The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-12-01
CFrom the New York SUM-


Business had not been good for
more than a week The men who US
ually played had nearly all Of theu
stayed away for one or another rea-
son, n strangers. who were seldom
plentiful in the town. were not in evil
dence.
Big Jim, the proprietor. was ugly
in consequence, and none Of his hang
ers-on cared to have anything to say
TO him.
His roll was not a very large one
at the best. and he had been hit rath-
er heavily two or three times within
a month by pikers who a come
in with a shoestring to buck the faro
bank for a winter outht. And nov
that the poker table was idle no
rake-oh coming TO the house, Big jim
felt that he was facing disaster.
1t was no wonder from his stand
point that he was irritable and thai
he absolutely refused TO pay out d
cent that he could avoid paying, OF
to give or 10 lend a cent TO any II
on any pretext. And when Big jim
was not good natured his no meant
no
This fact was so well understood
by the hangers-on of his house-and
there We're some half a dozen of them
aside from those who drew salaries
"a they had resigned themselves u
the prospect of waiting till business
picked 40 and living anti as
best they could. Il was hard times.
indeed, but they We're used to ups and
downs of fortunes, n took it a.
philosophically as might be.
I've Heard stories, said Bill Fos-
ser, as ne sat with some of the others
in the big card room. waiting hope
lessly for something to come in and
b. pIucked. I've heard strange stories
told about men that was cast away
on desert islands or floating round
on RATS getting SO hungry they cast
lots to see which one OF EN- should
get eat up by the others. 1t always
struck me that was a sensible sort OF
a proposition. 1 don't banker after
eating my fellow man, but it's a heap
sight better'n starving to death along
with him"
What are you driving at, Bin?"
asked George Davis.
"'Tain't very hard to guess said
Dick Thorpe. He thinks we ought
= eat each other before we all go
dead broke together"
Not a bad idea at that" said Old
Man Hopkins.
Tn NOT so sure of that, said young
Carter. I've got about s12 hived
away and 1 reckon it's going to do me
a blamed sight more good to hang on
u it till things move than it is to
play poker, for that's what l reckon
you mean. I'm always ready to play
poker with the house money, but
when it's blood money 1 feel differ
emit"
"A fine sport you are" said Foster
with vast scorn Looks like you
were a sure thing player"
Well, l must say that kind of a
game suits me best said Carter with
a grin, "and I'm not looking to SEE
any of you turn away from it. You're
all looking for house money when you
play. amt your"
There was no reply to this. but a
murmuring conversation on Fosters
proposition. or what was taken to be
his proposition, was in progress when
a shabby looking man, whom they all
knew, came into the room.
Two or three of them nodded when
he said Good evening" but they gave
no other sign of welcome. and he look
ed around from one to another with
al. appealing glance that they all
seemed TO understand.
Gentlemen" he said at length. Il
am desperate. I'm going to be turned
out of my house tomorrow, and if 1
am. my child will die. And there
isn't anything for my wife and baby
TO eat. You all know where my money
has gone. You won it fair. and I'm
not kicking. but I'm asking for help. -"
Why don't you go to Big Jim p"
asked Old Man Hopkins.
Il did and he cursed me. He's a
hard man."
Il don't see VIA we can do for
you; we're all broke, said Foster.