The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-22
ROYAL STRAIGHT FLUSH
ON QUESTIONABLE DEAL
HHkIxL.E4
Experience of a Tennessee Mounfaineer in a Chicago GAMBLING
House--One Pot With Nearly 500 in if

90cOASs Jul udu IaIIe0 TO better
a Pettlbone had Won the first Dot.
he was superstitious enough not 10
like the omen, but cool enough 10
smile hen Healy joked him ABOUT
il.
For the next few hands there was
no struggle. Then came a iackDor
n a was .sweetened four times before
It was opened, so that there was 500
ID 1t when Brady caught Il pair of
kings on Healy's deal, and, as Jacobs
mad passed, he threw in a blue chiD.
opening it for the limit.
Pettlbone found four small hearts in
his hand and was about to throw
them down when a second look show
ed him thar they were in sequence
from the five to the eight; 50 he stav-
ed. Sparks came in and by that time
the odds had become TOO great for
either Healy or Jacobs To stay our.
50 the pot contained no less than SIS
before the draw.
On the draw each mar took three
cards excepting P~ettibone. He saw
It was the nine of hearts, but he was
sufficiently good player to try TO look
disappointed, thinking the Others
would size him for two small pairs.
Evidently Brady did so. for he threw
in a white chip only. Before he did
this, however, he said discontentadlv.
This is the worst of a limit game.
You can't keep anybody out of a big
pot; and you can't back your hand
hen you better"
Pettlbone said nothing. One of his
accomplishments was not talking. he
was about TO raise when it occurred
to him that some of the others might
have bettered, and he could get more
play by staying merely. So he Clipped
along.
Sparks and Healy both dropped, but
Jacobs raised it S.. w~hereupon Brady
reraised.
There had been a look exchanged be-
tween the two, out Pettibone had seen
1t, and to his great amusement ne
realized that they were about to cross
cut him.
AS he desired nothing better, he
tralled, and as he expected, Jacobs
raised again and Brady raised him. He
pushed forward two blue chips and
waited.
Again Jacobs raised and again Brady
raised and again PettibOne pushed
two chips forward.
Ii the others were surprised they did
lot show 1t. Over and over again the
same play was repeated without
variation, excepting that bills we're
used instead of chips until the money
on the table was to be counted by
hundreds instead of tens, and until
Pettibone realized that that his supply
OF ready money was running low.
Then, suddenly he changed his tao
tics. Instead of letting the others play
his hand, he played it himself, and
when it came his urn he also raised.
1t was a surprise, and he could
see glances exchanged again. The
play kept on for two or three rounds
more, and then Brady suddenly threw
down his cards. Jacobs however, kept
raising as did Pettibone, until the lat
ter came to his last SO bill.
There was nearly $500 on the table,
and he called.
Jacobs, with an evil smile, laid down
a royal flush in spades.
For a moment or two Pettibone was
daZed. Then it came to him like q
revelation that Healy, who had the
deck, and who had been idly shuf1ing
it while the betting was going on,
"a p4IhCo ouI tAC HdIu Juu tIEduiS
handed it to Jacobs. It was the kind
of slight of hand that Pettibone could
easily understand, but it meant that
he was being robbed, and his wrath
arose.
Hold on" he said sternly. you
DIRE three cards"
"-es," drawled Jacobs with a smile.
Il aged on the ace of spades. 4
r-,~ I~~- ~I@+ I-s ~ r-o~1
enOu-
PettI~cn saw that he had no ar
sument but his wrath was high. It's
a trick" he shouted. you never got
those guards honest, and /"
Just then he found himself looking
into the barrel Of a revolver, while
HeaIey's blue eyes were looking
/ straight into his with a blazing gaze
that bore no resemblance to his usual
baby stare.
I'll trouble you to eat them
words" he said. 'Meybbe that kind O
talk goes in your part o the woc!d
but it don't go in North Clark street.
! I dealt them cards, stranger and |
| want you to understand they was
dealt honest. Say it."
Pattibone had never wished fol
| anything so much in his life as ne
| wished just then that he might navc
a revolver in his own hand. His ham
involuntarily moved toward his nip.
Hold ont" said Healy, coolly
Throw UP your hands. That's right
Now say you lied, an there WANT nc
trick, an them cards vas dealt hon.
est"
And all that a man hath will he
give for his life"
The words did not sound in Petit
bones ears, nevertheless he seemed r
hear them.
Il lied" he said, slowly. There
want no trick, an the guards va!
dealt honest,
"That'H be about all from you, sal
Healy, without lowering his gun. AN
there amt no call for You TO stay long
er, If you're anyways tired Goot
night" he added while the Others Sd