Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-01
SHERIDAN'S HAND.
c2R,iNG TWO ACES or DIAMONDS OH
CoNKLiNG IN A JACK POT.

Very Aueh Embarrassed When His A.
Little General Wanted the Story Kept
Q1iet, but 1t was Too Good.
81 was IL poker game" writes 3
correspondent OF the Washington Star,
sin the winter of 1879, when Senator
Conkling and General Phil Sheridan
were players. 1t was a four handed
game, and Jctn Chamberlin was the
other player. This game at Cham ber-
Inns was always for So limit at first,
with the understanding that along to-
ward morning, after couple Of hours
of warming up, any body could suggest
the removal Of the limit if he wanted
TO. The way Conkling and Sheridan
tlufIed each other that night was eau
tion. Both men seemed to strike out
luck altogether as an element in their
good natured play against each other,
and as both Of them caught fine hands
occasionally when engaged in this tug
of war OF hluffing neither Of them could
get an exact line On the other, and it
was better than play to study their
faces at the show downs. Conkling was
having all the success during the latter
part Of the night, ard it was fun to
hear Little Phil softly utter dark and
wcOlly things under his breath when,
time after time, Conkling would show
band consisting Of nothing at all after
having scared Sheridan out or produce
gorgeous set Of tours or full hand at
such times IS Sheridan, deciding that
the senator was bluffing, would call
hin.
Bite him, Sheridan, Chantsrlin
would say anuseJlly Oh these occasions,
ard Sheridan would tell Chamberlin to
90 to the dickens and call for another
deck Of cards.
I'VE started the last round Of jack
pots with new deck. Sheridan dealt
the first mess himself, and after it had
gone around and mono Of the three of us
could open it Sheridan opened it him
self Neither Chanborlin nor / had
any right to stay on orr hands, so il
was left between Sheridan and Conk-
ling, who staid. Conkling took three
cards and turned his little pair into
| Ihrees. Sheridan dished himself out
three cards ard bit his cigar hard when
| be saw his hand He made SIS bet to
draw Conkiing out, and the senator
rsiscS him S25. 1tpassed between them
with these $25 bets until there was
nearly $500 in the pot, both men scru,
tiriziES each other pretty carefully al
| each bet.
eel don't know SO mach about goa
this time, said Couiling finally, 'and
l think I'll just call yen fer safety
Both laid their hands down at the
same time. Conkling had three mines,
and ne locked at Sheridan strangely
when he saw tho color Of Sheridan's
three aces. Beth Chamberlin and my.
self also saw what vas wrcns at Tie
samu instant, but we only smiled and
let the two men have it out Sheridan
had broad grin On his face and wa.
| just About to rake III the POI. Conkline
was gazing at the little man of iroI
with puzzled look in his eyes.
ooh, I say, there, Phil, Just wait {
minute, said he. DO you really thiDl
that pot belongs to your?
Belongs TO me?' said Sheridan
We'll, il does if the nose Gil my fac,
belongs to lce.' And again he reached
over 70 hoe in the pot.
"Conkling ran his hand through Lii
hair and again stopped Sheridan with ;
gesture.
"'I don't remember ever having seei
that soIt CT thing before, he said. DID
you, Phil?'
See what sort of thing before?' sait
Sheridan. What in blazes are you talk
ing about, Conkling:'
For reply CCnkling put one fngei
upon enc Of Sberidan's aces and thei
pointed to another one of the aces.
" / never saw 4 jack pot wen will
three aces, two of which. happened t.
be aces of diamonds, said Conkling
smiling.
sheridan looked at his hand, lyin,
face up On the table before him, ant
his face became fiery red. The constcr
nation Gu his countenance was realI,
funny.
Why said be after minute
blamed if / don't believe I'm nothin!
better than an involuntary swindler
That other ace, you see, is club
opened the pot on pair of red aces
and they were, Of course, these aces O
diamonds Chamberlin, turning to tn
amused boniface, turn me ont Of door
as fraud and short card player, viii
your
And have the army fire wolfe,
over the ruins Of my house:' reptile,
Chamberlin. Hardly. Anyhow, II
rather see yon and Conkling engage i,
a rough and tumble fight over the thing
Go ahead, the pair Of you. Wen SC
fair play, turning to he.
"Of course the extra ace of diamond
had slipped into tho deck accidental.
before 1t lett the manufacturer hands
but Sheridan, when he had in a measur
recovered from his surprise of the reye
lation. made a humorous pretensio
that he bad known the whole thing al
along and conyulsed the three of US b
feelingly appealing to Conkling to re
frain from exposing him 10 the worl
for the sake Of his family and all tina
sort Of timing. The hand being foul, tn
pot was Of course divided"
, His Beginning.