Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-29
KING WON AND LOST.
HE wou a BIG BET AND LOST HIs LIRE
At THE SAME TIME.

HE WON A Big eETANDi HIS LIFE
At THE SAME TIME.
ft Was Case of One Gambler Trick
ing Another In the Days when Hell
ena Was swarmtng with swtudlers
and syvindllng Games.
In 1887 Helena, Mon, was overrun by
q shoal OF sure thing gamblers. Prior to
that time gambling had been licensed.
and there had been fair play. Not only
were sure thing games running in many
gambling houses. but along the sidewalks
|of Main street for several blocks games
of all kinds we're in full blast. In one
gambling house short faro game had
been started and attracted great deal
of attention.
It was run by couple of Frenchmcn.
In playing short faro the dealer uses a
dealing box somewhat similar to the
regulation faro box, the difference being
that the sides and ends and top are put
away until there remains only the frame
OF box. exposing the cards from every di-
rection, with just enough of frame to
hold them in place compactly. In short
faro the cards are placed in box backs
upward instead OF face upward, us in
regular faro. There are no cards pasted
on the table upon which to place bets.
In the middle Of the table is glittering
heap OF gold and silver money, with
Igreenbaclis OF all denominations lying
cnrelcssly around.
The dealer having carefully shufflcd
the cards places them in the box backs
upward. He then slowly and with many
fourishes deals out six cards, placing
them face downward in semicircle on
the table. He then invites bets. a
player can bet on any one of the six
cards lying face down upon the table.
and as many as care to do so can play.
When all bets have been made. the
dealer pulls from the box the seventh
card and turns it face upward. Then he
turns up each OF the six cards upon
which he had invited bets. II the deal
ier's card is higher than the bettor's card.
the bank wins. II the bettor's card is
higher than the one turned by the dealer,
the bettor wins. II, however, there is a
tie--i. e., the dealer turns the same card
4 that the bcttor had placed his money on
the bank wins. But in such case the
1 player has the option of losing his money,
| or he can have another chance the next
hand around il he will double his bet.
This process can be continued as long
Las the bcttor is willing to double his
stakes. II ae wins, he gets paid in full;
j il he loses. the bnnk gets all.
1t is this option OF doubling bet to
save a loss that fascinates players OF
short faro. Ofscourse. professional gam
blers did not play short faro. because it
was known as a crooked game. The
dealer. in placing the first six cards upon
the table. does it with many hourishes
and in such way us to enable n player
to see Just what each card is before it
lies face down upon the table. II the
game was to be played on the square. the
odds would be against the bank 4 to 1.
But it is played with fixed cards. and the
dealer is able to hold in the box and on
the top Of the deck all Of the high cards,
SO that he can ut any time beat or tie
a player who seems to have money. Cap
pcrs are always used. and when stran-
ger appears they play and win large
sums. which they turn in nfterward.
i Whensa man is playing high. doubling his
bet cach time, it is possible for man
mixing small bets on other cards to win
with ense. The high player may be on
4 n comparatively low card, and the dealer
4 in order to tie him and make him double
4 his stakes. will lave TO turn the sam,
card, SO that all the small player has II
i do is to watch for an ace or king. place
his bet upon it and pick up his monc.s
each time the cards IRE turned.
1t was while playing Mt this game that
Dave King lost his life in June. 1851
King had been living in the mining camps
5IsOf MnrySyillp and WickrS fn,.7 n cOlinlp al