The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-29
OPENED ON DEUCES.
A Jack Pot Won by a Risky Game and Az
terward Restored.

From the Washington Er.nino Star.
THE man who opens a jackpot without hold
ing the openers takes about the longest chance
possible in card gambling" said a Colorado
man who has seen some historic doings in the
American game Of draw. It's risky work. 1t
means bullets in a good many sections of this
country. and even In peaceable communities
the man who's caught at it has a heap OF
trouble in squaring himself. whether, he has
actually made a mistake or not. l only recall
the case of one man getting away with that
kind Of n proposition, and he was on the level
and made good afterward.
"This man was Byron McGreGor. who. back
in the swirIing days o. Colorado ran the
sweliSss ei it benT%f! M lSf %Sas was hneigy
educated anil polished man. and he. was in a
game with three OF tne most prominent citi-
came United States Senator-no. not Ed
Wolcott; another man, The game was served
out in the private parlor of one Of the play
nesses Of it., There wasn't q high;grade
man with a liking Tor draw Nv s nok into out shae
in which Byron .McGiegor was one OF the
players. All in all. McGregor was about the
most perfectly honest man | ever met up with;
He could beat any magician | ever saw at card
tricks. but when it came 10 inserting any Of
there. He played a magnificent game Of poker.
o. course, although he was often a big loser
after long bouts at draw with heavy-playing
IN this particular game McGreeor was way
loser after the first couple OF hours n1ars5n n
BIT over this, for he was a thoroughbred loser.
and. besides, the, receipts from MS rooms Ire
Of biz play at the eases. But he didn't like the
way the cards were running. and he finally
p'AS!"TTRh i s'f ISN'T H"t't one Of my ,nighfsi, Make i, a
triumvirate,, you three. Ithipk III stay out
Better hang on ma a bit; McEG nyg % am am oE Ges
pipe said one of the players. dcmurrlng.
'stay In a while, anyhow. Such easy ones as
McGregor. But. win or lose, i've got chill
blains SO, far as continuing play tonight is
'""MScGregor dealt the hand himself, and I was
behind him as he dif SO; ,c ahe PEST ? wos ne sa16GS6
Jack. and the $500 was in the, centre OF the
bate in gold, It passed around ana none oil
"WeIi il I've got to smoke a pipe. ! see my
way clear for $500 worth Of smoking tobacco.
anyhow, said Mc,Gregor' when IL was up 10
M couldn't believe that he'd do a thing like
that; and maybe Mc'ireGor n@ara ~ ne cGGm nSb ne
no turned his head around and screwed up his
""'TfRRee three Of ,em stayed along and drew
to their hands, They all lllled. TOO, McGfegor
drew two cards 70, his pail OF deucGs ana hnS
deuce and another eIGht-a COMFORTABLE look
ing full house. deuc"s atop OF eights; Mhtn
n standstili. and the three Of 'em had finally to
look at each Other and say: ,s.
IF anybody IN the crown so1 Ell IL ih"A'
And 50 they called him n He sS show fSs d0T g0
vawned. put on his topcoat and stunned ms
Winnings into the pockets thereof and LETT.
The three others p ayed on for an hour or so:
and then the game broke up and they went
down 10 the lobby OF the hotel When thsy
made their appearance the night clerk OF tho
hotel called them. He bad three cGyelones II
nn, lS MMcGregor lad been pokerizing.
I'M McGregor LEFT rhssG Tor ogy yGg 6efi 6strmcl
tions that they were TO he handed to you when
you came down said the CLERK. hahdlhg the
''Each Of the envelopes contained a cheek
signed by Byron McGregor for, the, amount
each Of the players had involved In the phony
isck rot. together with a note reading;
r,ov tbis mmeetnod Of stating that deuce-oponed
;ackpots are vicious IN principle an1 dan 70 ebess
rpatts' Never mention a tobacco pipe to a loser
It vltiates his sense o. sgparenesS, an GgmecA III
- guess "|B. MoGREeoE."