Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-20
OPENED 1T WITH DEUCEs.
Tho Way in Which McGregor Won the |
Final Jackpot.

The Way in Which McGregor Won the
Final Jackpot.
"The man who opens jackpot with
out holding the openers takes aboui
the longest chance possible In care
gambling" said Colorado man wht
had seen some historic doings in tn,
American game of draw. Its risky
work. 1t means bullets in gooC
many sections of this country, ant
even in peaceable communities the
man who's caught at 1t has heap OF
trouble in squarng himself, whether
he has actually made a mistake or not
l only recall the case of one man get
ting away with that kind Of a propo
sition, and he was on the level anC
made good afterwards. This mar
was Byron McGregor. who, back ir
the swirling days of Colorado, ran this
swellest establishment for money
haZarding purposes in Denver. Nc
Gregor was a finely educated and pol
ished man. and he was in the game
with three of the most prominent cit
liens in Denver, one of whom after
wards became United States Senator
no, not Ed. Wallcott another man
The game was served out in the pri
/ was one of half u dozen witnesses OF
it. There wasn't grade mar
with liking for draw poker out that
way who wasn't content to sit into 3
game in which Byron NcGregor was
one of the players. All in all. McGre
gor was about the most perfect honest
man ever met up with. He could
beat any magician | ever saw at caro-
IN he lint x.-hn N inc
any of 'em into legitimate game, Nc
Gregor wasn't there. He played a
a magnificent game of poker, OF
course, although he was often a big
loser after long bouts at draw with
heavy-playing friends.
'In this particular game McGregoi
was way loser after the first couple OF
hours-nearly $4,000 in the hole. He
wasn't bothered little bit over this
for he was thoroughbred loser. and
besides. the receipts from his rooms
frequently netted him $4,000 or $4,000
on nights OF big play at the cases
But he didn't like the way the cards
We're running, and he finally pushed
his chair back, remarking:
This isn't one of my nights. Make
it triumvirate, you three. | think
I'll stay out
Better hang on bit McGregor
and get some of 1t back, so you won't
have to smoke pipe says one Of the
players demurringly Stay in a while
anyhow. Such easy ones as you don't
come our way very often
"'Oh, well. well play a final Jack.
pot said McGregor. But. win or lose
I've got chilblains SO far as continu.
ing play tonight is concerned. One
more Jack
"McGregor dealt the hand himself
and | was behind him as he did so
The best he gave himself was a pail
of deuces. 1t was 800 Jack. and the
S400 was in the centre of the baize iG
gold. 1t passed around and none OF
the three opened 1t.
well. IL I've got to smoke pipe
| see my way clear for S400 worth OF
smoking tobacco. anyhow said Nc,
Gregor, when it was up to him. 'Shet
OPEN
"The three of 'em stayed along ane
drew to their hands. They all filed
too. McGregor drew two cards to his
pair of deuces and the eight spot he
held up, and he caught another deuce
anu duothti toiiiIOi
ing full house, deuces atop of eights
When 1t came to n betting McGregoi
poked them TO standstill, and the
three of 'em had finally to look at each
other and say:
IF anybody In the crowds got 'em
it must be McGregor.'
And so they called him. He showed
down his full hand and scooped in So.
800. Then he yawned, put on his toy
coat and stuffed his winning into the
pockets thereof and left. The three
others played on for an hour or so
and then the game broke up and they
went down to the lobby OF the hotel
When they made their appearance tho
night clerk of the hotel called them
He had three official envelopes in hi.
hand, one addressed to each of the
three players with whom McGregoi
had been pokerizing.
"'Mr. McGregor left these for yor
gentlemen before he went out a while
ago. with instructions that they were
to be handed to you when you came
down. said the clerk, handing the en-
velopes to the gentleman addressed.
Each of the envelopes contained 8
check signed by Byron McGregor fol
the amount each of the players had in
volved in the phouy jackpot, together
with a note reading:
81 didn't want TO get shot to pieces
so employ this method of stating thai
deuce-opened jackpots are vicious ir
principle and dangerous to the peace
of society. especially in these parts
Never mention tobacco pipe to los
err 1t vitiates his sense of squareness
Check enclosed. Query: Who's thu
laugh on?
".p 81 guess IFS on me