The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-11
SLAVES IN THE JACK POT.
MEMORABLE CONTEST BETWEEN 4
GAMBLER AND A PLANTER.


Il was drifting through the South in the If
ties" said the former gambler. and one win
ter 1 was living at q town in South Carolina
where n lot of caFd PLAYERS used to gather for
mutual pleasure and profit. There was a club
In the town where the gamblers used 10 meet.
but the fact was kept from the female part OF
the population that it was n gambling house.
All III OF games went on there. bnt the pros
perity of the place was short-llved. The house.
however. was not closed the winter l was in
the town. At the club ono night somebody said
that Col. Wallace. the crack poker player Of the
State, had been fixed TO play Pete Welcb. one
OF the biggest plunRers from the East. Pete
was coming down the next week. and
the sports were oil anxious to see what he
could do with the Colonel. who was q stiff
player. The Colonel was universally lucky.
The cards rolled to him without the esking.
and avery year his cash accounts showed good
profits from the game. He owned n valuable
plantation not lar from the town. and he was
noted for having one Of the finest bodies Of
slaves In the South. They made the planta-
ton yield rich returns. and there was no need
for the Colonel TO depend on his piayinR for
money, for he was better of than many Of the
planters who risked their fortunes at the club.
When the Colonel heard that Pete was com
ing to rake him.. no turned his lip and said he
was not afraid to play forty Petes on the big
gest kind OF stakes. If WEIGH can do mo. then
all wen and good was the way he put 1t. but
I want you fellows to know that I can play BIN
to q standstil. Ihave heard much about your
swell Eastern gambler. who prides himself on
never having boon caught on a bluff. Well.
We oil don't know about that. When he comes
l will play him q single handed game. and you
chaps can watch it. FL say. though, that I'm
not extra wealthy this winter and can't lose
much stuff. Two got a limit fxed In nv head
and when he passes that I'll simply quit. and
WEIGH can take my money and talk all he
pleases.'
"Welch got In town one Sunday morning.
His stage drove to the only hotel in the place,
and the news Of his arrival soon spread
through the sporting part OF the town. A
messenger who came in for Col. Wallace's mail
carried o note back telling of the safe arrival Of
WEIGH. Pete sent word to the Colonel that he
had heard Of him. and was anxious for a fight.
He asked the Colonel VIXEN could he play.
Not more than an hour after the messenger
started with the note he returned to the hotel
with q paper for WEIGH. The Colonel wrote
that he wouldb be in town at 3 O'Clock that after
noon and would bring his money with him.
Now, we want, to keep this game quiet
OF the club. for no good can come from so
muCn nOCOT1eIY OIL late.
a. dozen salty gamblers were at the club az
8 O'CLOCK. Pete got there ahead Of the Colonel
and the local element kept its breath while
the East. He ratified off the stories faster
than the tin horns could listen. and they ali
Colonel. At 8 o'clock the Colonel drove to tbs
club and sent his man to the hotel. .rll
come there when | need YOU he said.
drink or two and become sociable with Pete.
4 donIt KNOW what you want to play said
ably, your man. some Of these gentlemen
think tn nm I'm too too n leerNy Tor my good. but let that
what | call a dinky game. II it suits YOU,
though. its good enough; it's GOOD enough
Ali right. then. let her go at that
badly Tns and Spf passe %er spo dfaEt i,v eq tim thsgg e shgf lied
openers and bettered his hand in the ED draw
and finally won. but not until Pete had done
Pete easy. Pete couldn't draw. When he
the. game was too much one way to be inter-
estinR. Pete crossed his bridge at last. how
f Ge Cot s1 met shf hs snasS tS Msnt di q t FESIl GGio his g Say:
ing the first part of the playing. and the sports
who looked on saw the Colonelss pile Of gold
tied and another was brought from the Old
fashioned locker In the club. After that
1 pepfs ssisln saa sGs h if WEIGH Ths E Sam9 S S6pe Sssd
turned q bad trick had he wanted. Tor too
WWany:eyes were y watching the deck. Col.
though he did not allow his head to get get
the table he showed back his chair and said his
pile was gone. 1t was getting late on at night
then, but the gamblers didn't notice that.
WEIGH. you've got an even thirty thousand
there If you will count it. / brought that much
with me and l may have been foolish. 1 be-
heye 4 had aiI more could get it all from you
I'll gladly give you the chance. Colonel.
Perhaps ea5a,s sons some OF your friends here can accom-:
Nobody spoke. The Colonel ratified on the
= WelOh.' he said. when the silence got op-
pressive. I have no more ready cash. but I
have property that is as good as gold any day
Eight ne here 7 in n, thiS OWL; meyer did It be-
best slaves against 100000. The negroes
are worth OFT fully that amount. as these %gentle-
Ne can arrange 1t otherwise. Will YOU finish
II these gentlemen say the slaves are
worth that much. then fix your papers while /
count SoSR 10 this ! .6 mSns y l never like TO turn my
Everybody got up and took a drink on the
strength OF the new game. When the papers
cards and there was not a word passed while
n the bs CARDS ,En ,i Were I being t SINGLED MI No The sky was
saw SS tao the nm start 9h sha tt The s9 Ssms w wai rs po { lsst
long. 'Wallace's sporting blood was up and he
seemed, determined to lose all quickly OF: get
1t back in the same swift gait. He took desper-
ste CHANGES In drawing aud accepted foolish
bets. The end was drawing near. WEIGH
was dealing. and bad shuitliinG on the previous
htnands mad ieIt considerable money In the pot.
onel looked at his cards and opened the pot for
and then Logged at hiq hand, He raised i a
onel raised back $1,000, and Welch saw It. He
raising.
We saw the finish coming, The PLAYERS
the room. Pete took the cards and asked the
Coionef:
1.-Two cards. he said.
None here put In the dealer.
THE Colonel took his two cards and looked
s A. them 6fRsrgs uieff!S' ,t Then NIB ho o stu & .S thf% b behind idE%
SWelch looked at big hand a1ain. and took the
raised ANOTHER 5000. Welch saw it.. and
raised aHnSSbther. and the Colonel raised still an
We'll. I've Just got $4,000 here you can
}SSSsns9sd II !pv the sS ethi Dsiv g n o6 G2l9 4. studied PIE
think you've got Inc, even II IL is Il bad thing