The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-05

5"I can't say that I hhve ever taken
much interest In what you might cali
this letter Of the Ia WI" said the book
makers clerk.
II belong to the olass that find It pleas
anter-1 don't say It's easisr--to win a
living than 1t Is to earn ore. And In an
experience OF some years 1thave discover
cd a curious thinT. It IL aasier--for the
man who knows how--to boat tho man
who Is trying To do you, than 1t 10 to
beat the average sucker.
THE first time I ever saw great white
light on that proposition was out in Chic
ago. more than q dozen years ago. had
made some good winnings on the races
that summer, and had followed this up
with three or four lucky plays at faro,
which loft me after q season OF more or
less riotous living. some eight thousand
to the good. with d sort OF fool conf
dnece wrapped around the roll, that for
babe me TO contemplate that Inevitable
day when things would run the other
way.
"tt Is totally unnecessary TO say that
the roll OF eight thousand was no sort
OF Qualification for my butting Into Chic
ago cincles with any notion Of coming
out alive. but the fool confidence was
strong enough to induce me 10 do just
that thing. and the disaster that court
ed overlook mo In about three weeks
time from the day arrived.
THE. end came one night when rose
from the table In Jim Fox's faro bank on
Clark Street without dollar In my pock-
ct. l had gone In at 10 o'clock with $3.50
and fierce determination TO win $4,000
or go broke. At II o'clock ! had some
thins over 1900 In front OF me and at
IL lost my last chip.
IT knew, OF course, that could get a
grub stake. from the house, but 1t didn't
suit my purpose to plead poverty Just
then. My bills were ell paid at the hotel.
there, and had a pretty good watch
In my pocket that knew could get
$50 on.
THE thought In my mind was whether
I should take the fifty and get back to
little old New York with 1t, or whether
I should have another try at the bank
80, without saying anything about being
broke. and without, as I'fondly hoped
showing anything in my manner. = walk
ed over to the sideboard took good
drink Ut whiskey. picked out perfecto
and lighted 1t carefully. and noddlng
good night to the dealer, walked out
into the night. II
'1t was no new experience for me to
be broke. It wouldn't have seemed SO
hard II I had been at home. or II I
hadn't been on Easy Street long enough
ITO get used TO It. buthas 1t was, was
feeling blue enough to kick myself full
OF holes II I'd had the physical training
requisite and treated myself to a choice
line OF remarks as l walked over to the
hotel. Sti55
Mind you. didn't know anybody in
Chicago when landed there. beyond
speaking acquaintance with a few mon
T. .1e h,,$T NOD nt~
lated FOUND a few In those three weeks
and had been siaed UP as sport, ell
right, and while had no friends. had
whole bunch OF acquaintances. none OF
whom I reflected. was likely to do mo
any good.
ION the whole, It looked like New York
again for mine. but / was fairly aching
to get back at the crowd for the way they
had done me. and reckon Id been
more II fellow named BanniBan hadn't
made queer break at me-.
II had seen him In Fo1's place a good
many times. and had spotted him for a
gambler, all right. though he didn't play
the tables often They told me he was
poker player by choice, but took crack
at anything going from time to time.
And I knew he was considered crook.
This man followed me over to the
by, came over and proposed bottle.
FEE seemed like a good proposition to
mo Just then, seeing / was not likely to-
get 1t again very soon, and sat In. He
didn't waste any time, but after the walt
er had served US and gone. he said:
I've been watching you for couple
OF weeks, and I've sized you up for q
pretty good poker player
IT admitted that had played some,
h. taH ~ ~ r rod alt
In at game that went on In his rooms
upstairs now and then. The notion made
me laugh In spite Of myself. and told
him he spoke too late. II they were
playing for winter overcoats and dress
suits, and the chips were bone collar but
tons. couldn't buy stack.
80 he smiled and said he had suspects
ed as much when he saw me quilt the
game at Fo1's.
but, he said, that needn't stop you.
II you'll play In with me. I'll stake you
to chips. ind we can settle after the
game. You get enough out OF 1t, anyhow.
10 keep you going, and share OF tho
winnings. We can't lose Il you follow
my signals. and never have more than
four in the game.
well, just naturally. I knew enough
about poker to know that he was pretty
near right but never had played a
crooked cara UP " tIdI tA4uc, dAu :
wasn't quite ready to fall Besides, 1t
seemed suspicious that he should pick
mo out for such aproposition. and told
him So i.
His face darkened a little. but he said
he hadn't been long In Chicago him
self, and there wasn't man In the bunch
he would trust And then he went on to
tell me that man named Phelps had
agreed to come to his room the next night
with q friend. and he wanted me to sit
in for four hand
~ thought about 1t for minute. and
then declared myself In. Ny notion was
that I'd see what his game really was.
and then use my own judgment about
going on. 80 We had another bottle and
went UP to his room to practice on his
signal code. was ready for the educa-
ton. anyhow
well, we sat till near daybreak. prac-
Using, hut aside from learning his sig
nails so that could give EN- or take EN-
as we'll as he could, didn't get any
thing new from him. He was a slick
dealer. all right. and he could place the
cards pretty near where he wanted them,
but he told me frankly that he was
afraid to take chances on dealing. as he
knew that Phelps was q whole lot shrewd