The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-18

T have crossed the ocean oIleN, an
for shameful cheating 1 think ths
-smoking-cabins of some steamers are
the limit.
Many years ago. perhaps twenty,
recall two passengers who We're con-
slant patrons of the smoking-room and
members of the council which sa'
around the green-cOvered table One
was tall and thin man known as
Paterson; the other a mite of Scotch
man named Peck. Neither OF them
missed a single session. and they We're
invariably among the first TO take
their seats at the table, always man
aging to have corner seats next 10
each other Not a game passed that
these two did not wrangle over 1t, ana
more than once first Paterson and then
Peck came to me, saying: Il am gong
TO quit the game unless Paterson cor
Peck, is put out of it, They never
spoke to-each other outside of the game
and were apparently deadly enemies
I left the steamer at Queenstown
So did Peck and Paterson, and on the
tender taking us ashore l was amazed
TO find they had become chummy. L
came upon them suddenly, comparing
memoranda in their notebooks, and
then it flashed upon me that they were
confederates and had been working
some collusive game in the smoking
room all the way over
did it pan out well?' asked them.
and Peck replied:
Eyes, very WE'LL while Paterson
smilingly remarked: Its a good game
and a new one.
Imagine my surprise some months
11fo
New York and suggested that / get
up a game on the same quarrel "sy-
stem" and that we divide the results.
THE MAJOR"
In the summer of 1890, on board the
Sphynx, was a player in a daily
game. in which one of my companions
was a faultiessly dressed, excellently
groomed Englishman, known at the
table as 1.-The Major" The second day
out it dawned upon all that the Major
was not playing a straight game. None
of us. nor any of those who volunteer
ed to watch the play, could detect any,
thing wrong, but there existed the feel
ing. may say the absolute knowledge,
that the Major had something up his
sleeve" so to speak. Two of us, a Mr.. |
Harris and myself, were appointed a |
committee to request him not to take |
a seat at the table again. We told |
him it was his personality that was |
not liked and that it would be much |
easier If he stayed out of the game
himself than for all of us to get up if
he seated himself 1t would also at
tract less unpleasant attention to him.
self He fumed and swore bit, but
said he would do as suggested, and he
did
Three years later, on another jour
ney, just as we were leaving the dock.
my wife called my attention to a man
was staring at me. 1t was the Major.
and though he had grown beard L
knew him instantly.
Coming up to where we stood and
raising his hat to my wife, he accost-
ed me with the remark Il believe
we travelled together once before, on |
the Tiger"
| answered: Yes. I believe So
Then he left us, walked couple of
times around the deck and returned.
to make the remark: You know very
we'll it was the SphynX IN which we
Travelled together. Why did you say
it was the Tiger?''
/ assured him that 1 had said moth
ing of the sort, that he had named the
Tiger and, not wishing any argument
or controversy with him, I had as
scented
do you remember that unpleasant
incident of the smoking-room he
asked me.
Perfectly we'll.
Are you going to mention it on
board this boat and queer me-
No / told him, upon two condf-
tions: that you do not enter any card
game. and that you do not speak to me {
during the trip
He gave me his solemn promise that ;
he would do neither, and as I never
saw him except at meals l hattered
myself that he was keeping his word.
AS we were nearing our English {
port. and some of the passengers were
already on the tender he approached |
me, yalise in hand, all ready to dis :
embark. and said: THE trip is over. |
May I have one word with you now?"
yes, if yeu have something inter |
esting to say"
81 want to thank you for great |
favor. You suckers of the saloon aren't 1
in it for easy marks like those fellows '
in the second cabin. I have had three | '
sessions of poker every day with them
and L am about fifteen hundred dol
lars to the good. Good-by, and blank ;
you!' II
L have never seen him since.
THE DAYS RUN.
There is not an atom of doubt in my
mind that there is ookedness and col
fusion in connection with the auction
and hat pools on the days run of some
steamers. l have seen unfair play in |
both. 1t is a matter of fact that not
many years ago the frst-cabin men
1
scented a round-robin to the New York {
office protesting. and giving proof that
the Captain of the steamer was in
league with a certain gambler and had
cooked the miles run so that his |
confederate might win. The Captain
Was called before his directors broke !