The record-union., 1899-04-18
READY FOR AN EMERGENCY.
A Notable Game of Draw in the
Northwest.

In the Northwest they still talk about
the last poker game that Major Ed
wards and Stanley Huntley played to-
getber, according to the New YORK
Press" They were pioneer editors OF
newspapers in Dakota in the old terri
torial days. Huntley had just sold ms
paper in Bismarck for $500 cash and
was coming East He and the Major
| had sat in many a quiet game together,
| and Huntley went over to the Major 5
office to say goodby and play one last
geme. The Major produced the CARDS,
locked the door, and the two faced
green table
The Major had the reputation of being
skillful dealer. and previous expert
ences had taught him that cards some
times appeared in the Majors hand on
a show down whose legitimate existence
could only be accounted for on the ny
pothesis that the age OF miracles hao
not passed. So he had fortified himseif
for this farewell game not only with
| the 81, 500 which he had received Tor MS
newspaper property, but also with four
large, but not overworked aces.
| There was no limit, but for an hour
| the game went along quietly enough.
| The Major was out $500 or S40O, but
as both players remarked, the game
was young yet" At last jackpot
| for $50 came and remained. Back ana
forth across the table went the deck.
Neither man could get openers Each
time the deal passed the pot was sweet
| ened $40. At last there was $3.50 on
| the table. The Major dealt. Hunt
ley looked over his cards and found four
jacks
| It seemed to him that the time had
come to precipitate his four aces into
action. The jacks were retired unos-
tertatiously, and, with a faint-a very
faint-shade of disappointment in his
voice, Huntley announced:
| 'I can't break it,
| The Major was still examining his
cards with that hesitating air that some
people always believe means studying
out a straight" Finally he said:
'I'n have to break it for $500. It's
big pot"
! It'll stay Gimme card"
| "None for me-" announced the
Major, briskly, as he threw over a card
and laid down the deck. ''I'n bet you
$780,
.I'll raise you $780, said Huntley.
Five hundred more" said the Major.
when l sat down." said Huntley, Il
had 50, 500 in my pocket. I'll raise you
the full amount of that on this one
hand. If l lose I'm broke.
| The Major took another look at his
hand and replied:
| Il haven't got as much as that IN
cash. I'll make out bill of sale of the
| L. md a
and put that in the pot. If you win you
can hold it till tomorrow, when I'll set
| tie"
| Go ahead" said Huntley.
| The Major wrote out the bill of sale
and threw the slip of paper into the pot
on top of the big pile of greenbacks.
Both men had emptied their pockets.
Now I'll call you," said the Major.
"Fours," said Huntley, and he laid
down his four one-spots. The Major
never flinched He examined the aces,
one after another. Then he laid down
his hand and said briefly:
| you win, Stanley. All I had was
four queens
| The next day the Major redeemed his
bill of sale and Huntley came to New
York and began to write the "Spoopen-
dyke Papeers," which were first pub
lshed in the Brooklyn Eagle" He's
| been dead for years now.
| About two years after the famous po-
ker game Major Edwards was visiting
New York and he looked up Huntley.
They dinAd together at the Astor House.
After coffee and when the cigars had
been lighted the Major said:
STANLEY, of course when gentlemen
| like you and I play poker together
there's never any question about the
game being straight. But there's one
thing that's been puzzling me for two
years, and I want to ask you about it. y
go ahead, Major" said Huntley,
putting his cigar.
STANLEY, why in the devil did you re-
fuse to open that last Jackpot when you
| had four Jacks in your hand?'
Major returned Huntley, thought
| fully, laying down his cigar, who dealt
that last hand?"
81 did, Stanley" said the Major.
''Well then, Major, since four aces
won the pot how in the devil could it
have been a straight game?"
That's So" said the Major, reflect
lively. Lets get cab and go to some
theater.''