Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-03

Brooklyn Eagle.
I've e q good many interesting
poker games described in the Eagle
remarked one of the local celebrities.
who has beer so many times elected
to the Assembly that he never has to
do any campaigning now. "but the
queerest game was one that sat down
in many years ago in a hotel that Is
famous among the politicians ard
commercial travellers who have to stay
overnight sometimes in Albany
The boys in Republican headquar
tiers gathered around to listen as the
old campaigner settled himself TO SPIN
the yarn.
You see," he said, as he tossed a
hand to n of the county leaders nea
by, Il did not know SO much about
do now. And then the Legislature
wasn't run then the way it is now.
Bills were killed and bills were run
through just as quickly as they are
to-day, but not in the same way. l
was a poor man, comparatively, and
when | entered the State capitol it was
with the inward vow that my constit-
uents would know why it was If | went
home owning a brown stone front and
enough extra land to have a few slices
to sell 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. l did not cotton TO
the joints the boys visited, and the
stag rackets, dinners, etc., were SIM
ply sickening to me. But one day |
wandered, half by invitation and half
because | did not have anything to
do, into the rooms of two railroad at
torneys, who were spending a lot of
what appeared to me to be unnecessary
time in the capital and capitol.
Poor Play All Around.
"In 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 railroad
attorneys behind them. On the dress
ing case nearby was an appetizing as
sortment of liquors, cigars and sand
witches. In fact, there were provisions
on hand for an all-night affair, and
when the boys cordially invited me
to step in and take a hand | did it,
in spite of the fact that | have a pref
udice 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 | ver saw. The next thing that
impressed me was that those two rail-
road men were so awfully green at
poker that it was just like robbery to
take their money. But they were
cheerful over their losing, and conf
dentially informed me that they had
lots of time and just as much money to
spend, and they'd just as lief spend
it in a social game as drinking or gam
bling in n of the professional dens.
We'll, | took my five cards for the
first hand and saw that | had the
prettiest chance for a flush that could
come to me, and raised the ante. The
Assemblymen dropped out and each
OF the railroad men raised the
pot to the limit. That feazed me and
| just made good and drew my one
card. | did not land, but bet the limit
just the anne. My railroad friends
drew three cards apiece and came
back at m with a limit raise apiece.
Then | set to thinking awhile. l rea-
soned that men that would do that on
a single pair with me only drawing
one card had either landed tours, a
full house or hadn't sense enough or
didn't care enough about money to be
scared by a bluff"
Disguised with the Result.
"Of course you raised again, and they
dropped" remarked a very much in
terested politician, d man who used to
be in Albany too.
Indeed. | did not" went on the
story teller. Il dropped out, and l was
a little gratified at my own good sense
when | saw both men look disguised
at my action. They each had,
thought from that disguised look,
enough of a hand to let them go on
raising me until l lost everything but
my reputation as a chump. My graft
fication turned to surprise When one
of the fellows scooped the pot in with
out ano--er raise or call. But surprise
turned to absolute amazement on my
part when the second man, instead OF
throwing his hand in the discard with
out saying a word turned it up and
said disgustedly to me: You darned
fool, you could have won that pot cas-
ily.' He did not eyen have a pair.
What were you drawing to?'
gasped.
why, to a flush on the jack and
queen of hearts, the galoot said, and
when l looked painfully at my friend,
they laughed to beat the band. It was
just SIS or more that | had thrown
away because | had been too smart,
and l kicked the shine off one side OF
my shoe"
Somebody .obght to have done the
kicking for you" drawled the other old
Albany man.
Again the hands were dealt" went
on the asemblyman without comment
ing on the remark made, 'and this time
l was delighted to see that | had three
kings to go on. and went right at the
ante again. This time one of the other
assemblymen stayed in for quite a
while, and l finally evened the ante
with him. the railroad men quitting
the raising at the same time.
Tried Ii Again.
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