The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-20
BLUFF ON POKER

They were telling stories in the smok-
ing compartment of the sleeping ear, and
it was UP to the commercial traveller.
The physician had just told one about
the extraordinary nerve displayed by a
man who had his arm cut off without
taking any anaesthetic because he dis
liked the oder Of ether, ana who went
through the operation without fainting
BILLY Farrell mad a little nerve nerve,
think than any other man ever saw"
said the travelling man. ''Or. at least,
never saw anybody else make so good a
display Of il as 1 have seen him make.
The first time 1 got line on him wss
on board one of the Mississippi beats,
where he was playing a cutthroat game
with another gambler named Harding.
They both hailed from St. Louis at that
tine, and ! reckon the truth was they
had started down the river win the idea
OF looking for suckers and playing to-
gether in the game, but something or
other happened 10 disturb the partner
ship. and there were no suckers to be
caught. so they had made up a freeze
out for themselves for $1,000 a side
1t was quite good while ago. when
there was more poker playing on the
boats than there is now, but not so much
as in the old days. On this particular
boat it wasn't allowea in the main sa-
loon, but there was a card room next to
the bar-roon thai was wide open to
everybody, and | was one of perhaps
dozen men who were looking on at the
game
1t ren pretty even for a time, though.
Farrell had a little the better Of it when
there came a Jackpot that was sweet
ened several times. Then, on Harding's
deal, Farrell opened it for the size of it,
which was about $50.
Harding raised it fifty and Farrell
stayed Then he called for three cards
and Harding took one.
: without looking at his three. Farrell
Threw in a white chip. and Harding
picked up his draw. and looked at it,
carefully Then he pushed his pile for
ward and Farrell looked at him ear
nestiy. stin leaving three cards face down
on the table in front of him.
While he was studying. another gam
bier in the room. whom l didn't know
at the time. but who, I afterwards learn
ed. was a personal enemy of Farrell,
named ellison, said quietly, but loud
enough for everybody in the room TO hear
Three to one ] name the winner
1t was a curious sort Of a break to
make and I did rot understand it at the |
time. Later on concluded he must have /
don't il TO rattle Farrell.
ANYHOW, I didn't look to see anybody I
take any notice Of it, but that was where /
I was mistaken. \ STRENGTHENING fell |
low who sat next to me spoke up quickly |
and said:
ia take fifty of that" and ellison
said:
" You're on ] name Harding
1t only took a moment, and Farrell
was stu looking at Harding. He CON
tinued to look for a fun two minutes
without saying anything OF raising his
three cards from the table Then he
said without turning around:
g I there any more of that to be had,
Gilson% And ellison said:
AS much as you Ike, UP to three
thousand
I'll take it ALL said Farrell Putt
up your money
Then ellison weakened 1t was the first
time 1 ever saw professional back down
from his own proposition, but Farrelrs
GOODNESS shook him, although to 1 looked
to me Ike pretty good bet, considering
the ploy. However. he said:
I reckon I don't like the odds. I'll
lake water
But Farrell wasn't to be shaken off.
I always took you for a tin horn, he
said. tauntingly. What odds will you
siVe?'
2 "Gilson hesitated. Then he said
III go you even money
All right. said Farrell, producing his
own roll. Put up your three thousand
And none of that h added quickly, see
Ing that Gibson was looking at aHrding,
as if for a tip. No betting on inside in
still ellison hesitated. To do Harding
justice he made no sign, so far as l could
see. and 1 looked at him closely myself.
Probably he thought he had enough to
10 TO back up his own bluff. But il
looked like a safe bet for the outsider
and he finally put up two thousand, say
Ing lamely that that was all he could
bet and Farrell covered the money
Then he called, showing down 4 pair
IF queens.
" ! don't know what I drew he said
And Harding had to show his busted
fush. II was the nerviest play 1 ever
saw at the poker table. OF course. Far
-ell was gambling on his conviction that
Harding was blUfing, and he must have
Known Hardings style Of play tolerably 1
well. but il showed nerve all the same.
And nerve was something that Ferrell
never lost IIo worked The river boats
or quite n while and did as we'll as most
II the old-time gamblers. but he was
hrewd enough to see that the days of