The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-01-30
A GAME OF POKER.

Then we had to decide who should go,
and l 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 with 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
a 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 a game
like that would fix themselves in the men,
DRY so that | would be able to tell you
every hand | held and every bet | made,
wouldn't you? Well l 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 | thought were high stakes but
the thought that was playing for my life
ratified me completely, and l really believe
l bet at random.
"Whatever | did l lost, and the man
who proposed tie game won out. He was
shot in a gambling house three months
| later-had an extra ace in his sleeve, be-
lievc, or something like that.
"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. | have noticed, always interfcres
with my play.
"When the third game began, however,
pulled myself together with "a most ire
mendous effort and really became as cool
| as | ever had been before at a game of
cards. The man played against this time
was a young Englishman whom | had
| grown to esteem highly in the short time |
| had known to know him. His people at
| home never heard of this story and | hope
they never will. They know that he was
killed by the Indians and that he was on a
hunting trip, but they never heard OF his
last game of cards nor Of the way he rode
, to his death.
Eve had each 800 beans, and half ii
| dozen hands were dealt before either of MS
got cards to bet on. Then on my deal |
caught three deuCes and made it 80 TO play.
| He looked at his cards and raised me so,
| 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 am
mole glad than l am Of almost anything
else | ever did in an almost useless life to
saw made liked the man well, 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 best chance.
81 had played with him BEFORE and
was certain that he was drawing to a flush,
and somehow felt that he had filled it.
OF course | 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 showed all my beans into
the pot without looking at my draw.
Gle gave me one look, in which | read
a 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. grew as
ever told me so, and | actually could not
lift my cards. His nerve never shook,
though, apparently, and he turned his fifth
card over as he laid it on the blanket.
They were all clubs.
''He looked ut me, and ! swear saw re-
greet in his eyes. tell you he was 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't
20 to the right spot" Then, after he had
his drink, he said:
"You don't wonder do you, that don't
play poker any more?"
"No," said his hearers, Shut finish the
story"
"Oh, there isn't much more to it. AT
least that is the end of it, as think about
it. The Englishman shook hands with us