The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29
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-FOUR ACES AND BHOKE.
Predicnment of an Amateur in n
Poker Game.
From the Philadelphia Times.

Poker Game.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Travellers who were familiar with the
lower Mississippi in its brilliant history
prior to the civil war, and who now and
then read stories of wonderful poker
games, know that not one half of them are
true, or SO fagrantly colored as to rob
them of interest" This was the quiet re-
mark of an old journalist to a party of
friends at the Union League the other day.
He was talking about the frontier, and
continued:
IF you have time TO listen wiR tell YOU
poker story that narrowly escaped end
ing in tragedy and had pathetic side
that always keeps it fresh in my memory
boz.
Capitol City is a little mining camp that
lies on Henson creek. nearly midway be-
tween Lake City and Roses Cabin. the
only place where a town could be built in
that sixteen miles of canon. 1 had oc-
casion to go there on a collecting tour in
the flush spring of 80. 1t was June. and
the trails were air open. Already. many
mining claims had been sold to Eastern
operators contracts had been let and pros-
pectors were 'heeled' and, as usual, gen
erous.
Il reached the camp on a Saturday at
noon, put my horse away and went in
search OF something to eat. l had no diff
Guilty in finding it, for the boys We're hay-
ing roundup at Mrs. KeSley's boarding
house, and were glad to have a visitor
from Lake, the financial center then of
San Juan, and the headquarters for min
ing gossip, gambling and other social af-
fairs.
You'h find a lot of the boys over al
Tom Gregory's,' said one of my friends
There's big game going on; been play
ing since yesterday morning. Wouldn't
adjourn even for this big layout
when 1 entered Gregory's saw five
men al round table such as YOU would
see in every saloon on the frontier for
card playing. The men an knew me
shook hands and greeted me cordially. save
one, Jim Healey, who gave me a limp hand
and in subdued voice said 'Howdle.' 1 was
invited TO take hand and drink, and COM
promised by taking a cigar.
What's the limit? I asked
Three hundred said Gregory. Raised
and a half
Three men had dropped out of the deal
Healey and "a young Scotchman were con-
testing for considerable pot, and a few
minutes later the latter called his opno
nent and won. Healey had been bIuffing
with pair of kings. The Scotchman held
three mines.
Il walked over to the bar What's the
matter with Jim Healey? 1 asked.
q" He's a heavy loser
He had some money, then?'
Yes. He sold his Bonny Lass. IN Sun
shine Guleh-you know the clain1--to Col
NJ. b. Derrick of Chicago on "Wednesday
for $500, and was going to start East YES
terday, when he got into this game. He
was 500 ahead Of the game last night but
went back fast on bluffs until / came
in this morning, and has gone all IN
smash. You know now it is when a Teller
gets nervous. He took out $500 worth of
chips just before you came in, and that's
his pile
Il knew then why Healey was silent
returned to the table. stood few minutes
and then went outside with the intention
of ordering my horse and returning to
Lake city in time for supper. II was
o'clock p. M, and the boys were coming
down from the mountains for their SAT-
urday mail, laundry, etc, and, as / found
collections easy, j tarried another hour
An irresistible desire to return to Greg