The Washington bee., 1899-05-06
OPENED WITH DEUCES.
The Way in Which McGregor Won the
Final Jackpot.

THE man who opens a jackpot with
out holding the openers takes about
the longest chance possible in card
gambling, said Colorado man whe
had seen some historic doings in the
American game of draw. Its risky
work. 1t means bullets in A gooC
many sections of this country. anC
even in peaceable communities the
man who's caught at il has heap OF
trouble in squaring himself. whether
ne mas actually made mistake or not
L only recall the ease of one man get
ting away with that kind of a prOpO
Sltion, and he was on the level anG
made good afterwards. This maj
was Byron McGregOr. who, back in
the swirling days of Colorado ran the
SWEETEST establishment for money
haZarding purposes in Denver. Me.
GregOr was finely educated and pol
ished man, and he was in the game
with three of the most prominent cit
lZenS in Denver, one of whom after
wards became United States Senator
no, not Ed. WallcOtt another man
The game was served out in the pr1
vate parlOr of one of the players, anG
| was one of half dozen witnesses OF
it. There wasn't a high grade man
with liking for draw poker out that
way who wasn't content to sit into q
game in which Byron McGregOr was
one of the players. All in all. Metre
gOr was about the most perfect honest
man j ever met up with. He could
beat any magician / ever saw at card
tricks. but when it came to inserting
any of 'em into Il legitimate game. Me
Gregor wasn't there. He played Il
a magnificent game of poker. of
course. although he was often Il big
loser after long bouts at draw with
heavy-playing friends.
I'm this particular game McGrcgOr
was way loser after the first couple Of
hours-nearly $4,000 in the hole, He
wasn't bothered little bit over this.
for he was IA thoroughbred loser. and
besides. the receipts from his rooms
frequently netted him $4,000 or $4,000
on nights of big play at the cases.
But he didn't like the way the cards
were running. and he finally pushed
his chair back. remarking:
This isn't one of my nights. Make
il triumvirate. you three. l think
III stay out
BETTER hang on bit. McGregOr.
and get some of it back. SO you won't
have to smoke Il pipe says one of the
players demurringly. Stay i'll while.
anyhow. Such easy ones as you don't
come our way very often
"'Oh. we'll. we'll play a final jack
pot said McGregor. But. win or lose
Il; Ill
ing play tonight is concerned. One
more Jack
"McGregOr dealt the hand himself
and | was behind him as he did so.
The best he gave himself was a pair
of deuces. 1t was 800 jack. and the
S4G0 was in the centre of the baize IN
gold. 1t passed around and none OF
the three opened it.
We'll. if I've got to smoke pipe,
see my way clear for 800 worth Of
smoking tobacco. anyhow said Nc
Gregor, when it was up to him She's
open.
"'The three of 'em stayed along and
drew to their hands They all filled.
too. McGregOr drew two cards to his
pair of deuceS and the eight spot he
held up. and he caught another deuce
and another eight-a cOmfOrtablelOOk-
ing full house. deuceS atop of eightS.
When it came to netting McGregOr
pOked them to standstill, and the
three of em had finally to look at each
other and say:
"If anybody i'm the crowds got 'em,
it must be McGregor.
"And so they called him. He showed
down his full hand and ScOOped in So
500. Then he yawned. put on his top
coat and stuffed his winning into the
pockets thereof and left. The three
others played on for an hour or so.
and then the game broke up and they
went down to the lobby of the hotel.
When they made their appearance the
night clerk of the hotel called them.
He had three official envelopes in his
hand. one addressed to each of the
three players with whom McGregOr
had been pOkerizing.
"'Mr. McGrpgOr left these for YOU
gentlemen before he went out while
ago. with instructions that they were
to be handed to you when you came
down. said the clerk. handing the en-
velopes to the gentleman addressed
Eacn OF tne envelopes contained Il
check signed Ivy Byron McGregOr for
the amount each of the players had in
volved in the phOny jackpot, together
with note reading:
II didn't want to get shot to pieces,
so employ this method Of stating that
deuce-Opened jackpOtS are vicious in
principle and dangerous to the peace
of society. especially in these parts.
Never mention tobacco pipe to a los
or 1t vitiates his sense of squareness.
Check enclosed. Query: Who's the
laugh on?
"'P. 81 guess it's on me.
NfxTnnGnD