The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-23


pocket from your job to-day
The undertaken went in the game
simply for the novelty of the thing. He
had been accustomed to MANY grue-
some sights. but his hands trembled
every time he fingered the cards. He
played in luck, however, and soon the
nails clinked alone on his side of the
hearse. The drummer bought another
handful and then played to win. He
got the gravediggers luck and in less
time than he had lost before he had
won every nail. Then the director did
the buying. and he worked hard to pull
up, but luck was against him and he
was soon buying again. When he lost
his stack he bought more like nah,
ana offered to raise the stakes
we are pulling for home now he
SAID, and we might have a hot finish.
we can keep this game going until we
see the lights at Greentown. If you
want we can play for table stakes I've
got a wad OF money as big as your
mead in my clothes, and If you are the
pest man. why, then, you can take it,
Inc drummer accepted the PROPOSE
tion He pulled forth purse which was
unusually large for a man in his bust
ness. The rain was still rafting on the
glass sides of the wagon as the new
game began. For a time the playing
was steady, with the best luck going to
the traveller. The men were strangers
but the undertaken did not suspect any
thlng wrong In the play, for 1t was on
his deals that he lost most. The drum
mer was game to the finish. All the
playing was for jackpots, and the
drummer would call every time if he
mad nothing more than an ace for high
BY doing this once me got big pile of
the nails. for the funeral director was
caught on huge bluff. This put the
men on their guard. One bad streak
for the owner of the hearse gave all
the cash to the drummer. The under
taker said he would give a note pay
able at Greentown on arrival, and with
this he could keep the game going until
the trip was done. All of this pleased
the drummer. He felt that the hearse
was his mascot, and he was going 10
bank his last dollar on it, The frs
note was lost in jffy. Then another
was scratched off: it was half gone
| when the crisis came.
The hands for several rounds were
| changing, and luck was with the I'M
dertaker. His little squirt gave him
double assurance that he could pull up
even and win the drummers wad be-
sides before coming in sight of the city
All the while the rain continued to fall
and the tired horses were getting
tagged. But there was no flag to the
game inside. 1t was on the deal by the
undertaken that the sensational finish
arrived. The pot had passed repeatedly
and the stack of nails looked like a
woodward to the man who expected 20
rake 1t in The drummer had said he
could not open it, or rather he said he
would pass The undertaken opened
for what appeared to be a pound of
nails, and every nail was valuable.
Well, I'll raise that, said the drum
mer, quietly, or my name isn't Nc
Nulty'
"'All well, then, Mr. Mack. am glad
4 i L. ~,
as you've doubtless heard, and I'll raise
that Bit
There were several raises before the
cards were drawn. The drummer, Nc
Nulty, took a single card, and Brown
drew a couple The betting followed
this Raise after raise came.
I've got my habits Tonight said
McNulty, and l am going to play this
to a standstill. Nothing is going to
come too high for me-
THE undertaken was rather nettled
at the persistency with which McNulty
met his raises, though he saw him ev-
cry time. Brown put up all he had
handy, but there appeared to be no end
to McNulty's string.
1--we got you sure, said the under
taker, and it's foolish for you to keep
the thing up. But as you seem to have
unlimited money will show you some
thing by betting my business at Green
IL,
at least $4,000, and I'll just raise you
that.
"'Oh you are certainly easy, said the
drummer, and l am not carrying my
boss money for nothing. Here you are
and with that he began to unroll a wad
of crisp new bills. The undertaken was
astonished He did not look for any
thing of the kind, He had Gully expect
ed to get all the drummer had by
big raise. He was willing to see it
through, however. After counting s25,-
900, mclst of which was brought from
secret pockets and belts, the drummer
said he would put up $4,000 raise.
Brown said he had a house worth that
and he would call with the house.
That good enough said the drum
mer, and now, if you want to pay to
see, I've got a lovely straight flush,
nine high, here
"The undertaken dropped his cards
without looking at the drummer's.
When he did glance at them he studied
the cards carefully.
well, you've played me to finish
said he, and you can have my shop to-
morrow. It's good thing I've got mo-
body but myself Like a fool / was
risking all on the best full house in the
deck, but then you know that's poker.
But don't tell anybody that you won
my shop. Tell them rather that you
bought 1t. l will go away tomorrow
~ was banking on the hearse,' said
the drummer, and / was playing vita
other folks money. Had / lost you
could have carried me to the train In
this same old hearse, but l couldn't
have gone alone. / drew to that in
side flush and filled it, I'll never try 1t
again, though
LAS they looked out the lights of the
civ came in view. The hearse ratified
on, and two days later the papers an
nounced that new undertaken had