The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-28
WAS CALLED ON A BLUFF
Captain McWhorter's Famous Bout with
Woman in Kansas City.
THE RESULT or i SOCIAL GAME OF POKER
Gambling Episode that Entertained
AIRS. EltsEcralds GucSts-How 1t
begun and How IL Endcd.

Il ne FUNNIEST POKER gaue L. ever VIII
, messed remarked the man from WASH
ington. occurred in Kaneas City some
years ago between Captain Mcwhorter and
Mrs. Archibald Fitzgerald.
1T was soon after Fitzgerald returned
from Europe and astounded his friends by
bringing home a wife. She was one Of
those regally handsome women who
dressed Ike queen and carried herself
Ike one. She became q leading figure III
soaitty at once. with the combination of
FitzsSralds money aud her beauty and
ceyeruess. One night there was party
at house that viii not identity, but ii
VAS one you all would know II whispered
The name. a jolly crowd that preferred
cards TO dancing got into one OF the
rooms and, after awhile, somebody rot TO
iushng about poker. and one of The ladies
wanted TO be taught how TO play, and the
hbsNot Was tfat a httie game was started
az one of the tables. There We're six In
IL and one of them happened TO be Mrs.
Fhzseraid, She was forced IN 10 help out
the game, which was an innocent kinder
raiten affair.
i THE play ran along stupidity enough on
the idea of simply showing the ladies' who
were curis'ls the points o; the game. The
Se'hNS WAY iutlNlN houlHdi, anu tDNrN WIS
n lot Of joking over the winnings. Captain
McWhortcr was acting as instructor and If
YOU remember theGaptaiii YOU Will recog-
nze his fitness Tor tue undertaking II
there was ever cold gambler on earth it
was McNhorter. l have seen him win and
lose thousands In a game with apparent
indifference. After while the captain
decided 10 give Lhtm an object lesson in
one OF the tricks Of the game. Everybody
had come in and diaNn from one to three
cards, excepting The captain. He had
stood pat Mrs. Fitzgerald had urawn
three cards. There we've some twelve or
fifteen dollars in the pot--more by far than
there had been beforehand he glanced at
his hand. covered his bats. and coolly
threw $50 note on the table
raise you twenty he said
lheie was gasp of surprise. and one
after another the players passed ii W until
II came Mrs. Archibald Htz,crald's turn
Sheglaiiced smilingly at the ,tptnin, pro-
duced u dainty pulse. from which she ex-
| traetsd biii. which she uniolled and
threw down The ladies AMI gentlemen
leaned forward, and as they eaught the d.
nomination OF the bill .aure was another
gasp. 1t was a 500 bill
i Will make it $50 better Mrs. Fitz-
gerald sad looking coolly into the captain
eyes. He locked steadily into hers. He
was too good asgambler TO let her see any
thing in his eyes. but, by Joye. those eyes
of aers, wth!ch were the loveliest blue gen
orally and fun OF life and expression, were
as cold and gray as his or course, ne
could do NO less than cover the eighty but
he didn't have 1t with him, 50 he said with
lordl. air:
Madam. did not come prepared TO
play. If you will accept my deck I will
gladly play out my hand. II not, the stakes
are yours
"'Your check for any amount, surely
| she replied with MS much manner as he
had used in his question. SO the captain
wrote check for $3.50 and threw IL into
| the table.
Five hundred better he said.
by this time Inc word had been whis-
pered about regarding the exciting turn
affairs hail taken, and the guests were
crowding about The table. Even those in
the ballroom came trooping in and pushed
| forward to see the strange sight 1t WAS
strange sight. The room was filled with
| ladies in costly dresses and blazing jewels
and men in evening dress. Facing one
another at the table eat the two antag
onists, both self-contained WITH steady
| eyes and sphinX-lke faces. If ever saw
| the marks of an experienced gambler in
the face Of a human being saw them In
| tire face of that handsome woman. a leader
| in our best society anil The wife Of u born
! ar,slocrat, far Fitzgerald WIS that II ever
I t.ere was one. And you should have seen
/ the expressions on the peoples faces. All
were intensely interested. Some were
shocked
Mrs Fitzgerald looked at the check on
the table for moment and then said
coolly:
Like you, sir. am not prepared TO
play this hand as should like 10 without
Indulgence. Ny earrings and brooch cost
$1,000 May pledge them
at IS not necessary, madam, replied
the captain quickly. Your word is suf-
hcient.
I" No, prefer TO put in the stakes
Wculd they b. acceptable a. say $500?
The captain acquiesced, az well he
might, for the Ftzgerlld diamonds Were
famous in those days. SO she raised him
$1,000. Then the game began TO get inter
esting, even 10 old stagers. IL wasn't mere
amusement any more. It was desperate |
business. Just then saw Archy Flzger-
aid walk UP. As ne roaiized what WIS
going on and saw the diamonds OIL the ia
Bile. and the expression IN his wife's eyes. |
never saw such a look OF horror IA
mans face He looked as though he had
seen a ghost.
In the meantime Captain McWhorter |
had drawn check for $1,000 and said:
Madam, regret that my balance In |
the bank subject to check IS not sufficient
to raise your bet as ! desire 10. COM
pletel the purchase OF the Rudd place to-
day. 1t cost me $4,000. The deed was
delivered me Just as left my office thu
afternoon. and have Il here. have heard
you say you admired the place May put
Ii into the pot to raise your bet sS5 00o?
THE inurmur OF surprise that went
around The room Was huehed By her an
swer:
"fcertainly, SIR and McWhorter tossed
the deed onto the paper. Mrs Fitzgerald
slowly lifted her hands and unclasped her
diamond necklace. il was the most famous
piece OF iewelry 81 the city Al that time.
This cos; $50 900 IN Paris she said.
4 win pn. 1t up against tho deed and call
you, | would Ike 10 continue to rsise y0u
as long az you feel Disposed to bet. but =
am al an end OF my present resources.
Everybody tn the room was In fever
OF excitement excepting the two players.
who appareatly were as cool as lcebergg. I,
When she called him the captain WINGED
3ust trihs ard threw down--a pair OF
Eyes.
Mrs Fitzgerald laid down three mines
ara remarked: "
CAPTAIN. you we're too indisereet The 4
bun was 100 evident. and you followed 4
ptr, 100 far