The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-18
HIS BLUFF WAS CALLED
A Gen tleman Who Got All the
Faro Bank He Wanted.
FLOWERS THE CAPITAL
Young Man From the Bowery Attempts
to RUN Sandy, and Is Promptly
Accommoda. ed-Everybody
Is Wearing Bouquets

The laws of the state of Montana are
plain upon the point of gambling, and the
municipal administration of Anaconda
has been alert and observant in enforc-
ing those laws. On a time arrests have
beeh made, and once or twice, or even
thrice, people with an irrrenressible desire
FOR turning the high card or the low card
have been cautioned against proceeding
further than the mere initial deal in re-
ViVing the game Of faro. Such an adj
monition coming from Jack White or one
of his toiling hirelings has always been
needed. But now there has been a griev-
Gus breach of faith and a most deplorabie
lapse of police vigilance, and thereby
hangs the tale that here is told. which
is to the effect that a faro bank has been
running right under the noses of the
blue-coated arstocrats.
week or less ago there appeared upon
the streets of Anaconda a gentleman OF
most gracious and winning manner: one
in whom was combined affahility and an
entire absence of those qualities of mod
esty of demeanor which are supposed to
prevail in the Fashionable rawing room.
This gentleman. it appears, had been in
his time. a traveller of note: his expert
ence in the world of men and affairs was
Wondrous and his manner of speech sa-
'otSi VI LIZ ltlSue VI lIeI lbttl5l TO
these chimes. In short. this young man
was from the Bowery. He had all the
characteristics Of "Chimmy Fadden''
combined with the mannerisms acquired
from long and laborious Journeys about
various portions Of the country.
Aside from the personal character of
the young man in question 1t may be
said that he was a vender Of artificial
flowers. His roses and tulips and carna-
tons were made of goose feathers. hut
they were as nearly like the living artl-
Gle as anything could be and, because OF
the merits which his wares possessed, he
did thriving business. Many of his
bouquets half-hidden amid the profusion
of glassware on back bars, their delicate
hues reflected in highly polished mirrors
excited much admiration, and were often
mistaken for the real. live, genuine bios
SONS.
But that has nothing to do with the
story. Now, it so happened that this
gentleman of flowers dropped into a
Main street saloon in the hope of adding
to his fortune by the sale of a few choice
bouquets.
After an unsuccessful session with the
bartender, the gentleman with the flow
ers edged .on down the bar, talking volu-
bly, the meanwhile. The proprietor him
self happened to be standing in front of
the cash register, arranging some ac-
counts.
Oh funny" remarked the man with
the flowers, that man can't play faro
bank in this town. Every other old town
in this country that I've been in there's a
faro bank open, somewhere"
How much do you think you'd play if
there was faro bank open?" asked the
proprietor nonchalantly, turning half
about.
"Oh, I'd play some, all right I'd go
some. replied he of the flowers.
"All right" said the man at the cash
register, IN just call you once and
thereupon the proprietor caused to be
produced full faro layout, a relic of by
gone days-cards, box, rack, chips and all.
This outfit was spread out on the bar
without any more concern than if 1t had
been an everyday occurrence.
TN bet you 50 on the trey" said the
Hover man when all was ready.
The trey lost.
"rll Just put 90 more on the jack"
The jack also lost.
We'll, I'm all up. except these flowers.
Whatll you play against emp"
FIFTY cents apiece" said the man be-
hind the box.
III go you" said the flower man. 'I'll
call 1t 'queen-jack."
But fortune smiled not upon him and
"queen-jack' failed to materialze
After the turn the flower man went out
without word. but soon returned with
a whole box full of flowers He insisted
on playing more faro bank, and put for
ward his stock in trade as capital. Again
the layout was brought forth but luck
was against him and his roses and tulip,
and carnations disappeared like chaff be-
fore the wind.
When the last turn was made and the
last rose had vanished the man with the
goosc-feather product smiled, turned
upon his heel and walked out, good-na-
tured, as he had come. caring nothing
for his losses. only conscious of the fact
that he had met a man who was lust as
game as he was and who was ready to
call bluff at any old time under any old
circumstances, even though he defied the
law.
And that's the reason why so MANY
people who play the early and late games
are wearing buttonhoe bouquets that thew
didn't buy on their own account. and
that's why faro bank was played at least
once in Anaconda without the police put
ting the 'l<ihosh" on 1t.