The sun., 1908-05-03

WhlOn no uoeNn't dare 70 come out WIN
direc; offer Of money for services 10 oberen-
dered, and vet he h willing 10 pay for them,
and even willing 10 lot the other fellow save
his face by establishing nothing more than a
tacit understanding.
sPoker sometimea comes In very handy
In such cases, but an | said the case is not
likely 10 be ono IN which an experienced
lobbyist is dealing directly with profess
sional politician.
There was an incident that came under
my notice some years ago that will explain
just what mean and at the same time may
show some Of you fellows the danger OF
trying to attend to such matters yourself
instead Of employing a go.between, II you
want something In politics that's out OF
your reach unless you pay for IT,
"A friend Of mine was anxious fcr bust
ness reasons to be appointed to . certain
commissionership right here in New York
city He was well qualified for the place
and there was only one reason for his not
getting Il, which vas that several politicians
wanted II also, and he-we'll call him Smith
was not politician. though known TO his
district leader as reliable voter.
when he told his leader what he wanted
that dignitary first laughed at him and then
looked serious. After thinking while he
spoke about as follows, only using names
that ! don't care TO repeat
"'You know he said, that A makes the
appointments, Of course And you may
know that A will appoint the man that y
tells him to. Now B is working for the
organization Of course, but | happen to
know that he needs money. How much Is
the place worth to youY
well, Smith told him he was willing TO
give up 5000 and the district leader con-
sidered a minute and said he thought it
could be managed
Frankly though, he continued, would
not dare to offer B the cash, and II you
should do II you'd cut your own throat.
B isn't the man to let his own father get
chance to prove anything on him.
Il don't know what Smith gave the dis
trict leader, but do know that as a result
OF somc negotiation Smith and b sat down
few nights later in the card room Of a certain
clubhouse to play stud poker, two handed,
and that Smith understood pretty clearly
that II he lost heavily In the game b would
be inclined to do him any favor thereafter
which he conveniently could.
1T looked easy. There was no special
secrecy about the game and several club
members we're looking on, though Of course
none Of them knew what was in Smiths
mind He was fond Of the game and
rather prided himself on his play, but OF
course had no thought Of winning from
when they began.
1t wasn't long game, but things hap
pened before IL ended that rather startled
the onlookers.
Smith dealt first. and getting a king in
sight, while had ten spot showing, he
bet $40. b covered II and caught another
ten for his third card, while Smith got an
ace 10 the draw.
-B bet $50, and Smith, looking for the
first time at his buried card, discovered
that he had a pair Of aces. His first i'm
pulse was TO raise, but not knowing what
B might do he merely made good, thinking
it would be easy enough to drop later on
and not, Of course, wishing 10 win.
"On the next round B got a four spot
and Smith a trey. BIS tens being still high
in sight he put up 500 and Smith trailed
again, In the last round neither man
bettered and threw in chip, whereupon
Smith folded All had gone well
THE next deal was nothing notable. but
Smith managed 70 lose a hundred OF so by
betting on nothing while B really had a
pair OF queens. And the third hand was
something like the second.
Then Smith took in a pot Of about $50,
neither man wishing the game 20 look one
sided, and they played along for perhaps
twenty minutes with no special doings,
taking the most Of the money and getting
nearly three thousand ahead, while Smith
was Cursing what he called his luck and
laying down good hands.
'By this time, however, Smith was be-
ginning 10 get interested in the game itself,
being. as | said, man who prided himself
on his play, and having convinced himself
that b was not his equal in the game and on
a sudden temptation, he did foolish thing
asked him afterward how IL happened
and the only explanation he could give was
that the fascination Of the game got the
better Of him and made him forget Tor the
moment what he was trying TO do.
1t was BIS deal, and Smith caught a Jack
Of clubs buried and nine Of clubs showing.
BIS card in sight was a seven. Smith bet
$40 and B STAYED. On the next turn each
caught an eight spot. and Smiths was a
club He bet $40 and made it $50, 80
he traihd.
His next card was the queen Of clubs
and B got another seven spot, making II
his bet He put up 500, and Smith made IL
81 900, thinking, IA he told me later that
b would take il for buff and cover it,
knowing what he had to expect,
ITO his surprise, however, B raised II
81 900, having. as it proved, a seven buried
Just at that point Smith lost his head
The prospect, or the possibility rather. Of
filing a straight flush was too exciting for
covering the bet, no rooted nightly for the
ten Of clubs.
sWell, he got Il. and Smith got the fourth
seven. You may doubt the whole story
now, deemng Il prepoeterous TO say that
those two hands should be out against each
other in a two handed game, but l have
the word Of two others besides Smith that
B grinned and put up 5000, saying
Possible fours here OF course il was
Smiths cue to fold. for IL would have left
B winner Of just about the 5000 he was TO
win, and Smith could have jumped the
game with reasonable prospect Of getting
his consolation later on.
AT the moment however. the excite
ment OF beating four OF kind appealed
TO him more strongly. and he raised il
81 .OOO saying, That's all ] have with me
Possible straight flush here.
"As soon as he had said II he realized
that B would take il to be the windup of
the game and would call, as in fact he did.
and the showdown was inevitable Smith.
Of course, winning, and b making a total
loss OF 81 900 up 10 this point.
HE was a taCiturn man, suspiciousb by
nature, and il evidently occurred to him
that he had been buncoed and that Smith
was really playing for his money. What
ever he thought he got up from the table
in rage and Smith was never able TO get
into communication with him again.
"He said il was the only time he ever
regretted winning at poker, hut there il
no doubt in my mind that he sincerely
regretted that,
9nnInlI
~ 4 - H. Fl