable, suggestion And can't we
Moth ng easier than that. And she would
always play with the wives of her victims In the
should STe !Rs Fop E sIS
the game would be for small limit, and Kate
would raise It only by small degrees. The
vince little when they saw them beginning
70 lose rather SSaTmngly S but 4 they said al any
ness. Kate would lead up to one big night.
make winning that would often run into
the thousands, quite complacently accept the
tho victims wives, and start for other fields.
The men, unwilling to acknowledge even, to
by mere woman, would insist to their wives
that Kate was all right, only that sho had had q
marvellous run Of luck. and absolutely forbid
their saying word around the hotel concerning
their losses. Thus when, as often happened.
season she would find no barriers up against
her, and would be as welcome guest as before.
with new set of victims 10 pluck.
=" suppose tho most exciting night In Kate
Stork g career was the night she went up against
Byron McGregor. the famous San Francisco faro
until he told her at the finish OF the game who
he was Kate had never met McGrcgor, as they
were in different lines of business. and anyhow
Kate never made practice Of going with folks
| who followed any branch OF her own profession.
Nc who at hs S was rannng
| Francisco knew Kate well by sight, and
h, also knew Of the holes she was
| whose money he would rather have taken in at
his bank He was rather curious to meet her,
| played to do such remarkable winning Byron
McGregor was himself supreme master OF the
% snd h nSS but h
how to play crooked, too, II he wanted to. when
he stacked up against people who, not knowing
"McGresor went down to the hotel at San
Jose at which Kate was working up her game
looking man OF ;s5 at this ine. lie went to San
Jose TO meet Kate and to play cards with her:
his points well, and was soon in the toterio
about TO be plucked by the woman whose game
| he desired to know. The Cotcrie consisted of n
denver merchant. Their wives were in the
game, but dummies. and they finally withdrew
one night altogethcr when their hushands were
losing rapidly to. Kate. This was Kate's big
night and she didn't bother about their with.
"McGrcgcr came into the game late, and as it
| quite accidentally. when Kate was several
Sna dollars dnS ahead Of both men He
to 20 in apparent alright at the card playing
when Kate. thinking she saw another good
| thing. invited him into the game.
oh; l don't know whether know enough
about it or not" said d McGregor; but she 2, per,
he never felt so clated in his life-not for the
money, but for tho experience OF seeing how a
| young woman could delve so deeply into the
pockets of men who were pretty good them.
selves.
about an even thousand at the first go off when
he got in. But he studying her game. and
knew how to do it. while they were only tidget.
ing and wondering whole lot. McGregor
lie lost another thousand. and smiled in.
werdly. but assumed an outward nervous APP
pear nee. The two merchants lost right along
| They had agreed 10 quit at midnight Al
five minute: to II McGregor had the buck and
"'I had to steady my self like diver to make
that M deal he afterward said. for wanted to
The Denver merchant was at McGregor't
left He couldn't open the jack. The Chic &C
1.-Two thousand said She
"'I did little squirming.' McGregor after
ward said, to make me look weak
Ten thousend more. said Mct;regor.
into the pot She looked eompiaisant, as If only
confronting buffer. and sure that the money
Both she and McGregor stood pat 1t wal
her first bet.
Five dollars snid she.
"'l call you." said NcGregor.
Kate threw down a queen-high straight
flush of spades McGrecor threw down king
pae eu' Mcresor calmly esnea oSsr
swept the money in front OF him. and count ed II
There was over $4,000. NcEregor deliberat c
y removed the original jackpot entry money o
the two merchants and passed 1t to them. TheI
he subtraCted from the money he had himsel
put into the jack. together with his previous
losses which were about So 600. The remainder
he passed over TO Kate. Underneath the pile wa
his card. which she read with a lightning glancc
and grew white.
THE thing has gone too far explained Nc
tiregor rising; and. anyhow. one doesn't Tx
a. the same McGrcgor nfterward said t,
some men in San Francisco. Kate plays tn,
sweIest game OF short poker ever went VI
| against and Id nd Nise Ynu moi to tackle IL ~