The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-05-03
Why He FOreswOre Cards.
- - - -
THREE ESCAPES THAT INDUCED A
MAN TO GIVE UP POKER.


thus far shown signs of being COM
panionable, and he. was one of the four
They had dined and were enjoying their
cigars together. The talk was desultory
and amounted to little. One proposed
game of cards, and two of the Others
were ready, but the little man declined.
The pause that followed was little
awkward. They did not even know one
another by name, and the wording of
the refusal seemed curt. The little man
seemed to realize this. for after mo-
ment of silence he continued
Nothing would have given me great
{ err pleasure year ago than to join you
in game Of poker. In fact, nothing
would give me greater pleasure now,
but am done with cards. and believe
anyone of you would refuse, as do, il
cards had cost you what they have me-
The others spoke few polite moth
ings, to the general effect that IL was a
free country and nobody was obliged
to play anything he didn't want to play,
and one-the youngest in the party
said:
"Unlucky, suppose"
HIN. Well, don't exactly know as
you'd call it that" said the little man,
reflectiyely. II most always win when
play, or used to, that's; butI've had some
of the cussedest, narrowest squeahs
in the game that could easily be i'm
agined, and | made up my mind some
time since that I'd had enough of 'em.
And as ! can't play cards without get
ting back into poker, I just naturally
quit cards"
STORY about it?" asked the young
man.
= "Y-yes. Sort of. But I'm no story
teller" .s\E.f;ssi ~, S ,'is<
as'Nan won't play cards. Ought to do !
something" This was the young mans |
appeal to the other two. They nodded.
well, don't know as ]. mind spin
ming the yarn" said the little man after
little hesitation, seeing that you don't
any of you know me, and you won't |
any of you be likely to see me again
after we separate at the end OF the trip. !
II you knew me wouldnt care to tell
it just as it was, and IL wouldn't be
worth telling any other way. The
first narrow escape ! had was from
state prison, and good deal worse. AT |
least | count it was worse, for would
have taken with me to prison the con-
seriousness that / deserved TO 60. and
according to my notion the knowledge
that you deserve punishment is deal
worse than the punishment itself.
1.-THE game fascinated me, as il fas-
cinates everybody, l think, who plays
IL much. | played more and more, and |
as l generally held my own, and won
more often than lost, got to playing
harder and harder till was not con- /
tented with anything but big game
the bigger the better. l. have Travelled
three times all the way between Chi
cago and Washington to get into game
with genuine high rollers. OF course
couldn't do that sort of thing without
good supply of ready money and a
considerable amount of spare time. /
had both. for / had fair cash capital
and business of my own that paid me
we'll. And my business was i'm such a
condition that could leave it to my en-
pioyes for week at time.
Zone night there was a particularly
stiff game at the club freguented most
in New York. where I then lived. The
limit was off, and raise OF thousand
was made several times during the even
ing. had expected hot work. and had
put $4,000 in my pocket that afternoon.
There was one man in the game that
particularly wanted to beat, partly be-
cause he was noted player and had
never met him before. watched him
carefully, and twice in the course of
three or four hours play was satisfied
that he took in a fairly large pot on a
bluff. had nothing in my own hand
either time, and didn't care to pay to
see his cards, but | felt sure that If he
had bluffed twice successfully, as ! was
positive he had, he would do il again.
presently he tried 1t. Of course |
could only suspect him unless called,
but decided 90 risk ~, though had
only pair OF eevens when came In
after the Jackpot was open, end hadn't
bettefed In the draw. IT had been
opened for $500, and my antagonist had
ruised Il q thousand before the draw.
That's what made me come I'm on SO
small q hand, for concluded he was
trying 20 stoa, the pot, which was big
enough 10 jurtify The attempt for there