The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-15
THREW DOWN HTs HAND.
The Time When His Four Aces Were
No Good
ashlneton Tlma


washington TimesO
am believer" said the colonel Gin
man mutual goodness. had the nless-
uIs once N Knowing an honest gambler.
aa,lu lkeQ him, too, for he was a gen
lieman. The days of this class of gam
OieIsi however are passed
Moofe. but that wasn't his name. was
mississippi river gambler one of those
SANDERS Of the Did school, who PLAYED
a straight and honest game. He travelled
IN fact lived, on the big FIFer steanol
Doats; he wouldn't have seit at home
anywhere else. In no way did he stterant
% conceal the truth about himself. In
Mas Simply, Gentlemen, / am a gambler
og occupation, and good one. If you
care 10 have me play with YOU il will give
.aS great pleasure. II YOU don't il
12esnt make a particle Of difference
1 was then doing some newspaper work
~ some OF the larger southern cities, and
my business frequently carried me aboard
the vessels, and in this way I came to
know Moore very we'll. I occasionally took
nyer or two, but ] knew that the games
were too Tar for my reach. I discovered
tnat when Moore PLAYED with the aver
age man, luck being equal he would win
" times out OF 100 I liked Mcore's So
clety, and he was a wonderfully enter
tanning talker.
on summer nights the steward used
70 serve dinner on deck TO those who pre-
terred to have il there. After dinner We
would 80 up 10 the hurricane deck and
When Moore was on board he would bring
out his flute and play for US When the
moon was out and threw a thin. blue
ven over the water, or when the boat
carving the darkness. swept so close to
the shore that il brushed the dark viii
lows on the banks, the rising and falling
notes mat came from his instrument were
gentle music to the ear.
Il never knew him to propose q game
Of cards He would play his flute until
some one suggested game, when he
would take ms instrument apart and put
tt away ia an Indifferent manner.
i watched him at play ore night when
satan seemed to throw every card 10 this
calm, self-possessed man. There was
cool, matter-of-fact way about him which
froze the ardor Of everyone else except
a young man about . years old This
PLAYER was in i'll luck. but with flushed
face aud feverish eye. he made his bets
furiously, only 10 lose every time IL
soon became evident that he was playing
beyond his means Moore must have
noticed 1t, for he ceased to bet heavily
against the younger man. This angered
the other no little.
There was pot OF $500 once. and
everyone had dropped out except Moore
and the Young man, Moore had been
playing his hands passionless. but sure.
No man except his opponent, perhaps
could doubt that he held the winning
hand Suddenly, when his rival bet $50
Moore laid down his hand, saying: T
~-A AAA-NN A4NAaaA41s U4 pay Gu
that well.
The young man reached out feverishly
for the pile Of money, and then his hand
lay on the table.
That is not true he said You have
a good hand and you are afraid to play
il against me
Moore shot a not glance across the
table at him. and two red spots flashed
into his cheeks.
II lay down my hand he said slowly.
but with a slight tremor in his voice
And I say added the other in a low
tone, That you are gambler, and there
fore a coward
Rush. I said. laying my hand on the
young mans sleeve. YOU don't know what
You are saying. He is not a coward by
any means
THE young man shook of my hand
vehementiy, and exclaimed: He is
coward. and !, u answer for my words at
the FIRST landing.
II looked at Moore. 1 had seen him sit
on the hurricane deck. a revolver in hand.
and as a walter threw champagne bot
ties over the rail. raise his arm swiftly
and shatter the falling glass with bullet.
There were graver stories. too. about his
deadly aim In duels. He sat stim and
motiOnless with a terrible fire in his
eyes. / was amazed by his next words.
Does the game go onY he asked
Not with you. said the young man.
bending forward the veins in his fore
head swelling Not until I prove that you
are afraid to bet. and with a sudden mo-
ton he threw his hand across the table
and seizing MoOre's cards turned them
face upward on the table
~ was on my feet az that instant to
arrest Moore right arm. for I felt that
he would draw his revolver at the in
suit But a hush fen over those around
the table. and the hot-headed young man
was gazing stupidiy at the cards before
him Four aces Law there-an invincible
hand for straights were not PLAYED
There was a blue tinge fri Moore's white
lips and the young man looked bewil-
dered. Suddenly the latter burst into
tears.
we can't play together any more,
he cried You threw money into my
pockets because was losing too much. /
can't take it.. he said arising from his
chair
you can said Moore. in an even
voice. laid down my hand. The money
Is yours. Besides he added with a little
shiYer I held out an ace on you.
Every man at the table knew that
Moore had lied We all got up and left
the young man sitting there over tire
money. ] found Moore shortly afterwara
on deck. looking into the darby whlrling
water.
Give me your hand said. What in
the world did you mean Iou aever
cheated at cards Ia your life.