The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-27
GAMBLER CALLED A BLUFF.
Billy Farrell Looked Into Two Pts
tolls as He Made Play.


They were telling stories in the
smoking compartment Of the sleeping
car and it was up to the commercial
traveller. The physician had just told
one about the extraordinary nerve dis
played by man who had his arm cut
off without taking any anaesthetic be-
cause he disliked the odor of ether
and who went through the operation
without fainting.
Billy Farrell had a little more
nerve, think than any other man 1
ever saw" said the travelling man. "Or,
at least, l never saw anybody else
make so good a display of it as have
seen him make.
The first time I got a line on him
was on board Of one of the Mississippi
boats, where he was playing a cut
throat game with another gambler
named Harding. They both hailed
from st. Louis at that time, and
reckon the truth was they had started
down the river with the idea Of look
ing for suckers and playing together
in the game, but something or other
happened to disturb the partnership
and there were no suckers to be
caught, so they had made up a freeze
out for themselves for $1,000 side.
The Game Ran Evenly.
ut was quite a 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 par
ticular boat it wasn't allowed in the
main saloon, but there was card
room next to the barroom that was
wide open to everybody, and l was one
of perhaps a dozen men who were
looking on at the game.
TT ran pretty even for a time,
though Farrell had a little the better
of it when there came a jackpot that
was Sweetened several times. Then,
on Harding's deal, Farrell opened it
for the size of it, which was about $40.
Harding raised it $50 and Farrell
stayed. Then he called for three cards
and Harding took one.
without looking at his three Far
rell threw in white chip and Harding
picked up his draw and looked at 1t
carefully. Then he pushed his pile
forward and Farrell looked at him
earnestly, still leaving the three cards
face down on the table in front of him.
while he was studying another
gambler in the room, whom | didn't
know at the time but who, after
ward learned, was a personal enemy
of Farrell's, named ellison, said quiet
ly. but loud enough for everybody in
the room to hear: Three to one name
the winner
Tried to Rattle Farrell.
"It was a curious sort Of a break to
make and 1 did not understand it at
the time. Later on 1 concluded he must
have done it to rattle Farrell.
anyhow, l didn't look to see any
body take any notice of it, but that
was where l was mistaken. A shreWd
looking fellow who sat next to me
spoke up quickly and said:
"I'n take fifty of that and ellison
said:
you're on. name Harding
ut only took a moment and Farrell
was still looking at Harding. He con-
tinued to look for a full two minutes
without saying anything or raising his
three cards from the table. Then he
said without turning around:
els there any more of that to be
had, Gilson?" And ellison said:
Gas much as you like, up to $1,000
"I'n take it ALL said Farrell Put
up your money
Then ellison weakened. 1t was the
first time I ever saw a professional
back down from his own proposition,
but FarrelFs GOODNESS shook him. al
though to looked to me like a pref
ty good bet. considering the play. How
ever, he said:
at reckon don't like the odds. I'll
take water
But Farrell wasn't to be shaken off.
"I always took you for tin horn,
he said, tauntingly. What odds will
you give?
"Gilson hesitated. Then he said:
asT'll p0 Won even money!
"'All right said Farrell, producing
his own roll. Put up your $4,000. And
none of that he added, quickly, seeing
that ellison was looking at Harding as
if for a tip. No betting on inside in
formation
1t Was a Bold Blum.
still ellison hesitated. To do Hard
ing justice he made no sign, so far
as I could see and looked at him
closely myself.
Probably he thought he had enough
to do to back I'D his own bluff. But
1t looked like a safe bet for the out
slider, and he finally put up $4,000, say
ing lamely that that was all he could
bet, and Farrell covered the money.
'"Then he called, showing down pair
of queens.
I don't know what 1 drew, he
said
"And Harding had to show his bust
~H 90 "a - EH A