Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-04-17
A GAMBLING INCIDENT.
Every Man Has Good Side" to His
Nature.

. nature.
am a believer in mans natura
n goodness. | had the pleasure once o
knowing an honest gambler. | liket
him. too, for he was gentleman.
The days of this class of gambler
are past, however, and today, as rule
/ they are a scurry lot.
Blake, when | met him, was al
ocean gambler He traveled-in fact
. lived-on the big steamers bound tt
and fro between San Francisco and for
eign ports.
[ He never attempted to conceal the
truth about himself 1t was simply
Gentleman, am a gambler by occu
patton. and good one. If you care
to have me play with you, it will give
me great pleasure. If you don't, il
, doesn't make a particle of difference.
became well acquainted with Blake,
and soon discovered that when playing
with the average man, luck being
equal. he would win ninety-nine times
out of a hundred. never touched
cards, but | used to like his society.
He was a wonderfully entertaining
talker. On fine evenings, the steward
used to serve dinner on deck for those
who preferred to have it there. After
dinner We would go up to the hurri-
cane deck. and when Blake was on
board he would bring out his flute and
play for us. When the moon was out
and throwing a thin veil over the
water, the rising and falling notes that
came from his instrument were sweet
est music to the ear.
l never knew him to propose game
of cards.
He would play his flute until some
one suggested game, when he would
take his instrument apart, and put it
away in an Indifferent manner. l
watched him at play one night when
Satan seemed to throw every card to
this calm, self-possessed man. There
was cool. matter-of-fact way about
him, which froze the ardor of every
one else except young man about
TWENTY-FIVE vearc old.
This player was in ill-luck. but with
flushed face and feverish eye he made
his bets furiously, only to lose every
time. 1t soon became evident that he
was playing beyond his means. Blake
must have noticed it. for he ceased to
bet heavily against the younger man.
This angered the other. There was a
pot Of three hundred and fifty dollars.
and every one had dropped out except
the young man. Blake had been play
ing his hand like a wonderful auto
maton. passionless but sure. No man,
except his opponent, perhaps. could
doubt that he held the winning hand
Suddenly, when his rival bet eighty
dollars, Blake laid down his hand say
ing. Il have nothing. You played that
we'll"
The young man reached out fever
ishly for the pile Of money. and then
his hand rested on the table.
THAT is not true" he said. You
have good hand, and you are afraid
to play against me-" Blake shot hot
glance across the table at him and two
red spots flashed into his cheeks. Il
lay down my hand" he said slowly,
but with slight tremor in his voice.
And l say" added the other in a
low tone. that your are a gambler,
and. therefore a coward"
"Hush." said, laying my hand on
the young mans sleeve. "You do not
know what you are saying. He is not
coward by any means"
The young man shook OF my hand
vehemently. He is a coward" he re-
peated, "and l will answer for my
words when and where he likes"
looked at Blake. | had seen him
sit on the hurricane deck, revolver in
hand. and, as a waiter threw cham
payne bottles over the rail, raise his
arm swiftly and shatter the falling
glass with bullet. There were graver
stories. too. of his deadly aim in shoot
Ing escapades. He sat stiff and motion
less, with terrible fire in his eyes.
l was amazed by his next words.
Does the game 60 on?" he asked
meekly.
Not with you," said the young man,
bending forward. the veins in his fore
head swelling. mot until prove that
you are afarid to bet," and with a sud.
den motion he thrust his hand across
the table and, seizing Blakes hand,
turned the cards face up on the table.
was on my feet at that instant to
arrest Blake's right hand. for I felt he
would draw his revolver at the result.
But hush fell over those around the
table, and the hot-headed young man
was gazing stupidity at the cards be-
fore him. Four aces lay there. an in
vincible hand, for straight flushes were
not then played. There was a blue
tinge in Blake's white lips, and the
young man looked bewildered. Then
the young fellow burst into tears.
I'VE can't play together any more"
he cried. you threw money into my
pocket because you thought l was
losing too much. l can't take it," he
said, rising.
"You can," said the gambler in an
even voice. Il laid down my hand
The money is yours. Besides" he
added. with little shiver, Il held out
an ace on you"
Every man at the table knew that
Blake had lied. We all got up and left
the young man sitting there with his
money.
found Blake shortly afterwards
l. S,Az