The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-14

50 MS only chance was to stand in with
the gang. They divvied pretty fair in
those times I've known captains to stand
in and take their share Of the plumber like
little men.
THE barkeeper often came in very
handy. When the party first sat down TO
play he'd first show up with the drinks
ordered by the gambler. He'd get there
Just after the sucker cut the deck and
pass around the drinks on a tray. II
wasn't any trouble to just carry a marked
deck under the tray and drop it down
while picking up the cut deck. The deal
then went on and the sucker got skinned.
I've seen this shift made often and
fellow would hardly believe IL can be done
so quick.
Fools and gamblers are about the only
persons nowadays who indulge in the
poker habit with strangers-provided. Of
course, one is not roped in through the
various mediums of wagers, odd bets,
euchre hands, and the like. This story
deals with an incident of the latter sort
Coming East from St. Louis on No %
my companion in the section, whom I will
call joe was a rather rough-looking fell
low. He might have been a prosperous
farmer or even a country lawyer but he
certainly was not over finicky as to his
personal appearance. A cheap serge suit,
faded straw hat of last years vintage
and a suspicious looking pair of tans did
not serve to enhance his appearance, al
though as he took off his hat to mop mis-
brow ii revealed well formed head fun
and wide at the top and rather bulgilg
about the ears-the latter supposed TO in
dictate great nerve and a rather ugly dis
position when aroused The man was an
entertaining talker and had evidently trav-
eled a bit. We were just discussing the
relative merits of some of the railway
lines running out of Chicago when the
x1rifh
same old story:
Just fill in for a hand of euchre, only
to kill time; nothing in it. of course" etc.
My friend, who we will call Joe, however
declined to "fill in" He was tired and it
was too hot and, moreover he did not
care for cards. Knew how to play, but
preferred to take a nap. However, after
some little persuasion from another pas
senger, he finally consented, and l went
with him into the smoking room.
After the usual preliminary games had
been won and lost the old fake poker
racket was started. Joe was given four
tens, and then one of the trio incidentally
regretted they were not playing poker
Would like to make a little bet just to
enhance the interest. My friend failed
to fall in, however; in fact, he apparently
did not hear the remark, for he picked
up the cards, shuffied them, and started
a new deal. After a considerable lull in
the proceedings four aces were dealt Joe,
and again the plant anent the absense of
a first-class poker game went che rounds.
1t had no apparent effect. Joe refused
to take their money, and the game went
on.
Shortly after this the conductor came
through and 1 went back into the section
for my ticket. On returning to the smok-
ing room 1 found Joe held four kings ana
the ten of clubs, while the man to his left
o,,6 rid
nomination of which l could not ascertain.
"Bless me, but this is aggravatng, "
said the fellow with the aces, throwing
down his hand, backs up, in the center OF
the table. II have got queen fulton,
never mind what 1 have he said quickly,
as if to catch himself in slip. IN bet
500 l can top any hand in this deal"
Damn you and your poker" said Joe,
also tossing his cards so near the other
hand that they almost covered them. Il
don't want 10 bet and won't bet, so what's
the use of talking about it,, and, warming
up, he began such TRADE against gam
blers and gambling that l began to size
him up for an itinerant preacher or per-
haps a candidate for the legislature on the
reform ticket.
During all this time his left hand was
carelessly tapping the back of his cards
still on the table. Although fascinated by
the mans manner and eloquence, my eyes
seemed to be riveted on the fingers of his
left hand. They were now working con-
vulsively, almost invsibly.
Suddenly / thought 1 detected light
ming like motion of his thumb and fore
| finger. The cards seemed to be in the same
relative position, but 1 was positive he
had made the transfer. 1 knew then it
was diamond cut diamond, and, thanking
| my lucky stars for not being in the game,
1 decided to watch it out. Joe finally
| ceased his moralizing and, lowering his
voice, said with an almost injured air:
! Now look here, there are your cards,
pushing back those nearest the man to
the left land there are mime carefully
brushing the other hand to his side of the
| table II don't know what you have and
| YOU can only guess what / hold, and yet
| you want 800 of my good money on a
| throw-down. l am not much of a gam
bier and never like to run up against an
| other mans game, but you gentlemen
| have been very kind to me to-day, and as
I get off at the next station IN wager
you an even 5000 and not turn a card until
| the money is laid, that this hand here
beats the one you have"
I'm your man." said the other fellow,
Frightening perceptlbly, as his prey seem
| ed almost within his grasp.
Don't touch the cards and your friend
| can hold the green pointing to me. I
SHOW EN- down." said Joe. Were get
! ting in and I've some luggage to look af-
ter"
| one of the cards was carefully faced. 1t
| proved to be the ten of cfubs-Joe's side
! card 1 then knew the game was up. The
! fellow too seemed Disconnected. Was that
his side card? He evidently was in a guam
! dairy. When tours are up the odd card has
| no value and in this case it seemed to have
| been somewhat overlooked at least by
| Joe's opponent, for he gazed blankly at the
table. apparently lost in deep study. The
! scraping of the brake shoe on the car
wheeFs warned us that we were approach
| ing the station.
"Get wiggle on" said Joe briskly land
| TOSS them out" They were finally exposed
| to view-four kings
| ''Why, l thought you had a queen full"
| said Joe with an injured air. you seem TO
| have bettered / ought TO have bullets down
| there" he continued. facing up his hand,
! and sure enough, he did. The four aces
were shown up and Joe collected the
| money
"Tbought you were dead calente, didn't
| 1ou9 sorry l can't kitty for the next hand.