The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-08
EFFECT OF A HOODOO.
Gambler said When II Came He
Lost an Eye.


II suppose you've never heard how one
Eyed Johnson was hoodooed," said Pete
Simcoe, in the Blossom house, at Kansas
City, the other day. 1T was no fault of
mine that l should cross Johnson's trail
as often as l did In fact, l tried, sew
eral times, to avoid meeting him, out
something always happened TO throw us
together. met Johnson for the first time
down In Sonora. ] rode up to a little do
by saloon TO get a drink, when l heard
cursing and yelling that suggested fight
on the inside / got off my cayuse and
started TO see the fun. There was John-
son, whose name | did not know then,
facing the Mexican proprietor suddenly
the Mexican fired. Johnson did the same
thing; then there was a silence. They
were a long time getting the bullet out
of Johnson head. He got well, with one
eye gone. 1t was more than year be-
fore met him again. This time II was in
Galveston. ! was out In a little boat with
a party of friends, when a squall came
up. We had hard time of it, but, with
the bravest of efforts, We were making
for safety, when we heard a shout in the
water almost under the boat. 1t was
big job, but we managed to put about ana
get hold of the struggler. He landed IN
the bottom of our boat with a thud that
almost drove the wind out Of him for
keeps. We turned him over. 1t was one
Eyed Johnson. He remembered me.
Lemme see, he whispered. after he
got ashore, didn't see you last down in
Chihuahua, or Sonora, or somewhere"
Il reminded him of the circumstances
surrounding our last meeting He looked
at me suspiclously.
Funny he grunted.
IN month / was in San Antoine Just
kfzn
went into a poolroom. The first man (
saw was johnson. He was standing by the
side of a blackboard trying to do business
with the crowd. ! worked my way to the
front and caught Johnson's one eye. There
was a ten-to-cne shot on the board, and
| wanted 1t. l had no other reason for
making the bet just wanted that horse
because I wanted II. Johnson did not APP
pear to be happy when he saw me coming
| asked him about himself and got my
ticket AS / moved off / noticed that
Johnson appeared to be relieved. So far
there had been no trouble This was the
middle of the afternoon. As soon as the
race was over l went to cash my check. l
could see that johnson was swearing to
beat the band as l worked my way up to
his stand. He had my money all ready,
l tried to exchange pleasantries, but john
son would not have II.
go way he grunted. You may be all
right but L m busy
II laughed and went back to my hotel.
A sudden storm came up while the betting
was on for the last race. The only stand
that was blown down was Johnson's, AT
dinner that night l saw johnson come into
the dining room. He did not see me at
first. He had ordered soup and was wait
ing for 1t, looking around the dining room
the while, when he caught sight of me.
He got up with jerk and started for the
! door. The waiter was on his blind side
with a tray full of food, part of which was
| Johnson's soup. The heavy stuff fell on
one side and struck the floor. but John
son got the soup al lover his shoulders
and shirt front
I'll was exactly year after that I went
to a poolroom In Galveston looking for a
long shot. Now, I'm telling the truth
when l say that I do not know a horse
from a bale of hay. / only know that by
shutting my eyes to all of the important
facts in the case. I'm mighty good at pick
! ing winners. This time I had heard of a
horse called Dandy Rex. 1t was 90 to 1,
and | went after H. One-eyed Johnson was
! selling. When he saw me he changed
color-from red to white. IN take Dandy
| Rex. I said $50 worth
No, you won't Johnson returned. His
partner. who was standing by. Cooked or
| curously. l pressed Johnson to do bust.
ness. but he shook his head. Not on your
! life he went on. He was IN an awkward
| position.
That's all right, Johnson said. It's
none OF your business If ] lose.
| There was nothing for him to do but
! hand down the ticket He dropped 1t into
my hand, and when he took my money he
didn't hold it for an instant. He was afraid
that it was infected In some way. 1 looked
| about the place for awhile and went back
/ IN bA beach where I nrdarad n
one of the tables on the veranda over.
! looking the Gulf I was getting along pref.
! ty wen when one of the boys came up, al
i out OF breath.
See herer he yelled. Dandy Rex has
won. You're $500 ahead.
II felt rather ashamed of II, before thu
! large company of diners, but managed
TO i've through IL and set in with my win,
ming ticket. Poor Johnson counted out my
money without Il word I felt like saying
| something, but there was nothing to say
Thank you would have seemed foolish
under the circumstances. for Johnson coulC
not have said You're welcome 10 save hi.
soul. So went away without a word.
| AT S O'Clock the next morning got int
the bus to so TO my train. In a minut,
Johnson got in. TOO. He was sitting witt
! his blind eye on my side, and IL was no
untn after the vehicle was under way tina
! he recognized my presence He looked a
me for long time--an uncomfortable tim.
or me-before he spoke. Then, deliberate
| ~ and with much earnestness, he said:
"If I live to get out OF this wagon. I'm
going 10 take that $50 train for Dallas
Now. what / want to know is this, are yoI
going on that train?' l said that l was.
""What viii you take to stay at homer
| he asked
II told him that II was not possible. II,
| pleaded with me, He told me that he haC
| important business in Dallas. l insisteS
that his fears were foolish but he would
not be convinced. When 1 got on the traiI
! left Johnson standing modify on th'
platform. \ trunk truck came along on hi
blind side ana gave him jolt that KEEP
! him in bed for a week ="
Cape Horn is a great mass Of rock ris
ing abruptly from the sea and forminl