The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-03
HOBO POKER WITHOUT CARDS

the Brotherhood of Free Travelling
Tourists of America. sat in tie long
green grass by the side of the track
just behind the water tank. Down az
the tank the way freight snOrted and
ground on the rails preparatory to
pulling out. and the front braky," see
ing the three weiting by the track.
softly caressed a couplin pin behind
his back and waited
But for tie present there was no in
tention in the minds of the trio of
tourists to continue their wanderings
aboard the way freight. Georgy and
Harry and Whitley all had moneys
plentitude Of money, considering their
wants-and. being burdened thus wise,
and being possessed OF an ungovern-
able passion for gambling. We're in no
hurry to journey on until they had
satisfied their passion. SO they sat
in tie grass and waited.
Down at the water tank the way
freight pulled and moved into action.
Two bits. said GeOrgy. laconically.
tossing a coin on a board before him.
Two goes agreed Harry and
Whitley.
The first of the cars of the freight
came up the track abreast of them.
On the first car was the number
1872.
EdlT Nv trays, cdtl6u NeOfSY.
The next car was numbered 1863
Elves" said Harry.
Your money" announced Whitley,
swiftly brushing the money to one side
and tossing out another coin. He had
drawn for his numbers a useless, in
significant 27S4, and new deal was
on.
So long as the freight train jolted
and rImbled 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 indulging in that enhancing and
highly patronized game of the tourist
brotherhood, hobo poker
When and where the idea OF using
tie numbers OF cars as they swung
past for card spots was first conceived
traditions OF the under world do not
state, but that is immaterial. The
game has spread quietly and quickly
among the brethren of the drawbacks
throughout the land until now it is
to the hobo" what bridge whist is to
polite society. Wherever along the
road are foreCathered two or more
specimens of the genus hobo, there
will be found in active operation one
or more games Of-thiS little game lit
tie heralded in the upper world.
But GeOrgy and Harry and Whitley
and their ilk are not tie only ones
to conceive queer and unseemly meth
DDS of gambling when pressed by en-
nut or lack of accommodations. All
over the world. in all circles and con-
ditions, the desire to gamble, to risk
what one has In order 10 win the pos
sessions Of someone else, has resulted
In methods of gambling strange and
freakish. Men lying in a pitch dark
room have won and lost moderate sized
fortunes attempting to guess the right
time. A Pennsylvania coal miner. i'm
prisOned hundreds of feet underground
with his partner because of an explo-
sion in the shaft. came jubilantly out
into daylight 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 fore
sight TO back his judgment against
that Of his pessimistic partner.
In the fever ward of one OF TIE large
city hospitals visitor was surprised
TO see one of the convalescents pass
ing hat methodically around to the
various coats. In the hat each of the
patients who were able to sit up and
take part in the proceedings dropped
half a dollar. Presently the doctor
the patients. Upon his departure there
was a hurried comparing OF notes, and
the money was promptly transferred to
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 everyday pool; every
nTN obi r.er T.,
man with the highest tempera ture at
the doctors morning visit takes the
pool. Grim way Of gambling? On, yes.
But it's probably the only game in
the world where there's any satisfac-
ton in being a consistent loser"
Almost similar 10 this was the wager
of two well known gamblers in a south
ern city during d scourge Of yellow fe-
YER. Isolated by TIE authorities in a
pesthOuse, they stood and calmly
watched the tWO-wheeled mule carts
come and take away their loads Of
long, rough boxes Taking a roll OF
bills from his pocket, one of the gam
blers carefully counted it on the table
before him.
Size up alongside of this" ne said
casually to the otLer- The last one
TO so gets the pot
But a method perhaps as unique and
original as any for the risking Of ones
worldly wealth had it's birth In the
mind of young man about town in
Chicago not long ago. At least the
young man viii vouch for the fact that
it contains excitement enough to sat
isfy even the most ealloUsed. In COM
pany with pair of kindred spirits the
young man. had been i'm the custom of
nightly gathering in the room of a
friend in one of the downtown hotels
and indulging in "Sentleman's game
of draw poker.
Thrown out OF their accustomed
method Of spending the evening by the
sudden departure of the friend from
town. the three disconsolately stood on
a corner bemOaning their fortune and
awaiting car 10 take them southwark
to their homes. But ii was late and
there had been a blockade on the line.
and cars were slow in coming The
group grew impatient and said things
about street cars in general and this
lire in particular that would have
shocked the directors.
1T will probably be Halsted when
il does come" grumbled one of them.
The suggestion struck one of the
young men as challenge to a wager.
Bet you dollar that it isn't he Of
fered
How many lines run on this street?''
queried the gTumbler
Let's see" interposed the resource
fGl young man. "Halsted. wentworth
Its max it a pool; achf7S90s. S..
and Center; that's three. one apiece.
Let's make il a pool; each take a line
and the first car to come gets the
money"
The pool was made. In five minutes
a Halsted street car was passing and
the grumbler. being the lucky one, was
pocketiHg the money.
I've got a new one" he cried. sud