Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-24


but
And Conklins, caught red-handed in one
NJ his Brobdingnagian bluffs, took with the
greatest good nature the long laugh that all
hands gave him.
Mix-Up on Aces.
81 was in the game one night during
the winter of '7g, when both Conkling and
Sheridan were playing. 1t was four
handed game and John Chamberlin him
self was the other player. This game at
Chamberlns was always a s. limit game
at first, with the understanding that along
toward morning. after a few hours of
warming up, anybody could suggest the re-
moval OF the limit IL he wanted to-
THE way Conkling and Sheridan blurred
each other out that night was caution to
grasshoppers. Both men seemed to strike
out luck altogether as element in their
good-natured play against each other, and,
as both Of them caught fine hands occa-
sionally when engaged in this tug-of-war
game, neither of them could get exact
line on the other, and II was better than
a play TO study their faces at the show
downs Conkling was having all the best of
1t during the latter part Of the seance, and
II was fun to hear Little Phil utter, under
his breath dark and woolly things when,
time after time, Conkling would show
hand consisting OF nothing at all after hav-
ing chased Sheridan out, or produce
gorgeous set OF fours or full hand at such
times as Sheridan. deciding that the sem
ator was bluf1ng. called him.
Bite him. Phil Chamberlin would say.
amusedly. on these occasions. and then
Sheridan would invite Chamberlin to go to
blazes and call for another deck Of cards.
he Iaot ~ ia
with new deck. Sheridan dealt the first
mess himself, and, after it had gone around
and none of US could open it, Sheridan
opened It himself. Neither Chamberlin
nor l had any right to stay on our hands.
and so it was left between Sheridan and
Conkling, who stayed along. Conkling took
thre cards and turned his little pair into
threes. Sheridan dlshed himself out three
and bit his cigar hard when he saw his
hand. He made a small bet TO draw Conk-
ling out, and the senator raised him S25
1t went back and forth between them till
there was nearly $500 in the pot, both men
scrutinizing each other pretty carefully at
each bet.
A Call for safety.
" Phil I don't know much about you
this time, said Conkling finally, but l
think I'll just call you for safety
Both laid their cards down at the same
time. Cokling had three sevens. But he
looked at Sheridan strangely when he saw
the color and conformation of Sheridan's
three aces. Both Chamberlin and myself
also saw what wrong at the same in
slant. but we did not say anything and let
the two players have it out. Sheridan had a
broad grin on his face, and was just about
to rake in the pot. Conking was gazing
at the little man of iron with a puzzled
look in his eyes.
" Just walt minute, there, Phil he
said as the general was about to pull
down the money. DO you really think
that pot belongs to YOU?
Belongs to me7' said Sheridan. Well,
1t does if my nose belongs to my face and
| again he reached out for the pot.
"Conklng, with a gesture. again stopped
\ Sheridan.
~ don't remember ever having seen
that sort OF thing before, said Conklins,
musingly. Did you, Phil?'
"'see what sort of thing before?' in
quired Sheridan. What In blazes are YOU
Numbering about Conkling?'
For reply Conkling put one finger upon
one OF Sheridans upturned aces and then
pointed TO another OF the aces.
"T never saw a jackpot won with three
! aces, two of which happened to be aces
of diamonds said Conkling, smilingly,
Sheridan looked at his upturned cards,
and his face became even more fiery red
than II was naturally. The CONSERVATION
on his countenance was ludcrous.
"'why, blame It ALL he said. after the
funny pause, ought to be turned into
the street Chamberlin, throw me out OF
doors, won't you?'
"'And have the whole American army
| firing a volley over the ruins of my house? 2
replied Chamberlin. Hardly. Anyhow, I'd
rather see you and Conkling engage In a
rough "a nd-tumble fight over the thing. Go
ahead, the pair of you. Well see fair play,
won't we? turning 20 me.
"of course the extra ace OF diamonds
had slipped into the deck accidentally be-
fore It left the manufacturers hands. But
Sheridan, when he had in a measure re-
covered from the surprise of the revela-
ton. made a humorous pretense that he
had known the whole thing right along
and convused the three Of us by feelingly
appealing to Conkling to refrain from ex-
posing him to the world. for the sake OF
his family and reputation, and all that
sort of thing.
1.-THE hand being foul. the pot. OF course
was divided.
Generous Player.
"Conkling a peculiarly generous
poker player. One night, when Senate:
Zach Chandler was one of the players
Conkling was the beneficiary of a spread
out that only happens to the average
poker player about once in a lifetime
Chandler dealt him four pat aces. II was
a jackpot. Neither Chamberlin. who was
the other player nor myself caught any
thing worth drawing TO. and so the thing
was between Conkling and the senator
from Michigan. ConlSlng stood pat and
Chandler, drawing two cards. filled, and
had four mines on which to begin bust.
ness. He bet 800
Pat or no pat, Conkling' Chandler
said to the New York senator. I've go
that miserable skinfint straight OF your,
walloped this time-even IL you've got
straight. Come at me-
"Conkling folded up his cards and looked
Chandler in the eye.
You're a pretty rich man, Zach. aren
you?' he said TO Chandler.
oh, middling well-to-do.' replied tn,
Michigander.
And you've a pretty good hand. Ell
ZachT
Looks good TO me-
" Unbeatable. Zach?'
Practically
Il Well. old man. said Conkling, 'yol
may be pretty we'll fixed with that hand