Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-20

The quiet man with the smooth shaven
face and the deep wrinkles on the sidesiof
his mouth stood watching the last few
minutes of plaV at the - club on Satur-
day night a week ago. He was well ac-
quaiuted with all the players. They knew
him to be game to the core aud yet he had
refused several invitations to sit in. AS
they cashed in at the close of the game,
the man with the red cheeks and pink
nustache who was quitting a good winner
turned to him and as he was lighting a
cigarette, said:
old man, why don't you ever play?
You've got face in a thousand think
I'd take a chance and back you. Don't you
know the gamer"
The quiet man was slightly confused, but
recovering his eomposure, said: Il suppose
/ owe you boys some sort of an explana-
ton. I've watched you play great many
times and there's really no good reason
why shouldn't play. But, you see, I'm
married, and l had such a close call once
that decided to take the sensation second
hand in the future. That's the reason. like
10 watch. If any one objects, why --"
'Oh, no mol" all the players exclaimed
at once, but sit down and tell us the
story"
looked at his watch and then said: "All
right, I've got half an hopr if you want to
listen.
II quit playing poker forever on New
YEARS night, 1890. at 1918 O'Clock. Born
in an interior town in Pennsylvania sur
reptitiously learned to play euchre and
casino under barns, in smokehouses and in
haymows, and under the big tree down the
creek Leaving home in 1878, at the age
Of 20, and going to Chicago and St. Paul,
soon got tangled up with the more entranc-
ing games of poker, faro, hazard, keno and
the other ways that abounded there for get
ting ones money.
The games we're all wide open in St.
Paul twenty FIVE years ago and from the
governor of the state to the poorest porter
in the hotel, all played as high as they
could Coming East again a few years
after aud getting a good position In Brook
lyn, I was compelled to put curb on my
desire for play Occasionally party of
as would meet in a married friends house
and play quarter limit, have little lunch
at midnight and then separate. Gradually
we discontinued that, and began to think
7 was getting along toward being a bach
elOr, and thoughts of going home TO my
furnished room at night, with its cheerless-
ness and discomforts, of being alone and
blue, often drove to the card
room. Finally quit playing for
good I met girl-the girl.
will not describe her. She is living
and I am living and both of us are happy.
But had events at the card table turned out
differently on that New Years night /
might still be bachelor, for the girl of my
choice was past the age where she would
I
came to losing her, and how came to quit
playing poker, follows:
II had been saving money for about
eight months and the wedding day was
set for the day after New Years, 1890, at
O'Clock in the evening. The woman 1
expected to marry had gone to Pennsyl-
vauia to pass the holidays, and was to
return on January 2, late in the afternoon,
and as neither of US had a relative IN Brook
lyn, we we're to get married quietly about
four hours after her arrival. I had drawn
81 1000, nearly all the money 1 had, as
childishly wanted to give her a wedding
present of money thinking it would look
better than a check. So with that wad of
twenties, 6fties and hundreds in my pocket
passed a circumspect New Years Day
loa6ug around my room, only once going
out to see how fine and comfortable our
new home had been made in readiness for
our immediate possession.
About 80 al night a knock on my door,
which had been preceded by a ring had
heard on the hall bell. brought into my
room an old acquaintance might say, a
friend except that always considered him
as being button or two shy He was the
best natured and kindest man one could
know but still he would bore one So
rather than sit all evening alone with him
in the room, felt to see if the roll was all
safe in my pocket and we started out for a
stroll. After walking around about twenty
minutes / cot tired of that, and, finding
ourselves down near a cardroom where /
was sure of warmth and life, but firmly
resolved not to play, l passed my word
for my friend and in we went Being early
in the evening, and a holiday, only two
men besides the proprietor were in the
room, and the proprietor could not give his
time to play. He had to be his own watch
man as he did not pay for protection, and
only privileged few could get into his
apartments after passing under his eye.
'iAs soon as we entered il was Hello
Tom here, take a hand so we can make
this three handed declined. Oh, come
on It's only dollar limit, and you can
drop out when some one comes in
THE room was warm and comfortable
and the passion for play was strong so
down l sat, and the little innocent game
started. But l only moved little closer
when some one else came i'm my friend
who was occupying a chair, but not playing
moving with me and trying to see what /
held Another came in, and my friend
vacated his chair, aud, without my
knowledge, took his position behind me.
That made five now playing, but thought
] would wait till the sixth man came. He
was soon there. Some knew, and others
did not know. Presently the remark was
made: If that had been table stakes you
would never have seen my hand, but what
can one do with a'dollar limit1
II had, outside of my roll, only about
S3s or $40, and in a few minutes, another
good hand being called by some one on
the dollar limit, it was decided to play table
stakes, had often played the game, and
that was my time to get out But had lost
constantly, although playing conserva-