Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-15

tAon S1ouI0 AtteHu. 1ne rival caNOlOateS
will call them Johnson and Strong
were satisfied with this, and the leaders
went into the conference win Instructions
to make a settlement, but not to give in
to the other side. Well, the conference
lasted nearly all of one night and was
still far apart in the morning. This was
Monday night. and the election was
scheduled for Wednesday,. On Tuesday
there was a second conference of the
leaders. This began at 4 p. m, and
something had to be done before the cleo.
ton the following day at high noon. The
leaders knew this, and 1t was a sure gam
BILE that n side or the other would give
in.
For hours the politicians wrestled
with the matter. Supper vas ordered,
and bottle after bottle of wine was
brought in. These politicians were used
to the business. an9 while they drank
freely. they kept their wits. for they were
not Of the kline to be caught while drunk
Midnight passed. About 3 o'clock in the
m~orning-it was just like a jury out de-
liberating-one of the men sent out for
absinthe and a deck Of cards, and as the
trouble or quit politics. When the cards
came in Colonel Thompson, who had sent
for them, said he was going to use the
pa%steboards for ballots n settle the
fight.
81 am not going to lose my health for
any party ne SdIu, anu as we nave tTleU
every e of settling this difficulty
without avail we have got to do it with
the cards.
''Thi proposition was a sumner, but it
g-t the crowd to thinking. Every man
realized that the success of the party
meant more than the victory of one of it's
factions, and, after their futile efforts to
reach q settlement. they were about
more there was talk, without any definite
conclusion having been arrived at, and
by 5 o'clock a. m. the members, tired and
half sick. We're willing to settle the sena-
torship with the cards. Then for half
an hour there was a wrangle as to the
best game. The majority vas inclined
to poker, but the drawbacks to this were
discussed, and finally Thompson, III had
sent for the cards, suggested that seven
up be the game.
Some Of the men wanted the best wv
out Of three to decide, and others wanted
only n game, and the single game pre-
vailed. There was a solemn agreement
among the leaders that the matter be
kept secret, that not even the candidates
should be told of the occurrence, and
that the thing should be made unanimous
after the ame The two factions had
agreed to go by the word of the caucus,
so that the matter was left entirely in the
committee room. Outside the reporters
were camping, waiting n watching for
d HOu OF a Wlnk, ana lOuHSeTS remained
downstairs eager for the first news, but
Of course, these people did not know Of
the game.
Colonel Thompson was the main sup.
porter Of Candidate Johnson, and 1t was
mutually agreed that he should deal for
the Johnson boom. An old CHAP named
Carter had to play for Strong. There was
a long table in the room. Thompson
sat on n side, surrounded by the four
in his party, and the Strong men sat by
Carter. They shuff1ed the cards well and
cut for the deal. Carter won. When
Thompson picked up his cards, after see
ing Carter cut a diamond, he found that
hi had every suit represented except
trump. AS a bluff he hesitated for a
moment. I beg said he at length, and
Carter gave him one. Carter made three
high, low n game-making the score.
as if voting, 3 to l on Strong. The was
a bad start for the johnson end. but
Thompson was not without hope. He
dealt the cards and cut a jack, running
his score to 2. Carter stood on a lone
jack of the suit cut for. trumps. which
was spades, and played hard for game,
but failed to make 1t. THOMPSON made
low, game, and he had 4, against the same
figure for Carter.
by this time the GROVE was excited
to the whitehead point. Carter dealt, and
when the hand was played he showed
high, game to Thompson's low, leaving
the score . 70 D On Candidate OIrOnS.
This looked easy for Strong, seven being
the game, but all the while Thompson
said he would win.
After dealing the two hands Thomp-
son cut for trumps. He cut the ace of
diamonds. Carter looked at his hand.
The only trump he held was a Jack of
diamonds. The ace, one against him,
was out, and like lightning he reasoned
the chances of his Jack going through.
Without being caught, that jack would
mean the end Of the game and the posi-
tive election of Candidate Strong. There
were only thirteen cards out, and the ace
was safe. Carter hesitated for a mo-
ment. It was a chance shot, a little wild,
perhaps, and he vas inclined to risk it.
Touching the knave with h hand, he
whispered to his friends If he should
stand. Play your own game. Carter
they said. for they had confidence in his
ability.
"'Well, here goes said Carter, to win
or lose. 1t is a chance shot, but the can
dies worth it,
Garter pitched the jack into the mid
die Of the table. Instantly a heavenly
smile came over the face OF Thompson
and he seemed to rise in his chair. Like
a flash he tore a card from his hand and
slammed it violently on the knave be-
fore him. 1t was the king of diamonds
and his game was won.
"That makes Johnson our e sena-
tor" he cried. 'fOr That nigh and Jack
gives me the game. Besides, you haven't
another trump in your hand, or you
wouldn't have led that jack. Yes, I
thought So"
eyes, it was my only trump replied
Carter, 'and it was a wild shot. which
failed. However, we will have to nomi-
nate Johnson Tomorrow The clash was
ended in a democratic victory in which
johnson wore the >honors. but he never
knew how he came to get them. Neither
did Strong know how that king of dia-
monds killed his hopes"
ITS a good story" said a listener. "but
tell me. why did Strong lead his lone jack
of trumps? What kind of a dub player
was he. anyhow"