The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-09
LITTLE DRAW Poker aNE
AN ASTONISHING SITTING IN.
- DULGED IN by A NEW YORK
LEGISLATOR
TWO LAWYERS AT THE TABLE
They Didn't Know Enough to
'tStay" With Four Aces-When
1t Doesn't Pay to
Think.

I've seen a good many interesting
poker games described" remarked one
of the local celebrities, who has been so
many times elected to the assembly that
he never has to do any campaigning
now. ''but the queerest game was one
that I sat down in many, years ago in a
hotel that is famous among the politi-
clans and commercial travellers who have
to stay over night sometimes in Albany"
The boys In Republican headquarters
gathered around to listen, as the old cam
paigner settled himself to spin the yam.
says the Brooklyn Eagle.
"You see.'' he said, as he tossed hand
to one of the county leaders near by, 81
did not know so much about the legis-
lature that first year as 1 do now. And
then tho legislature wasn't run then the
way it is now. Bills were killed and bills
were run through just as quickly as they
are today, but not in the same way.
was poor man, comparatively, and
when I entered the state capitol it was
with the inward vow that my constitu-
ents would know why it was If I went
home owning a brown stone front and
enough extra land to have a few slices to
the city for parks here and there. Well,
the days were lively enough when the
session was on. but to me the nights were
horribly long and monotonous.
I did not cater to the joints the boys
visited. and the stag rackets, dinners, etc.,
were simply sickening to me. But one
day I wandered. half by invitation and
half because did not have anything else
to Go, into the room Of two railroad at
torneyss who were spending lot of what
appeared to me to be unnecessary time
and capital at the Capitol.
I'm the middle of the room was a round
table and some pretty big stacks of blue,
red and white chips, with three assembly
men and those two railroad men behind
them On the dressing case rear by was
an appetizing assortment of liquors, ci-
garS and sandwiches. In fact, there were
provisions on hand for an all-night af-
fair, and when the boys cordially inYit-
ed me to step up and take hand, did
it, in spite of the fact that have q preju-
dice against more than five in a game.
The first thing that impressed me was
that Assemblyman was the poorest
and the luckiest man in the game I ever
saw. The next thing that impressed me-
was that those two railroad men were
SO aWfully green at poker that it was just
like fobbery to take their money. But
they were very cheerful over their los
ing, and confdentially informed me that
they had a lot of time and just as much
money to spend. and they'd just as lief
spend it in social game as drinking or
gambling in one of the professional dens.
DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH TO WIN.
We'll, 1 took my five cards for the first
hand and saw that / had the prettiest
chance for flush that could come to me,
and l raised the ante. The three assem-
! blymen dropped out and each one of the
| railroad men raised the pot to the limit
| That -phased me and 1 just made good
and drew my one card. L did not land
but betEthe limit just the same My rail-
| road friends drew three cards each and
] came back at me with limit raise
| apiece. Then / set to thinking a while
! reasoned that men that would do that on
a single pair with me drawing only one
! card had either landed fours, full house,
! or hadn't sense enough or didn't care
enough about money to be scared by a
| bluff
''Of course you raised again and they
! drOpped?" remarked very much int: :
ested politician, man who used to be in
Albany, too
Indeed, 1 did not Went on the story
! teller. Il dropped out, and l was little
gratlf1ed at my own good sense when
saw both men lock disguised at my ac-
| ton. They each had, | thought, from
| that disguised look. enough of a hand to
/ let them go on raising me until | lost
/ everything but my reputation as chump.