Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-10
GOOD LUCK'S VICTIM.
BIZ LARRY PAIN.

struck a policeman engaged IL tue ezecu-
ton Of his duty"
Il did" said the criminal, with some
thing rather near to an ar OF self s~atisfac-
ton. II struck him nard
You are poor and in rags. Yet your
pronunciation of the aspirate, your manner
Of taking tea, and several other points about
you, would seem to In4lcate that you we're
once in a better poslgion."
II Was
"And what brought you to poyertyg
What rnadaeueG you ID crIneg The answer
il but too obvious. Drink q ny dear
friendl o my poor 1rother.R
zone moment, said the criminal, rather
emphasizing a siignt crawl; you have be-
hayed in a frienuIy way ~ me ia Offering
hospitality, and ! nave SHOWN equal friend
Illness 10 ACCEPTING it. but wAen it comes
70 Drotaer It seems 10 40 taat you are in
PRODUCING a fanny rHoae4on which Is
sI-uAuecessary aow let me put ono
question 70 you. 4ou assign, correctly
eAoas, ny syen.a. - drink. TO what do
you asslsn &c ulA.@. Way did 1 take to
III"
Our NATURES are sad and SINFUL. Even
Tor the best Of as IL as a constant strassie
with the power Of e.Il. We can Dut-
"Ies, yes, sald zoe criH4Inal, "ali very
true, no doubt. AND, while granting il, /
may tell you that | assign my downfall to
my natural generosity and to a quite ey-
ceptional stroke Of good luck"
Il don't think said the philanthropist
plaintively, that you should treat me in
this way, and make fun OF a well-meant
effort TO help you on the"
aMy 1aar Gin - gatd tha ortrafraJ n.ar,ca
me OF anything else you IKE, but not OF an
error OF taste. l speak in all seriousness,
and / will prove it by telling you my story.
But let me drst inquire if you are acquainted
with the American game of draw poker, Tor
the story turns upon that
The philanthropist was quite well ac-
quainted with it. In ais unregenerate days
-as a young man at Cambridge-ne had
played it a good deal. But he was a little
ashamed Of admitting it.
1T is part Of my duty" he said, "to be
acquainted with the so-called rules of these
deplorable gambling games. My knowledge
is superficial, Of course, and very much a
matter of aedgsay.
That's al right, said the criminal. Il
wasn't asking you to play. Ia the days OF
my prosperity ! was in the habit Of playing
poker every evening at the club. Ineed not
say that by the rules Of the club poker was
most strictly forbidden; in fact, we always
called it California whist in consequence.
The play was never outrageous, but it was
fairly nigh sometimes. However, we could
all afford TO lose, except one-a mere boy.
He was a nice boy in many ways, but a fool.
So far as the game ven he was not in our
class. lie always insisted on playing, and
lie invariably lost"
Naturally, if you're playing too high for
your means You get nervous, and that means
that you get frightened out when you ought
to stay with it, and you altogether over-do
the bluff yourself. At last, - the philanthro-
pist added, so | am Informed"
Correct. Wen, we were playing one
night, and a pot OF about 600 was opened
for a sovereign, and the opening was raised
twice-the last time it was by the boy, and
| could see easily enough by his voice and
manner that he was very good. had moth
ing that / could keep. However, had won
more Of the boys money than ! wanted, and
l thought l would help to make the pot
up for MIN. So | didn't mind buying five
cards for three sovereigns, and put my
money in"
You were dealing, Of course, being the
last to speak?"
quite 20. The opener on my left took
two cards. The next man had stopped out.
The first raiser also took two, the boy stood
pat. and | helped myself to five. Ihe
opener bet, was seen by the next man, and
raised the limit by the boy. picked up
my cards as a matter of form; ! ad no
expectation Of getting anything. anu had
only conn in TO lose. And ,-cre in my
hand was a straight iush-the first and only
time l ever held one, Naturally, / raised
the limit again. Tae other two dropped
out, and the boy and went at it ding-dong.
! didn't want his money. | implored him
to see me and stop it,
"Why didn't you see him, if you wanted
it stopped?"
81 held a straight flush, and am a poker
player"
The temptation was great, | admit"
Temptation? Why, it was an absolute
necessity to play that hand for everything
there was. The boy saw me at last. when
he stood to lose a couple of hundred. He
had four kings, and it was hard work for
rim to smile prettily when he saw my
straight flush. However, viii cut my
story short. The boy paid me, and he stole
.s.ney In order TO DO IT,. The theft was
found out, aad ne tried 10 shoot himself.
That was all aussel upgbut he left the club,
end it was hiUtel tlat / Lad better resign
also. 4.lk went around ahart me; /
,IG a. -,-lcg gvl- ,'t boy leu" E.brs and
rad .ir-n myself "a straight tusd. and the
aeg o. ajIa1ies Is past. o" 4 ave done
..-vs, everything c->, bus have never
e..a cd al car3s. And e. bad cheated, [
s4osi8 AVE given uy-,lt tadt straight