The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17

with one Of the Volunteer regiments. and, al
though l had plenty to do, there was time
enough away from the hospital for me to
get into the game occasionally. Some OF
the officers OF the Regulars we're quartered
in one Of the big cigar factories, and their
place was sort Of headquarters for any
fellow who wanted to risk his money.
Everybody played with 'dobe money
out there. They tried to stick to our kind
at first, but Mexican was the money Of the
country. and we soon fell into the way OF
using that.
1.-THE result was to make the game bigger.
l suppose. than it would have been with
human money, for the Mex seemed 80
cheap that nobody thought he was win
ming or losing anything. even II he had to
get a boy with cart to carry it around for
him.
.aTenney was out there then doing stunts
for his newspaper and incidentally trying
to learn something about poker in that
game. 1t wasn't much use, but he kept at it..
-When my regiment came home to be
mustered out l stayed out there. liked
it we'll enough and wanted TO see some
more of the service. so went into the new
Volunteers.
1T happened that my new regiment
was sent down to garrison the towns on the
north coast CT Mindanao. Tenney. who was
still there. went along with the expedition.
He was crazy about the crooked knives and
fancy shields that the Moros use. and that
was a fine opportunity to get hold Of bunch
of them as well as to see the country.
1T happened that two Of the officers who
had been regulars in the game in the old
Il r. 49, q 1Ic
sens in " this resimenat. We used to call it
Mex rank. out there. when man IN the
Regulars got promotion in they olunteers.
1Of course they started game lust AZ
soon as the transport was away from Manila
steady game. all day and half the night.
There was not much else to do. Our trans
port was bound for the last Of the towns
that we're to be occupied. and while all the
others were busy we had only to wait.
-On those little transports that are used
in the service about the islands no one lives
below. We ate and slept and spent the
time always on deck. As soon as the table
was cleared after meal out would come
the cards and the game would go on.
comfort the awning was pulled down or
the weather strips strung along the rail.
At night couple OF candles in glass globes
gave all the light that they had.
There was a man In this game whom |
did not like, and 80 kept out Of it. but
used to sit around and watch it a good
deal. There was not much else to do
except sleep. and you couldn't do that al!
the time.
This fellow was one OF the Majors. He
came from Arkansas, and he talked as IL
he were the greatest poker player that
ever threw a card. Probably he thought
he was, but inter had watched him for
while / came to the conclusion that he was
a good man to avoid. 1t wasn't his skill 80
much as II was a readiness that thought
detected to take advantage OF any little
opportunity that might come up
1T was big game anyway and nevS
like that Sometimes there were eight men
irving to PLAY. and usually seven That
means too much shufilng Of the discard
1t Ia bothersome and takes too long.
swell. one night after they had been
playing for come time after supper ] stood
behind Tenney watching them. They
played all iack-pots. each man chipping In
a dollar to each pot instead OF putting up
the pots, each man in turn.
"Tenney had been having his usual luck.
He never will know anything about the
game, IL he plays all his life and lives 70 be
Il got tired OF looking on and started
10 60 away. Just then some fellow opened
a pot for three dollars. II was such
small opening az the game had been running
that my curiosity was aroused and stopped
to nee 1t out.