The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-21
A SAD, SAD STORY
BITTER NARRATIVE OF A MAN
WHO PLAYED POKER.
THE STAKES A W0MAN'S HAND
Inmate of the City Jail Gives Up a
Story of Wrongs and Injuries of
Twenty Years. Standing
Relief at Last.

and bloated and with a weeks growth
of beard upon his skin, staggered into
the city Jail yesterday ahead of Officer
Riley, and was booked as a drunk
He was too much under the influence
of liquor to give an account of himself,
but at the close of the day. after sound
sleep and clean shave with razor
furnished him by the jailor. he appeared
more presentab bic. He was also willing
to talk.
Shorn of his hirsute appendage, and
his face free from the Crime with which
he entered one could easily detect traces
of former refinement. The nose was
straight and acquiline, the brow high
and broad, the face oval. His mouth
VAS of the keenly se"> ave variety: IN"
eyes observant ana kindly. But the eX-
preston vas re % settled melancholy.
Good morning, sir he said to the le-
porter. as he stepped to the grating.
Did you wish to see me-
The reporter answered in the atfirma-
tive, asking if he would kindly consent to
tell his story for the paper.
why. yes. sir: certainly he replied.
Though neither my story nor my life is
one that l should be proud of.
"Of course, this isn't the first time l
been here for a good many years. l was
a great many miles away when l first
thought of coming. and being without
money and knowing how cold It would
he riding on the frelghts at night up
here. of course naturally detetrred me
a little: but l got to thinking more ana
more of the anniversary of a certain
incident in my life. so l braved all the
difficulties. sir, and here I am, no bet
ter and no worse off than when l
started.
What was the anniversary Of? Well,
that's the story. You see, when ! was
here before Butte was about as big a
poker place as it was mining camp.
l was engaged to very beautiful and
accomplished young woman by the name
of Elsie Lee, for some time. Our we'd
ding had been set for a month or so
subsequent to the incidents of which l
am about to inform you. when Jack
MARTENS appeared upon the scene.
Jack was a handsome fellow, I'll.
say that for him. but he was gambler
and a rake through and through. and
treacherous as man could be. lie was
we'll bred, though, and talented, ana
could talk not only entertainingly but
ntelligently upon almost any SUBJECT
under the sun.
this girl of mine. and as l now began
to drink. when l saw how things We're
going, it naturally estranged us more
than ever. But still l knew she cared
for me- and she knew it, too.
80 one day l mustered up my cour-
age and said, Here, Elsie, who are you
going to marry, this blackguard or my
self? You have got to decide right now
FOR I'll tell you this, I don't intend to
be played with and made fool OF 1or
anybody.
Why said she. I don't know: Jack
; such nice fellow, and knows so
many things always that can't decide.
And YOU, you know, you're not very
much: or if you were you wouldn't
rink I knew by this that he had
,een telling her a good many things,
md probably more in which there was
not a grain of truth. So l replied with
some heat:
eyes, l know your Jack knows a
Whole lot of things, but he knows more
about cards than anything else. The
only thing he doesn't know about them
is how to use them honestly
Il had hardly spoken this last-and
was sorry for it, too, for l could see now
it bit-when he entered. How suaVe
and smiling he was! If l had but throt-
thought for her sake I would not create
scene. so I arose and shook hands
with him. and was about to leave Wheh
Elsie said:
".Jack. Will says you play cards ana
that YOU cheat 1t isn't true, is it?'
..There was dead silence for moment
We stood and looked at each other, she
at us. l know the thought to DO MUIR
der was in both our hearts at that mo-
ment. But he gained control Of HIM
self sooner than /. fool that l was, anu
turning to her with smile IN which
there was pity and child-like simplicity
bended-but more of the slmphclty-he
said to her:
fore YOUR friend. l admit l do play
cards at odd times, but only socially
and I never cheat. But l know your
friends to be we'll acquainted with the
game of poker as he calls it, and know
ing how much he cares for you. Will
give him an equal chance for YOU'D mana
with myself. We will play three games
Of noker. the winner of the two to take
forever your own sweet self. The loser
to-vanish.'
81 could have killed him where he
stood for this speech. but her eyes
challenged me: so l simply SAD:
Very we'll: consent
"A table was quickly drawn to the
center Of the room, cards furnished, ana
we started. l won the first game; the
next was his. AS he dealt out the cards
for the third, / turned to look at Elsie
standing near. Her eyes quickly turned
away, though knew she had been
looking at me. Upon her cheek was a
scarlet flush: the excitement was tell
ing upon her. But not q word had been
spoken since the game began.
II picked up my cards and found two
kings, two trays and an ace. l con-
signed the trays and the ace among the
discards. and called for three cards.
noticed that my opponent drew, but
once. But l could scarcely keep from
showing my exultation as l found that
had drawn two more kings along with
duce. l had now four kings in my