The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09
THE POKER BOSS'S UNDOING
FATE OF THE NAV WHO KEPT I
MING n BO4STED or 1T
Conspiracy of the Three Losers Against
Him-HlH Plight When lie Bet Ills only
. Suit of Clothes on n Hand hat Wasn't
Good-A Blnnketcd EInnncler In Gnmp.

Eui VI lONHth oU " lthnu Ah"'
Good-A Blnnkcted Finnncier In Camp
WASHINGTON. April S.-"When n man arrives
at that pitch where he'll let the clptlc- or his
back over a jackpot. it's about up to him to let
the game OF draw alone in my opinion" said
Inspector Of Indian Agencies J. L. Jenkins,
who probably docs more travelling in the
course OF n year than any other man in the
Government service. I'm talking about n
game OF draw that happened last fall down in
the Territory. on the south bank Of tho Cana
dian River. In the Chickasaw country. between
four st. Louis men. They were on their an
nual hunting trip down there. They we're
well-known business men Of old 81. Loo. pals
Of half a lifetime, and they had Leen after bear.
deer. feathered game, or any old thing shoota.
BILE down In the Territory every year together
for more than n decade. They always Tlaye
poker on those outings. too. and the bank
President always got all the money. rho
other three couldn't 10 anything. whatever
with the bank Presidents brand Of pokcr.
They'd been digging at him on these eXcur-
sions Tor ten years, trying every conceivable
scheme to got his money, and even ulaving In
combination against him, but when IL camo
time to strike camp he always had all the
money In the crowd, owned all the camp HX-
lures. and served out smoking tobacco to his
three chums in n lordly way only when he felt
generous. 1t made EN- hot. but they had to
accept his aims IL they wanted to smoke.
Tit three of EN- determined wheu the
party set out from ST. Louis in their special
car last autumn that the bank President wasn't
going 70 come back from the hrntiu; trip with
all the money, even II thev had to Leave his
bones to bleach on the banks of the Canadian.
They declared together that the bank iresi-
dents sassiness for the remaiudsr OF the wear
Alter eating them IN at poker down In the Ter
riiOry was something unbearah!e. nnl they
didn't intend to stand for it any more.
They played a little poker in their car en- the
trip down from st. Louis. ana this gave one of
the three "onspirators a chance to get hold Of
thn bank Presidents two decks Of cards. The
conspirators carefully marked. these two decks
marked EN- both Just the same way-and
then. during .he Temporary absence Of the
bank President in another tart Of the car. he
elaborately explained to his two companions in
infamy how he had done 1t. the three going over
the hank Presidents two decks in detail. SO as
to master the markings. Then the two decks
were returned ~fGrtiyely tn the bank Presidents
grip. and the rest OF the playing on the trip
down was done with ordinary packs. They
never played big on these Journeys. anyhow.
but reserved their stifr games Cor the bad
weather days in camp.
When they got to their point OF debarka-
ticn on the line. they left their car on . siding
and struck out for their regular camp. about
seventy-1ve miles from the railroad. They
stuck to the bagginR Of pelts and antlers for a
week or 30: then a threatening looking morn
ing, came along and the bank President sug-
Rested poker.
" What's the use?' they all demurred. eye
ing the bank President Eloomily. You al
WAYS get the whole works, and then YOU'RE. in
siderable for the rest OF the year. We don't
think you're on the Level. anyhow
oh, I'll give you all Il chance this tima.'
said the bank President. grinning. I won't
be hard upon you. Then. you see. the more
you fellows play with me in the game. why.
the more You learn about poker. and I'm sure
the instruction you get helps you a lot in your
games with the dubs up In st. Loo. I'm noted.
anyhow. for my generosity in giving Others the
benefit OF my wisdom
" Well said the spokesman and arch CON
spirator OF the three. wen play a little game
OF table stakes. but checks don't go: this
thing Of the three Of us writing you checks that
keep your large family in opulence for n year
ts'--
All right. let 1t be table stakes replied the
bank President amiably. I'm not a man to
take bread out OF the mouths of the impov-
erlshed.' and with more Of such badinage the
game started.
An ordinary deck was used ut lrst-a deck
out OF the satchel OF the real estate man, the
nfamou member Of the conspiring trio who
had marked the bank. rresident's cards. The
bank President. as usual. had all of the luck
from the Jump. lie seemed to rake down
every pot. The three glazed at him and made
all sorts OF insinuating remarks about the
phenomenal luck of the bank President. tina:
had continued for a dozen years. The bank
President regarded them indulgently. and told
them they'd learn tho elementary principles
Of the game after they'd camped with him for
another ten years or 50.
After an hours play, the bank President
beat the real estate mantle other two had
dropped out-out of a stiff jackpot with a PAIR
OF better threes, and the real estate man sim
ulated great rage and tore the deck OF cards
For heavens sake. give us another deck"
he exclaimed. passionately. with a iurtive wink
a. hi y. two To, fompaHi lions in crime.
oolared his grin. and produced ona OF his decks
With q bland smile. They surely were scien-
on eye in his head. and he didn't get next.
well. ven try ono OF my decks. said the
% nan NM P[ real sI,r o1 course, t,iI be a shame
decks has been rif1ed yet-but maybe my un,
familiarity with the range of the fresh gunll
President was arrogant in victory. all right.
We'll The wasn't one. two. three from then on.
~ CouEoc' II was NDnN HllEnty well, AMI
not 40 as to excite the bank PRESIDENT sus-
picions in the least. but he found himself
topDed practically every timo. ana his taco !
grew long. He WIS quite heavily in the hole
4t the end OF an hours play with his own deck.
['.Oh. we've got onto your bIuflnG style OF
play. that's all said the real estate man COM
PLEASANTLY. You've Just had us scared to-
Gsther for the past ten years. but YOU re as
clear a proposition now as q mountain creek.
] always thought you were more or less Of a
counterfeit and Il four-tusher. anyhow. didn't
you. fellUwsy'
o course the other two thought so. too.
and the bank Presidents brow cloudcl us,
after time. after he had bet hard on hands
that looked To Inn to be worth every dollar he
ventured on them, he fond himself TOPPED,
fingered out. Thu real estate man increased
the bank Presidents worry by flashing u nine
straight against the tnanuier's eight
straight. aud then the latter did "A card
tearing stunt himself. He ripped his deck
into ribbons with a running commentary OF
strong talk.
" II must DO n rank deck thatll permit Of a
set OF amateur skates like YOU fellows putting
It on me- he said. Then he dug into ms grip
again and produced the other 'phOnY deck. his
threescompanions warning him az letting
his angry passions rise. and so en-.
Tho three cOnspiratOrs let the bank prcsi-
dent pull dc vi a couple Of si2eablc pots with
this deck lust for the sake Of enjoying his re-
neWed imlcrtiuenpe. and then they want AT