The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-18

II HEY were telling stories in the
smoking compartment Of the
sleeping car. and # was up to the
commercial traveller. The physician
had Just told one about the eXtraOrdi-
nary nerve displayed by a man who had
his arm cut of without taking any an
aesthetic because he disliked the odOr
OF ether, and who went through the op-
Grafton without fainting.
Billy Farrell had little more nerve,
] think than any other man I ever
saw" said the travelling man. "Or, at
least. 7 never saw anybody else make
so good a display of il as I have seen
him make.
THE first time 7 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 7 reckon the
truth was they had started down the
river with the idea of looking for suck
ers and playing together I'm 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 fTeeze-Out for themselves
for $1,000 a side.
1T was quite a good while ago when
there was more poker playing on the
much as i'm the old days. On this par
ticular boat it wasn't allowed in the
main saloon. but there was a card room
next To the barrOOm that was wide open
to everybody and ] was one of perhaps
O. dozen men who were looking on at
the game.
1T ran pretty even for q time, though
Farrell had a little the better Of il
when there came "a Jackpot that was
sweetened several times. Then on
Harding's deal Farrell opened il for the
size Of fl. which was about $40.
Harding raised il fifty and Farrell
stayed Then he called for three cards
and Harding took one.
Without looking at his three. Far
rell threw I'm a white chip, and Harding
picked mp his draw, and looked at IL,
carefully. Then he pushed his pile for
ward. and Farrell looked at him earn
estiy Stul leaving the three cards face
down on the table in front of him.
While he was studying. another
gambler in the room. whom 7 didn't
know at the time, but who. 4 afterward
learned. was a personal enemy Of Far
rel. named Gibson, said quietly, but
loud enough for everybody in the room
10 hear: Three to one 1 name the win
ner.'
1T was n curious sort Of a break to
make. and did not understand it at
hlif tAlilfs Later on 4 flNGlN0fQ ne must
have done it to rattle Farrell
Anyhow, I didn't look to see any
body take any notice Of it. but that was
where 7 was mistaken. A shreWd look
ing fellow who sat next to me spoke up
quickly and said:
IN take fifty Of that and ellison
said.
You're on. T name Harding.
1T only tCok a moment, and Farrell
was still looking at Harding. He con-
tinued to look Tor a fun two minutes
without saying anything or raising HIS
three cards from the table Then he
said without turning around:
Is there any more Of that to be
had. GilsOn?' And ellison said:
AS much as you like up to three
thousand
TN take it ALL said Farrell. Put
up your money
Then ellison weakened. It was the
first time I ever saw a professional
back down from his own proposition.
but FarreI's GOODNESS shook him, al
though three to one looked to me like
a pretty good bet. considering the play.
However. he said:
70. I reckon don't like the odAz IN
take water
'But Farrel1 .~asn't 10 be shaken of.
said. tauntingly. What odds VIII you
giveT
"Gilson hesitated. Then he said:
III 20 YOU even money
AN right Taid Farrell, producing
his own roll. 1ut up your three tnou-
sand And none OF that he added quick
lv. seeing that ellison was looking at
Harding. as II for "a tip No betting on
inside information
still ellison hesitated. To do Harding
Justice. he made no sign. so far as j
could see. and 7 looked at him closely
myself
Probably he thought ne had enough
10 do TO back up his own bluff. But &c
looked like "a safe bet for tho outsider
and he finally put ~ two thousand, say
ing lamelv that that was all he could
bet and Farrell covered the money.
AZ queens.