Evening star., 1899-10-14
HE KNEW THE GAM E

billiard room of a st. Louis hotel. The
two players were pretty fairtsh amateurs
chaps VINO could run up a string of FIVE or
six cushion caroms without much trouble.
They were travelling men, one young feI-
low and the other a middle-aged man. The
younger man was trifle the better play
er, but he was SO chesty and conceited over
the good shots he made that think all of
us who were standing around watching the
game were inclined to root for the older
man. Every time the younger man drove
the balls around in a way that suited him
ne exclaimed. You can't lose me- or I'll
beat you two to one, or I'm a class A
proposition at this game or something like
that, and his uppish remarks and his ha bit
OF casting nosegays along his own path
way were somewhat disgusting. This two
men were playing for dollar a game
cushlon caroms, and the young man gath
ered several dollars unto his hoard as
stood there and watched the progress of
the play. Finally, the Older man had
enough, and he put up his cue. The young
er man hadn't tired of the game vet how
ever, and he looked around the room in a
cock-sure kind of a way and inquired:
ANY OF you gentlemen want to play a
game or two?'
There was no response to his invitation
for moment or so. and he was about to
return his cue to the rack when an or
binary looking man, with a stubby mus
tache and fine lines under his eyes, and
not overly well dressed stepped forward
In dfffident sort of way. He had been
watching the young mans game for some
time
''Tn go you a string or two he said,
although I'm a bit out Of practice at the
game
THE young fellow looked the man over
probably wondering within. himself whether
1t would do for such bowling swell as
himself to engage in rublic game with a
man who appeared to be so careless as to
his apparel, but he finally said, patroniz-
ingly:
"'Well, take a cue-what's your strong
hold in the game. anyhow
oh, anything said the ordinary look
ing man. I'm not particular
How about cushion caromsY
They'll 60, said the untidy looking
." Shall discount you?"
Not unless you insist upon it. I'm a
little out of practice. but I'll try and hold
my own If I don't succeed in doing that
you can discount me if you like
Want to make it for simoleon a
game?'
Not just yet I'm not much of a bet
ting man, and 1 want to see how I make
out
$50 they started to play. The young
chap won the bank, and he reeed off
twelve of the caroms in quite dazzling
fashion. Then he looked around for ap-
proval while he chalked his cue. The I'M
tidy looking man attempted comparative
ly easy one, and missed it by a hair. The
young man smiled in superior sort of
way, and cracked out nine more. The ord-
nary looking man made two and then fell
down on a comparatively easy draw. He
didn't look in the least worried, however,
but stuck couple of sticks of chewing gum
into his face and chewed away at them
contentedly. The young man ran out in
three or four more innings, with a score
of 30 to u in his favor. He crowed exult-
ingly, and then he started to put up his
cue.
Through inquired the ordinary look
"'Yes. was the reply, 4 don't like to
play solitaire. I'm afraid you're not quite
hard enough nut for me to crack, my
friend
"'Oh, well, we might as we'll have an
other game said the man with the stubby
mustache.
"'Well, I don't mind replied the youth
with the inflated chest measurement.
$50 at it they started again. l noticed
queer feature of the ordinary mans play
from the start. He woulG make shot of
amazing difficulty with all the ease In life,
and then he would fizzle on a dead easy
one. The young man forged steadily ahead.
Here he said, when he had fifteen on
his string to the ordinary mans four, IN
you've run twenty
Let 'er 60 said the ordinary looking
man. What's the bet?
Make it five, shall we?' inquired the
large-headed youth, sizing up his opponent
as If he didn't believe the latter had any
thing like that much in his clothes.
Five hundred, If you want to- said the
seedy-looktng man, pulling out wad of
dark green ones big enough to stuff horse
collar: The young man sort O. gasped.
oh, no, not that kind of money he
said. but I'll make 1t twenty-five, if you
want to-
You're on said the seedy-looking man,
and the money was put in the hands of the
proprietor Of the room.
he i
he ran fourteen cushion caroms with such
address and eclat that he couldn't refrain
from looking at us haughtily. He left the
balls in the middle of the table The seedy-
looking man asked for a ruler. and, with a
piece of chalk. he proceeded to draw divers
and sundry lines on the table. Just twelve
inches from the sides and ends thereof.
What are You going to dol? asked the
hot youth, with a surprised expression.
Play you twelve-inch balk to your
cushion caroms, replied the ordnary-look-
the terms of our wager to this effect: That
you don't get another shot in the string of
fifty
The young man grinned complaisantly
y ouve been booZing,' he said.
Then the Seedy-loOking man pranced in
with a cue as light as thstIedown. I never
saw such billiards, at billiard exhibitions or
anywhere else. 1t was beautiful. The man
just drew EN- back to the exact spot he
wanted EN-, even when he seemed to be
smashing EN- all over the table for general
results, and then, with a saturnipe-Xrin on
his face, he'd go at 'em like a woman
stroking a sleeping kitten. AID they did
anything he wanted. 1t was pretty The
young man leaned on his cue, crestfallen,
and muttering things The ordlnary-look-
ing man didn't stop when he ran out the
string of fifty, but he went right ahead
When he had made $50, and the balls still
together, nursed into shape for $50 more,
apparently, he pulled out his handkerchief
mopped his forehead. and remarked that it
was warm, and that he guessed he'd go out
and get some air.
" But you're a ringer, you know said
the chesty youth.
:" oh, not exactly that replied the or
dinary-looking man The bet doesn't stand.
and you, Of course, pull down your money.
| just wanted to timber up a bit, anyhow.
My names Schaefer, and I give an exhibit
ton in this town tonight. Might as well
drop down and look on
Then Jake Schaefer, the then champion
billiardist Of the world, drew his S25 and
walked out with twinkle In his eyes"
''These dialect stories make me tired. -
remarked Noortch. whats the matter