The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-13

I
most of the western railroads. so 1t
was not especially remarkable that
they had been playing poker for some
twenty-four hours in the smoking COM
partmeut OF one of the vehicles IL those
days called sleeping cars.
It was not q very Stim game at nrst'
Two dollar limit may lead TO the trans
fer OF considerable sums of money IN
even less than tWenty-four hours. Dul
it is not exactly 10 be called ruinous,
unless 10 those OF limited means, and
the four men who played had at least
the appearance OF prosperity.
OF the four, the one who had pro-
claimed himself a drummer seemed the
least skilled, He followed the rules OF
the game readily enough, and was per-
fectly familiar with the values Of the
hands, asking only one question at the
beginning OF the play. That was the
stereotyped query at that period.
DO you play straights?" he asked,
and when told in q rather contemptu-
Gus tone that straights We're not recog-
nized he seemed rather relieved
But although the drummer seemed
fairly familiar with poker. he did not
appear TO be deft with the cards. he
shuffied overland and fumbied the
pasteboaTds somewhat awkwardly in
dealing. so that he dealt slowly enough
to rouse a trife of Impotence in the
others. As time was the one thing
they all had TOO much of, however,
( there was no remonstrance.
But although he played as one I'M
accustomed 10 frequent indulgence,
there was no lack of confidence in his
game when he believed himself TO be
strong. He caught "A PAR of ia clSs be-
fore the draw in one deal on which
the doctor opened the pot under the
guns. 1t had been sweetened several
times before being opened. so the doe
tor opened for the limit,
The lieutenant found enough in his
hand to justify the investment Of 81,
SO he Clipped in Then the old gem
, tleman who had been coaxed into the
game so as to avoid an empty seat de-
cided 10 take a chance, go that when
IL came TO the drummer q pair of jacks
did not appear to be a specially alIurA
ing hand.
He did not hesitate, however, but
threw in his two blue chips and picked
up the deck to serve the draw. The
opener took two cards, the lieutenant
one and the old gentleman three. Then
the drummer dealt himself three. and
found when he looked st them q pair
OF sevens
The doctor bet the limit. the lieuten-
ant dropped. the old gentie-ian stayed
and the drummer raised it 81. He
realized how bold the play was, but
he had the satisfaction Of seeing the
doctor hesitate Just for an instant.
before raising i'm return, and When the
old gentleman dropped. the drummer
boosted il So more.
That set the doctor thinking. Final
~ he said:
y give you credit for a hand. but
there's too much money in the pot TO
let you steal it, ! call"
And he showed his pair of kings with
the ace he had held up ro- d kicker.
That had been early in the game
ana when the others saw the hand that
the drummer had backed so boldly
they formed an estimate none TOO fiat
teflng of the quality Of his plav
POSSIBLY this estimate too firmly fixed
IN the minds OF the other three had
something to do with the fact that the
drummer, as the dav darkened into
night and the night paled into the gray
haIt light Of the dawn. had gradually
increased his winnings till he had some
500 IN front OF him in money and
chips over and above the single stack
of blues that he had bought on be-
ginning.
He was not the only winner. for the
old gentleman had nearly 500 in vel
vet. He had seemed reluctant to play
at first, but being in the game he bore
himself with all the gallantry of a
veteran, and perhaps by the aid of
swallow of whisky every two hours or
so seemed as fresh as when the game
began.
The doctor was also bright of eve
and alert in manner as at the begin
nlng. though he was the heaviest loser.
The loss OF his money, however. seemed
to trouble him as little as the loss Of
sleep, and he played on imperturba bly,.
The lieutenant however, seemed
rather hard pushed. II was not until
afterward that they learned that he
had been on 4 months leave and had
seen nearly everything in San Fran
cisco that was worth seeing excepting
his bedroom for the whole Of the thirty
days.
Now. we'll set up and well groomed
after the fashion among army officers,
he looked ut for any effort, but as .
matter of fact he was feeling the effect
of the long strain.
1t was he who, as they slipped the
coffee they had ordered a little before
sunrise, suggested change IN the
game
why not play table stakes?" he
said. This limit game is poor poker
at the best, and few hours of a swift
er game will be more satisfactory than
all day at this"
I've been wishing for a long time
that somebody would propose that"
said the drummer but / didn't like
to DO it, being SO much ahead"
suits me-" said the old gentleman.
and the doctor nodded, so the game was
reorgan,zed Immediately.
The two losers put in $l00 each, and
the winners left their money lie on the
90 H.. Z
the three players StiQ saw or thought
they saw a tendency on the part of the
drummer 10 everyday his hand, though
by some marvellous luck ne did not
often pay the penalty for his Tashness
On one Of the deals the lieutenant
opened 4 So Jackpot for the size of it.
and after the old gentleman had stayed
the drummer made it $12 To play. 1t
was too strong for the DOCTOR who
laid down, and the lieutenant did not
care TO raise it again, so he simply
trailed.
The lieutenant took three. the old
gentleman three and the drummer one.
The lieutenant watched him closely as
he picked up the one card, and clearly
perceived a shadow of disappointment
on his face.
He therefore bet so with consider
able cOntidence-tOo much, in fact, for
the old gentleman, who threw down his
cards. The drummer. however. with
out hesitation threw in a $50 bill, and
the lieutenant was staggered.
He studied a long time, but finally
said: II can't raise n one-caFd draw,
but I'm hanged if l believe you filled.
I'll call you anyhow. I've got kings"
And he showed down his pair. but
the drummer spread his hand on the
board and they saw that he had made
Il pair Of aces in drawing to a four
flush.
II don't suppose said the doctor in
a perfectly even tone, that a man is
really TO be blamed for having an over
dose OF that sort OF luck, but I suppose
1t is thoroughly we'll understood that