Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-18
3oaoe'oooocccocceoooacoccc,
5 PLAYING a MAN AT
! HIS OWN. GAME.
Iorig.nnl.1
C,cSoOCc DcGoCoCO;3c,s,.


methods used by students who either
wont study or can't learn TO help them
4, through their examinations. Mind
you. don't say that Billy used any OF
these methods. In the first place. lie
was so bright that he could keep well
! up with his clusses and find plenty OF
/ time TO work most OF the mischief
that was accomplished during his so.
! 1ourn In college. In the second plnce
Billy was fairly honest and would not
have "ponicd" unless he was sure of
being found deficient IL he didn't. Re
this us 1t may. Billy's chum was both
lazy ana stupid. and to help him
through his examinations Billy Invent
ed wire and elastic contrlyance flat
would enable the student to hold cards
up his sleeve on which were written
Tie demonstrations OF various pron
lens that might he propoundcd TO the
student.
After being graduated Billy went to
The Wild west. There lie suffered from
The usual pranks played on IL tender
FOOT. but as lie was good fellow he
made friends from The start 'rhere
was one custom OF the country In
would never follow That was carry.
ing revolver Mt his hip. or, rather n
pair or revolvcrs ut his hips. His
friends demonstrated with him for not
doing so. telling him that there wore
plenty Of men about mean enough to
shoot him down In cold blood either
for revenge or gain.
Billy played draw poker lust as apv
other western man. He mover won
anything. but his losses were not t-rcnt
ana he considered that the fun he got
OUT OF IL was worth what II cost him.
He never played with men who were
nor supposed TO he square" so he had
nothing to fear In being cheated. and
to toll the truth. he was much better
poker player than most of those with
whom he played. In fact. 1t was soon
noticed that IL Billy found himself got
ting too far ahead he invariably PLAYED
very badly till lie had lost his win.
nings.
One day now man named Morrnn
came Into town ostensibly looking for
opportunities to invest money. ue
was suave talkcr and soon gained
sufficient confidence to be admitted TO
tue poker parties. The stranger lost
s'eaoiiy FOR II week. though not very
large amounts; then his luck turned.
ana lie Won steadily. Meanwhile no
mad succeeded in getting the boys to
raise the limit, and his winnings were
In far greater volume than his losipgs.
Billy Informed the others that he be.
lievcd the man was card sharp who
had come among them to get their
money. Unfortunately they were all
by this time losers except Billy. so
they turned deaf ear TO him and kent
on playing with the stranger. Billy
told them that he would keen In the
game with the hope of discovering
some flaw In the strangers play.
From this time the hands held by
Morgan and by Billy were something
remarkable. Billy didn't hold as large !
cards as Morgan's, but he played them
with far greater skill. At any rate. he /,
won back all the money the stranger
had taken out of his friends. The |
stranger, realizing that Billy was n |
match for him, informed the bows that
billy was n card sharp and they must
get him out of the game. When they |
demurred he declared that IL thew |
didn't decline to admit Billy ana he
caught him cheating he would get rid .
OF him by shooting him. This OF course !
was reported to Billy, and he was
urged TO arm himself. Billy responded /
that IT he had pointed out the irregu- /
infities he had observed In the stran. |
gers game the mir would have rained
lead, That's all lie would say about /
tho matter. and, rs for wearing re. !
yolyer at his hip 1t was rs consplcu.
ously absent as 1t had always been
Well, the thing came to a head In
this wise: They We're all playing in
room over the store, aud the hands
held by both Morgan and Billy were !
unequaled by the "hcathen Chlnec."
Billy, as usual. never bet simply be- |
cause lie had n big hand, only putting
up his money in large quantities when |
he knew he had n better hand. Nor. |
gan was losing steadily 1t didn't seem
10 matter how valuable his cards were.
Billy invariably held better ones. Nor.
san's brow was every moment bccom. |
ing more clouded. and the brows of the |
party (Billys cxccptcd) were nlso be.
coming more troubled. The stranger
wore revolver Mt each hip. Billy had
no weapon ut either hip. Finally when
billy had raked in jack pot contain.
ing Sl6o there was n sudden move.
ment OF hand of every man present
(Biily eXceptcd) to grasp his revolver
The occasion of this was that Nor. !
cams hand went back for his and the
Others were hoping TO head on n move.
mcnt that was undoubtedly intended
for their friend. But both Morgan ana
the rest We're too late Before the
stranger could move his weapon Billy