The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-21


cards with strangers, and on this point
the only one | can recall now-everybody
is right But enc time l bested a couple
Of sharpers whom l had never seen be-
fore, ana then a Philadelphia lawyer
seooped me, which goes to prove that. II
you must play. you'll get a better show
for your money! with a sharper who is
professional only in his profession. Who.
ever heard of a card shark abandoning his
trade TO tackle the law? This lawyer
though
But that's a long ways ahead of my
story. / must start in the beginning
which was during the early part of the
Worlds Fair at Chicago, in SO. My wife
and family had gone out ahead of me
but couldn't leave until court adjourned
for the summer-some two weeks later
A wealthy friend of mine loaned me his
private car. and as I did not care TO make
the long journey alone. l invited a bright
young chap from Philadelphia, who is a
distant relative Of mine and was making
rapid progress at the bar, TO accompany
me.
HE accepted. and we started at noon
one day in magnificent style. Our car
was stocked to beat the Waldorf-Astoria
cellar, and Billy and l had two porters
each to wait on Us. We disposed of oil
bourbon at intervals, chatted, told stories,
and then fell TO playing dollar freeze-outs
in the rear compartment of the car.
was slowly absorbing Billy's last corpora
ton fee when we arrived at Harrisburg.
A few minutes after we left, two flash
looking young men came in, sat down by
US. reached across the table for a match
and adjusted themselves comfortably. II
was plain mat they took the room for the
smoker in public Pullman coach.
Everything Went.
81 stared at Billy, and Billy, with polite
irony, turned toward the strangers to ask
if they would have something TO drink.
They accepted, and divided half a pint
between them.
"A cigar?' asked Billy
eff you please, they said
Il knew Billy so well that I only smiled
at his humor, but feared he would carry
il too far.
"'Would you Ike to have US make up a
couple Of hunks for you to lie down on?'
he persisted.
This seemed to puzzle them bit; but
they declined the invitation courteously
enough.
Wont you join US in playing cards?'
inquired Billy. BY that time l was kick
ing him under the table as hard as
could.
The two exchanged glances, and
yawned. Tney weld and 1-don't-
kIiCw'd,' AMI might pass-a little time d
for moment
"'Hov much are those stacksT one OF
them asked
Fifty dollars each said Billy, with
out a tremor, while 1 turned pale knew
ne bad been drinking too much bourbon,
but l had not counted on this.
1.-THE two men reached in their pockets
and brought out large rolls of bills.
who's the banker asked one.
BILLY nodded to me, and they threw
across the table one hundred doIlars-ten
ten dollar bills. / tried TO catch Billy's eye
to see what he was up TO, but he had
taken up the cards ard was shutting with
sang frOid. a cigar cooked up in the cor
ner Of his mouth.
Ready he asked; and before found
presence of mind enough to say a word
in protest he had begun the deal, His cool
behavior had evidently impressed the
strangers. too. for one of them inquired.
Amy limitT
Billy shook his head
"Just what you've got in front Of you,
he said
For Table Stakes.
81 shiyered, but we began to play on
those terms, and in the excitement OF
the game L forgot everything else. Billy
was the first man to lose his stack, and
he handed in fifty dollars for another as
easily as though he was used TO il. Then
one of The strangers went broke and took
another stack, and finally my last chip
disappeared. Without d seconds hesita-
ton l bought more, for l was wild to play
then, and the whisky went around, As
they say in Mississippi quite freqlen:.
By the time We reached Altoona We were
all on pretty even terms. but after that
things got going against Billy and me.
The porters came in 10 ask us when We
wanted dinner, and Billy told them ne
would have his for breakfast in the morn
ing.
Before we sot 10 PittsbuTg l was well
down in my fourth stack. and Billy had
half a dozen chips left OF his fifth The
strangers were putting up the strongest
kind of a game, and il seemd impossible
10 beat them. Twice 1 had a full hand
topped. Once Billy was beaten on four
OF q kind. But he seemed Just
as determined TO keep up the hope
less contest as ever, while | was
weakening fast. During the half hour be-
fore We struck Pittsburg, we managed 10
hold our own but just as We rolled into
the city one Of the strangers raked In
an enormous pot on flush, his partner
dealing.
-. I think We had better go back in our
car and look after our baggage, Bucky.'
ore OF them said to the other. Some
body might pinch it,
Good idea assented Bucky VIII
you gents excuse US for few mlnutesT
Certainly said Billy. with great po-
likeness They went out, but each one
was careful TO take his pile OF CHIPS with
him in his coat pockets.
Left Bskind.
once out Of earshot, turned to Billy.
mad all the way through.
You ASST l said. you fool You've le,
those BANKED sharpers DO US
" No such thing he answered. did
my best TO do them. They were just a
few too many for Us. that's all But It's
a long ways 10 Chicago yet. and Wen get
our money back, and theirs too
3" You don't mean 10 say you're going
TO play any nOreT ! demanded.
q of course / am said Billy. I GER
;ainiy don't propose 10 have those ANA
teHr swindlers take away any Of ny
cash
We'll. admired his nerve. but de-
'cIarsd myself cut o. Il. absolutely re-
fused 10 play another card. and began 70
count up the chips and money as a pre-
Ifr,fE1r - 70 - -htHg IN Rally hegDeF s.r-s
pleaded with ne 70 continue. but !
wouldn't listen 70 him. While he falkei
our ear was being baked and switched
about IN the PittsGu.s station yard. and
Il was fully twenty minutes before We
pulled out and headed FOR Chicago 4gasa.
We swore az each other cheerfully,
and drank more bourbon. until the alb