Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-09-01
Baked A JOKE AND WON
nov Banker Held SIX Cards Mt Poker
swallowing the Extra One.


The west is a great place for polxer
piayin0, and some of the largest jack
pots ever opened have been west o.
the Mississippi river. In the early and
halcyon days Of Colorado, Nevada and
california, when everybody was either
prospecting for gold or specializing in
real estate, money was very plentiful,
and much of 1t was spent with an
abandon that would have done credit
to the count of Monte Cristo. Pretty
nearly everyone gambled more or less
ana poker was always the favorite
game, from All Sin up to the bonanza
kings
One of the best business blocks III
the city of Denver is or was owned by
man who laid the foundation to a
big fortune with money won at cards,
and many of the high rollers who
have taken hand in the games where
he held cards have quit sadder but
wiser by reason of their experience
When Denver was but a small place it
was the rendezvous for many skilled
players. There was banker there at
that time named Cook, who had an
handle the cards like an expert.
Jerome Il. Chaffee, at one time United
States senator from Colorado, with
two or three others who used to play
with Cook great deal, concocted a
little scheme by which they figured
they could have great deal of fun at
Cooks expense and at the same time
get champagne supper out OF him.
so Chatfee anu his companions, who
had plenty of money and who had suf-
Tered financially by being caught in a
good many jack-pots that Cook had
opened, arranged among themselves
with Cook they would show him a
trick he would not forget in hurry.
The cards were dealt and several
hands played around, when at last
Chatfee opened Jackpot on three
kings Cook stayed on pair of jacks
and called for three cards. He go,
four aces. 1t then dawned upon him
that something must be up, but he did
not quite grasp the situation. Chaffee
called for two cards and bet the limit
Cook raised him and they had it bach
and forth. The others dropped out
after several rounds just to swell tn,
pot. The betting continued until a
last there was an even ten Thousand
dollars in the pot, when Chaffee called
him and made him show down hi
| cards.
Cook threw four aces and a jack OF
the table and started to rake in tn,
pot. The one who had dealt objected
stating that he saw Cook have six card
in his hand. The others at once in
sisted that they saw him have six cards
prove it, then" cried Cook. II di'
not deal; you dealt, and if he gave m
six cards, where are they?"
Chaffee and his companions at one
inaugurated the most rigid search TO
the missing jack. They looked unde
tables, il lrawers-everywh car
could possibly get. They made Coo
disrobe, which he did without objeG
. ton, and subjected him to the mos
rigid exa -uination, but the card coul
not possibly be found anywhere. Thi
was a sumner. Cook had not move
I. during the game, and they were sur
; of the six cards, but where was tn
!. other jack? At all events, it was nc
!, to be found, and Cook asserted that h
had but five cards, and expressed tn
r greatest indignation AT their doubt
and hung on to the money like girl
i death. To say that the would-t
) jokers were crestfsllca would
: putting it mildly. 1t was not SO funn
as they had figured it would be. The
went out and gave vent to their fee
\ ings by first swearing and then laug
ing at the way Cook had turned Il
tables on them.
Cook, as he used to relate afte
= ward with great glee, got the six carr
all right, but under cover OF taking
chew Of fine-cut tobacco, OF which
N was very fond, got the extra jack
his mouth, chewed it to pulp al
swallowed it, tobacco and all. He sa
he guessed he could risk little past
board for ten thousand dollars, even
it did make him little sick. AT al
rate, he thought the other fellows we
sicker than he was. -Philadelph
IN | ,IiypoS