The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-27

Jack looked on as if dazed when he
saw his four sevens beaten and pres
time, without anything to justify our
suspicious. | did NOTICE that Jack was
the worse for liquor. but he was not In
a condition TO Justify interference, for
he played steadily enough, and he
showed his hilarity only by boisterous
talk.
The longer I watched Ruggles, the
more suspicious | became, but / could
not be certain of anything for long
time. He played along about even.
losing and winning in turn. but L felt
sure he would break out after a time
At length | was positive he was stack
ing the cards. though | admit that he
feigned clumsineSs SO we'll that / coufn
not swear to Ii at first.
1T was a Jackpot and Whitaker
opened it, He had. as we afterward
| learned, three sevens. | sat next. and.
having a pair of kings. / came in. Rug
giles raised it the limit. The postmaster
and the blacksmith dropped out. and
| Whitaker raised back. looked at my
cards again, though / really intended
/ to throw them down. for I didn't sus-
| looked, however, / saw that one of my
| pect either man of bluffing. AS
| kings was a spade. and that / had the
| queen. ten and nine Of spades also.
| Il saw. of course, that | had just one
| chance in the draw of filling king
high straight flush. and the thought
| flashed on me that if / had been right
| in thinking that Ruggles had stacked
| the cards. and if | should be lucky
enough 10 draw the right jack / might
have some fun. So. | stood the double
raise.
THE moment I put up the chips | feit
sure | had been right, for Ruggies
looked at me in surprise, and ! saw
that he had expected me to drop out.
| He evidently thought | was going to
/ draw wild. however. and he saw Jack 5
| raise, paying no further attention TO
| me.
Jack drew two cards. and | judged
from his face that he had filled tours,
as Ruggles had intended he should do.
/ drew one and let IL lie on the table.
Ruggles drew three. helping himself to
two more aces. His face told nothing,
but by this time | was so convinced
that he was cheating that | would have
bet heavily on his holding bigger fours
than Whitaker.
Whitaker was excited. and showed
it. He bet the limit. of course. and |
came in, still without looking at my
card. / wanted Ruggles to think
was bluffing and he did think SO. He
raised and Jack raised. and | came in
again
Again they both raised and looked
at my card not caring to go further in
what would be an actual bluff and q
| hopeless one if | had not caught the
right card Somehow | felt confident
that it was the right one. and the con-
fidence helped me to keep my face inn
passive when | saw that 1t really was
the jack CT spades.
After that, of course. II was plain
| sailing They raised each other back
and forth. and kept on making good
knew neither of them would stop till
his money gave out. and / had consId-
! cradle in my pocket
Jack presently called for a show for
, his money. but not until he had asked
! the privilege of going shy. refused &c
allow ii. citing our strict rule. for
didn't want Jacks money. and. in fact
had meant from the first to give il back
, to him privately. in case | should find
| that the game was really crooked.
AS soon as he was out of 1t I raised
Ruggles and he was so sure that / was
buffing that he smiled and played on
We raised each other until he wal
forced to call, having no more money
. and throwing down his four aces III
reached for the pot.
When he saw my hand thought TO
moment he would faint. but he wa
good grit. and rising he said with
forced laugh. Well. I'm lucky to hav'
!. | my return ticket to Chicago left. TheI
| he Sdll GOOD night anu lett tue IVoua
| though not before | had said to hin
i | very significantly: i don't think you'll
i play with US again. and he had re
i piled: I certainly shall not ii you ar
/ in the party.
: emily, without word, he left the room
n / thought Ii would be better TO see hin
h next day, so / told the rest or tn
party what had suspected, and afte
considerable talk we separated for tn
!, night.
Z Next day Jack was missing. AM
J after a little we found out that he hal
: played in all he had left of the churcl
. and Sunday School funds and wa
: afraid to face the music. The womsl
! carried on the church for awhile. hu
e the Sunday school never had meeting
< at least while / was in town. Nor did
ever know anything more of Ruggles Q
e of Whitaker"