The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-14
PLAYING A MAN AT
HIS OWN GAME.

/ methods used by students who either
| won't study or can't learn to help them
through their examinations. Mind
you, don't say that Billy used any Of
these methods. In the hrst place, he
was so bright TINT he could keep well
up with his classes and find plenty Of
time to work most OF the mischief
that was accomplished during his so
/ journ In college. In the second place,
Billy was fairly honest and would not
/ have 'ponied" unless he was sure of
being found deficient If he didn't. BE
this as it may, BiIlys chum was both
lazy and stupid. and to help him
through his examinations Billy invent
ed wire and elastic contrivance tina,
would enable the student to hold cards
up his sleeve on which were written
the demonstrations Of various prob.
lens that might be propounded to the
student.
After being graduated Billy went to
the wild west. There he Suffered from
the usual pranks played on tender
foot, but as he was good fellsw he
made friends from the start, There
was one custom Of the country he
would never follow That was carry
ing revolver at his hip, or, rather a
pair Of reviewers at his hips. His
friends demonstrated with him for not
doing so, telling him that there were
plenty of men about mean enough to
shoot him down In cold blood either
for revenge or gain.
Billy played draw poker just as any
other western man. He never won
anything, but his losses were net great,
and he considered that the fun he got
out OF 1t was worth what it cost him.
He never played with men who were
not supposed to be square so he had
nothing to fear in being cheated, and.
to tell the truth. he WINS much better
poker player than most of those with
whom be played In fact. 1t was soon
noticed that If Billy found himself get
ting too far ahead he invariably played
very badly till he had lost his win
nings
One day new man named Morgan
came into town ostensibly looking for
opportunities to invest money He
was a suave talker and soon gained
sufficient confidence to be admitted tn
the poker parties. The stranger lost
steadily for week. though not very
large amounts; then his luck turned,
and he won steadily Meanwhile he
had succeeded in getting the boys to
raise the limit, and his winnings were
in far greater volume than his losings.
Billy informed the others that he be.
lieved 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 kept
on playing with the stranger. Bully
told them that he would keep 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, be
won back all the money the strangeE
had taken out Of his friends. The
stranger, realizing that Billy was a
match for him, informed the boys that
Billy was a card sharp and they must
get him out of the game. When they
demurred he declared that If they
didn't decline to admit Billy and 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 II he had pointed out the irregu-
Iarities he had observed in the stran-
gers game the afr would have rained
lead That's all he would say about
the matter, and, as for wearing re.
voIyer at his hip, it was as conspicu.
ously absent as it had always been.
Well, the thing came to head iH
this wise: They were all playing in .
room over the store and the hands
held by both Morgan and Billy were
by the heather Chlnee"
Billy, as usual, never bet simply be
rause he had big hand, only putting
up bis money In large quantities wheu
be knew he had 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 becom'
ng more clouded, and the brows Of the
party (Billy's excepted were also be.
coming more troubled. The stranger
Tore revolver at each hip. Billy had
10 weapon at either hip. Finally when
Billy had raked In Jack pot contain.
ng $160 there was sudden move.
nent Of a hand OF every man present
Billy excepted to grasp his revolver.
The occasion Of this was that Nor.
yan's hand went back for his, and the
,thers were hoping to head of a move.
nent that was undoubtedly Intended
or their friend. But both Morgan ana
he rest were too late. Before the
tranger could move bis weapon Billy
lad covered him with a pair of der
myers.
That's all there is Of the story. Billy
iad in each sleeve a weapon attached
0 one Of his college coutrivances, be.
ides a continuance in each sleeve with
which to hold cards. lie demanded
hat the stranger be searched, and I'm.
dement's Ter card holding svere found
pom him. His losses were returned
0 him. and he was escorted out Il
own. No blame was attached to BiIr
Tho had saved his friends from a cars
harp ! have told the story just AZ
OF It from one Of the party and dor
are to be held responsible for any