The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-06-06
A VERY QUEER DEAL.
IN A FAMOUS GAME OF DRAW poker
IN OLD DAKOTA

IN A FAMOUS GAME OF DRAW poker
IN OLD DAKOTA
The Dealer Gave His Rival Four
Jacks and Himself Four Queens.
When the Show Down Came, the
Jacks Had Turned to Aces.
In the northwest they still talk about
the last poker game that Major Ed
wards and Stanley Huntley played to-
gether They were pioneer editors Of
newspapers in Dakota in the old terri
torial days. Huntley had. just sold his
paper in Bismarck for 50. 500 cash and
was coming east He and the major had
sat in many quiet game together, and
Huntley went over to the majors office
to say goodby and play one last game.
The major produced the cards, locked
the door. and the two faced green ta-
BILE.
The major had she reputation Of be-
ing skillful dealer, and Huntley's
previous experiences had taught him
that cards sometimes appeared In the
majors hand on show down whose
| legitimate existence could only be ac-
counted for on the hypothesis that the
age of miracles had not passed. So he
had fortified himself for this farewell
game not only with the So, 500 which
he had received for his newspaper prop
erty, but also with four large but not
oyerworked aces
There was no limit, but for an hour
the game went along quietly enough.
The major was out $500 or $500, but.
as both players remarked, the game was
young yet. . At last jack pot for $50
came and remained. Back and forth
across the table went the deck Neither
man could get openers. Each time the
deal passed the pot was sweetened $40
At last there was $3.50 on the table.
The major dealt. Huntley looked over
his cards and found four jacks.
As has been said, the major was
slick dealer, and when big pool was
at stake and Ii was his deal he gener-
ally managed to give his opponent a
good stiff hand. while taking care that
he himself had one just shade better.
So, when Huntley found the four
jacks in his hand it seemed TO him that
four aces into action. The jacks were
retired unostentatiously, and with a
| faint-a very faint-shade Of disap-
pointment in his voice Huntley an
nounced
~ can't break it. .
The major was still examining his
cards with that hesitating air that some
people always believe means studying
out straight /" Finally he said:
''I'll have to break it for $500. It's a
big pot. .
Huntley looked mournful and said
''I'n stay Gimme card. -
None for me, announced the major
briskly, as he threw over "a card and
laid down the deck "I'll bet you $500
"I'll raise you $500" said Huntley
give hundred more. " said the major
when sat down, said Huntley.
81 had 81, 500 in my pocket I'll raise
you the full amount of that on this one
hand. If lose, I'm broke.
The major took another look at his
hand and replied
II haven't got as much as that in
cash I'll make out bill of sale of the
building and plant, newspaper and all,
and put that in the pot. If you win,
you can hold it till tomorrow, when I'll
settle
go ahead. said Huntley.
The major wrote ont the bill of sale
and threw the slip of paper into the pot
on top of the big pile of greenbacks.
Both men had emptied their pockets
Nov I'll call you. said the major.
''Fours, said Huntley. and he laid
down his four one spots. The major
never fiinched He examined the aces.
one after another. Then he laid down
his hand and said briefly;
lyon win. Stanley All / had was
four queens.
The next day the major redeemed his
bill of sale and Huntley came to New
York and began to write the ''Spoopen-
dyke Papers, which were first publish
ed in the Brooklyn Eagle. He's been
dead for years now.
About two years after the famous
POKER game MAJOR EQWarO6 was WISH
ing New York and he looked up Hunt
ley. They dined together at the Astor
House, After coffee and when the cigars
had been lighted the major said;
STANLEY, of course when gentlemen
like you and l play poker together
there's never any question about the
game being straight. But there's one
thing that's been puzzling me for two
years, and want to ask you about it.
"Go ahead, major, said Huntley.
putting his cigar.
STANLEY, why in thunder did you
refuse to open that last jack pot when
you had four jacks in your hand3"
Major, returned Huntley thought
fully, laying down his cigar. "who
dealt that last hand ?"
~ did, Stanley said the major.
''Well. then, major. since four aces
won the pot. how in thunder could it
have been straight gamer
That's 3d., said the major re-
fectively Lets get cab and go to
some theater. New York Press