Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-24


fore raising the question who should be
the man. 1t took only a few minutes,
though, for the scout to give his advice,
which was for one to ride out, waving
white handkerchief. He was to keep
to the eastward and ride as hard as ne
dared toward the Indians, looking
sharply for the weakest point in their
line toward his right. He should then
make dash and ride as hard az possible
until 1T was all over, firing as often as
he could.
"Then we had to decide who should
go, and I supposed, Of course, that we
would draw lots, but one Of the men
spoke up unexpectedly:
"Whoever goes, he said, doesn't
want to start for some hours. The scout
says just after daybreak 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"
1.-THE proposition caught me. You
know / 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
blanket folded and laid on the ground.
"You would think the details Of q
game like that would fix themselves in
the memory SO that would be able 10
tell you every band L held and every
bet l made, wouldn't you? Well. I
can't. In fact, can't tell anything
about the first game excepting that l
was the first man to lose all his chips.
had played often enough for what I
thought were high stakes, but to
thought that I was playing for my life
ratified me completely, and I really be-
lieve I bet at random.
Whatever did lost, and the man
who had proposed the game won out
He was shot in gambling house three
months later-had an extra ace in his
sleeve, Ibelieve, or something like that.
1.-The next freeze out, between three Of
us, was comparatively short one. 1t
did not take more than 20 minutes for
the scout to gather in all the chips, but,
short as it was, managed to get myself
together little, though was still full
of the thought Of the value of the stakes
"a thing which, lhave 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 I played
against this time was young English
man whom had grown to esteem highly
in the short time l had known him.
His people at home never heard this
story, and hope they never will. Til
know that he was killed by the Indians
and that he was on hunting trip, but
they never heard Of his last game Of
cards nor of the way he rode to his
death.
"We had each 800 beans, and half a
dozen hands were dealt before either Of
us got cards to bet on. Then on my desl
I caught three deuces and made it 80 to
play. He looked at his cards and raised
mo 80, which / covered. He drew one
card and let it lie without looking at it,
while he watched me.
II saw him looking, Of course, and I
am more glad than I am Of almost any
thing else ever did In an almost USE
less life to think that I made the WORT
play ever saw made. liked the man
we'll, as said, and some impulse that
! couldn't understand then, and can't
explain now, told me to leave the thing
to chance and to give him little the
better chance.
~ had played with him before, and
was certain hat he was Craving to a
flush, and somehow ! felt that he had
filled it. OF course I should have drawn
to the strength Of my hand, but didn't.
/ drew one card only, holding up an
eight spot to my deuces, and l showed
all my beans into the pot without look
ing at my draw.
He gave me one look, in which l
read perfect appreciation Of what I
had done, and without word and
without lifting his fifth card he pushed
his chips forward.
: "Then my nerve gave out. I grew as
white as de- tn, l know, though no one
ever told me SO, and actually could
not lift my cards. His nerve never
shook, though, apparently, and he turn
ed his fifth card over as he laid it Oh
the blanket. They were all clubs.
He looked at me, and swear saw
regret in his eyes. tell you he was
man. Their 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't go to the right spot. Then,
after he had had his drink, he said:
"You do,'t wonder, do you, that ]
don't play poker any more?'
"No," said his hearers, "but finish
the story. "
"Oh, there isn't much more to it. At
least that is the end Of it, as I think
about it. The Englishman shook hands
with us all and rode away. We watched
him until he fell, and he must have gone
fully three miles. A good many Indirns
fell before be did, for he was cleve
shot. Later in the day the company
came to our rescue, and am glad to
say a good many more Indians paid for
his death with their own. New York
Sun.
Armor For NIillionaires.