The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-23
A VERY QUEER DEAL.
IN A FAMOUS GAME OF DRAW POKER
IN OLD DAKOTA.

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
in Dakota in the old terri
torial days. Huntley had just sold his
paper in Bismarck for Sc, 800 cash and
was coming east. He and the major had
sat in many Il 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 a green ia
BILE.
The major had the reputation of be-
ing a skillful dealer, and Huntley's
previous experiences had taught him
that cards sometimes appeared in the
majors hand on a show down whose
legitimate existence could only be ac-
counted for on the hypothesis that the
age of miracles had not passed. So he
game not only with the 81, 800 which
he had received for his newspaper prop
erty. but also with four large but not
overworked 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 q, jack pot for 500
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 a
slick dealer, and when IA big pool was
at stake and it was his deal he gener-
ally managed to give his opponent a
good stiff hand, while taking care that
he himself had one just a shade better.
So. when Huntlcy found the four
jacks in his hand it seemed to him that
the time had come to precipitate his
four aces into action. The jacks were
retired unostentatiously, and with a
faint--a very faint-s shade of disap-
pointment in his voice Huntley an
nounced
II can't break it,
The major was still examining his
cards with that hesitatiny air that some
people always believe means %''studying
out a straight" Finally he said:
I'm have to break it for $500. It's a
big pot"
Huntley looked mournful and said
I'm stay. Gimme a card.
''None for me. announced the major
briskly, as he threw over a card and
laid down the deck. ''I'll bet you $500
"Ill raise you $780, said Huntley.
Give hundred more. said the major.
when | sat down." said Huntley,
II had 50, 500 in my pocket. I'll raise
you the full amount of that on this one
hand. If l lose. I'm broke.
The major took another lock at his
hand and replied
~ haven't got as much as that in
cash. I'll make ont a 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
$50 ahead" said Huntley.
The major wrote out 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.
''Now I'll call you.' said the major.
"Fours,' said Huntley. and he laid
down his four one spots. The major
never finched. He examined the aces.
one after another. Then he laid down
his hand and said briefly
"You win, Stanley. All l 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 Edwards was visit
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 | 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 yon about it.
$50 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 hand?'
Major, returned Huntley thought
fully, laying down his cigar, who
dealt that last hand? p
- did, Stanley, said the major.
"Well. then, major, since four aces
won the pct, how in thunder could it
have been a straight game?'
''That's SO, said the major re
aectively. Lets get IL cab and go to
some theater. New York Press.
Uses of the Music Roll.
Entor rir1 with tb.t OF, htIo oir IF no