Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
SHERIDAN'S POKER GAME.
HOW "LITTLE PHIL, WON AND LOST
A BIG JACKPOT.
Senator ConklinE Criticised Sheri.
dams Collection of Duplicate
Red Aces in n Game Mt
Washington.

From the washington star
Il was in a game one night during the
winter of 20 when both ConkIinS and Sher-
idan were players. 1t was a four-handed
game. and John Chamberlin was the other
player.
This game at Chamberlin's was always
for a s. limit at first. with the understand
ing that along toward morning, after d
couple Of hours of warming up. anybody
could suggest the removal of the limit il
he wanted to. The way Conklins and Sher-
idan bluffed each other that night was L
caution.
Both men seemed to strike out luck al
together as an element in their good-na-
tured play against each other, and as both
of them caught fine hands occasionally
when engaged in this tug-of-war of b%luffins
neither of them could get an exact line on
the other. and it was better than Il play to
study their faces at the show-downs.
"ConklinS was having all the success dur
ing the latter part of the night. and it was
fun TO hear Little Phil softly utter dark
and woolly things under his breath when.
time after time, Conkling would show Il
hand consisting of nothing at all after
having scared Sheridan out. or produce Il
gorgeous set of tours or a full hand at such
times as Sheridan. deciding that the sena-
tor was bluffinS. would call him.
Bite him, Sheridan Chamberlin would
say, amusediy. on these occasions. and
Sheridan would tell Chamberlin 10 go to
the dickens. and call for another deck of
cards.
Sheridan Opened.
W started the last round of jackpots
with a new deck. Sheridan dealt the
first mess himself. and after it had gone
around and none of the three of US could
open 1t, Sheridan opened it himself. Meth
er Chamberlin nor L had any right to
stay on Our hands. and SO it was left be-
tween Sheridan and ConklinS, who stayed.
tnnEIn~ took fhrea cards and turned
his little pair into threeS- Sheridan dished
himself out three cards. and Bit his cigar
hard when he saw his hand. He made a
s. bet to draw Conklins out. and the sem
ator raised him 81. 1t passed between
them with these So bets until there was
nearly 500 in the pot. both men scrutiniz-
u don't know so much about you this
time said Conkling. finally, and l think
Ill just call you. for safety
Both laid their hands down at the same
time. Conkling had three mines, and he
looked at Sheridan strangely when he saw
the color of Sheridan's three aces. Both
Chamberiin and myself also saw what was
wrong at the same time. but we only
smiled and let the two men have it our.
Sheridan had a broad grin on his face and
was just about to rake in the pot. Conk-
ling was gazing at the little man Of iron
with a puzzled look in his eyes.
"tOh. I say there. Phil. just wait a min
ute, said he. DO you really think hat
Belongs to me?' said Sheridan. Well.
it does if the nose on my face belongs to
me. and again he reached over to hoe
in the pot.
"Conkling ran his hands through his hair
and again stopped Sheridan with a gesture.
II don't remember ever having seen that
sort of thing before he said. Did you,
Phil?'
See what sort Of thing before9' said
Sheridan. What in blazes are you talking
about. Conkling?'
For reply Conkling put one finger upon
one OF sheridan's aces. and then pointed
to another one Of the aces.
Wins on Two Diamond Aces.
ct never saw a Jackpot won with three
aces. two of which happened to be aces Of
diamonds said Conkling smiling.
Sheridan looked at his hand. lying face
up on the table before him. and his face be-
came fiery red. The CONSERVATION of his
co~untenance was really funny.
why said he, after a minute. blamed
IL / don't believe I'm nothing better than
an involuntary swindler. That other ace.
you see. is a club. / opened the Dot on a
pair of red aces, and they were. OF course.
these aces Of diamonds. Chamberlain turn
ing to the amused boniface. turn me out of
doors as a fraud and a short-card player.
will your
And have the army fire a volley over
the ruins OF my house?' replied Chamber
lin, Hardly. Anyhow. I'd rather see you
and ConklinS engage in a rough and tum-
BILE fight over the thing. Go ahead. the pair
of you. Well see fair play turning to me.
OF course. the extra ace of diamonds
had slipped into the deck accidentally be-
fore 1t left the manufacturers hands, but
Sheridan when he had in a measure re-
covered from the surprise of the revelation,
made a humorous pretension that he had
known The whole thing all along. and con-
vulsed the three of us by feelingly appeal
ing to Conkling to refrain from exposing
him to the world. for the sake of his family.
and all that sort of thing. The hand being
fnnI fla mot NTne ~ ~. H..