The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-11
PAID HIM TO FORGET
IT WAS LUCKY THE PROPRIETOR
TOOK HIM FOR A REPORTER.

A Quiet Little Game In new horh mere
r,.v PLAYED ..senator"--The Man Who
PLAYED For the House Gave $50 For the
pr,vi,ere of Drawing to Ace and King.
One of the highest squeezes that l
ovor cot out of, said the inveterate polk
az nlayer. was in New York during the
rise of the great moral wave that was
being felt in every gambling house in
the city.
was almost total stranger in the
CITY. but the second night after my ar
,ival | let the clerk Of the hotel know
that wanted TO find some place where
there was little game, not too steep,
in progress. and after sizing me up for
a time he whispered a number in my
ear
After sundry rappings and waitings /
nassed through series OF halls and
rooms and was shown into large gam
hing parlor that was apparently doing
a good business in spite Of the reform
ers.
seated myself at table where they
were playing "senator. The game is
nothing more nor less than poker with
the exception that it is all jackpots. and
a man can open the pot on any kind of
a hand he wishes instead of having to
see before him the traditional lacks or
better" This scheme makes the game
a much livelier one and more attractive
70 men who are good at bluffing.
There were six Of us playing. The
cards were dealt by a man employed by
the house, who dealt to every man in
turn. Any player had the privilege Of
dealing for himself if he wished, and
this permission was supposed to allay
all doubt as to the disinterestedness Of
the dealer.
The game was comparatively new to
me. and as it is confusing one &c a
man who has been accustomed to sizing
up the man who opened the pot as sure
w having some sort of "a hand l lost
steadily.
From several things l gathered that
the man at my right was playing for
the house''-that is, he was supplied
with chips free and paid to the proprie-
tor certain per cent Of his winnings.
As the game is one of bluffing and a
man free from care and betting other
peoples money can bluff better than a
man who sees his little pile steadily
diminishing, the man who played for
the house very generally won.
When l came into the room l had with
me $500, money that l had collected for
my employer, for was out on collect
ing tour. In one brief hour l was down
to 800, and then came my first good
hand.
had three big aces pat, and opened
the pot for good sum. The most OF the
players at the table who had noticed my
timid style Of play at once dropped at
my exhibition of strength, and began
to kick myself for giving my hand away
so. The only man that staid was the
one who believed was playing for the
house.
He drew three cards, and l drew one
and bet $25. The other man looked at
my pile of chips and said, "How much
have you on the table?"
answered, Fifty dollars. "
well, | will raise You that $50, "
said he. with q laugh.
OF course called, and he laid down a
straight, ace high, with the remark that
it was pretty lucky draw to an ace and
king that he had held up. l remarked
that it was wonderfully lucky draw
and asked how often he paid $50 for a
70 t, nd l.
Every one could see l was suspicious
Of cheating when / rose from the table
and remarked that l had had enough.
1t was enough, for l didn't have anoth-
er cent with me and little at the hotel.
l lotered about the different games
for awhile, for it is a great source of in
terest to heavy loser TO see other men
win and notice how easy they take it.
While standing near the outer door
took out my notebook to see what chance
had of collecting enough to cover my
loss until l bad time to make it good.
had hardly made couple of figures
when | saw the man who had won the
last pot from me get up from the table
IN hasty manner and address another
man, who was presiding at the wheel.
This man was the proprietor, and he
at once came over to me and in conf
Dental tone inquired if l was report
er. l saw my notebook had given him
the impression and answered in an as
sured sort of way, Eyes.
Well, said he chow much is it
going to take to make you forget this?''
didn't realize exactly what he
meant, but answered that it had taken
5000 to make me remember it. He rush.
ell me into the hall, handed me 81 ZOO
and said, We'll, forget it now.
was saved and have never been a
reporter since. Boston Globe.
Prompted.