The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-13
members in good standing of the

Erred Georgy,' .Bindle Stiff Har-
II ry'' and Omaha Whitley all
members in good standing of the
Brotherhood of Free Travelling Tourists
of America, sat in the long green grass
by the side of the track just behind
the water tank. Down at the tank the
rails preparatory to pulling OUT and
the front braky," seeing the three
waiting by the track, softly caressed a
coupling pin behind his back and
waited.
But for the present there was no in
tention in the minds of the. trio of tour
lists to continue their wanderings
aboard the way freight. Georgy, and
Harry, and Whitley all had money,
plenitude of money considering their
wants, and being burdened thus wise,
and being possessed Of an ungovern-
able passion for gambling, were in no
hurry to journey on until they had
satisfied their passion. So they sat in
the grass and waited.
Down at the water tank the way
freight puffed and moved into action
1.-TWO bits" said Georgy, laconically,
tossing a coin on board before him.
1.-TWO goes" agreed Harry and Whit
ey.
The first of the cars Of the freight
came UP the track abreast of them. On
the first car were the numbers 1872.
Pair Nv trays called Georgy.
The next car was numbered 1855.
Elves" said Harry.
'Your money" announced Whitley.
1iYoc hn tO g
and tossing out another coin. He had
drawn for his numbers a useless, in
significant 2,734, and a new deal was
on.
So long as the freight train jolted and
rumbied past them the three sat by the
trackside, swiftly calling the numbers
! as they came to their lots, as swiftly
changing the money on the board, and
making a new deal. They were indulg
ing in that enhancing and highly pat
ronized game of the tourist brother
hood, hobo poker"
When and where the idea of using
the numbers of cars as they swung past
, for card spots was first conceived ira
ditions of the under world do not state,
but that is immaterial. The game has
spread quietly and quickly among the
brethren of the drawheads throughout
the land until now it is to the hobo"
what bridge whist is to polite society.
Wherever along the road are fore
gathered two or more moneyed Spec1-
mems of the genus hobo there will be
found in active operation one or more
games of this game little heralded in
the upper world.
But Georgy and Harry and Whitley
and their ilk are not the only ones to
conceive queer and unseemly methods
of gambling when pressed by ennui or
lack Of accommodations. All over the
world, in all circles and conditions, the
desire to gamble, to risk what one has
in order to win the possessions of some
one else has resulted in methods of
gambling strange and freakish. Men
lying in a pitch dark room have won
and lost moderate sized fortunes at
tempting to guess the right time. A
Pennsylvania coal miner, imprisoned
hundreds of feet under ground with his
partner because of an explosion in the
shaft, came jubilantly out into day
light possessed of every item of the
partners worldly wealth, even to the
shoes on his feet, because he had faith
that the rescuers would reach them in
time, and had the foresight to back
his judgment against that of his pessI-
mistic partner.
In the fever ward of one of the large
city hospitals visitor was surprised to
see one of the convalscents passing
hat methodically around to the various
cots. In the hat each of the patients
who were able to sit up and take part
in the proceedings dropped half a dol
lar. Presently the doctor came in and
took the temperature of the patients.
Upon his departure there was a hurried
comparing of notes, and the money was
promptly transferred to a little wan
man, fierce eyed and white with fever.
"Three times in succession for him
now" confided the convalescent.
Then in answer to the visitors ex-
clamation of surprise: "Oh, that's our
every day pool; everybody chips in a
half dollar, and the man with the high
lest temperature at the doctors morning
visit takes the pool Grim way of gam
bling? Oh, yes. But it's probably the
only game in the world where there's
any satisfaction in being a consistent
loser