The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-14
A Straight Flush.


Cheyenne was its western terminus
Major Creusliaw army paymagter was
playing cardsa with severdi men. a.
woman on the tfniiis watned him by q
look that they were shurpers. Her
warning was uuheeded Indeed, resent
ed.
When the officer wars thousand dol
lars ahead he looted back at the wo-
man and smiled supercillously She
answered by shaking her. head no
was stln holding bis own when be
looked again. She was sleeping. or pre-.
tending to- Then Of sudden luck
changed. The professional ganbler
does not always have to resort TO trick.
cry. The hckie goddess is apt to smile
on him as on the novice. There was a
square deal OF cards In which three OF
the four got good hands. and the bet
ting was lively The major held four
tens and kept boosting the pot until
his winnings were at stake. Then he
called to find four queens out against
him. One more hand cleaned him out
TO his last dollar, and he rose up to
give place TO some one else de look.
ed at the woman. and there was a
smile Of pity on her face 1t ahgered
him. He clipped with government
greenbacks. DE won and he lost
For two hours the major made three
losses TO one winning. Two OF the
others also lost. Luck favored only
one man. Whenever during these two
hours the officer looted at the woman
she was either mapping or looking out
OF the window. Sha did not try to
catch his eye again. She gave him no
attention when he finally rose up and
returned TO his old seat He hadn't
IS left in his pocket. He had used up
over $1,000 OF government money lie
sat stitiiy in his seat. staring straight
ahead of him. wondering how ne should
die. lie was not the man to turn cur
and run away. All his friends com
0ined could not raise that amount of
money offhand. Iae had lived under
army regulations MS an officer and Il
gentleman. and he would die that way.
1t was TO he suicide pure aud simple.
either before reaching Cheyenne or di-
rectly afterwarG. The major didn't
shrink from the idea lie was trying
TO plan the time ana place As he
was busy with these thoughts the wo-
man rose up and passed down the ear
to the gang he had played with. The
three men we're not playing at that
moment.
"Jlm. how much have you wonY'
asked the womaD of the lucky man.
about $4,000"
"Id like to play a hama with you
just the two OF u.s."
The three men looked at her In sur
prise. and number OF passengers
gathered around.
"I mean it," insisted the woman as
she produced money and drafts. "NVe'll
cut for deal and have showdown.
The biggest hand takes the stakes"
"That isn't regular. Besides. I'm
playing In great luck today and would
be sure to beat you"
"Then you will be welcome Go my
money. Don't be n flunker."
what are the stakes to be?"
'Six thousand dollars"
''Whew~ whlstled three or four men
in chorus II was big sum of money
to be lost or won on showdown. II
staggered even the professionals.
''If you will agree that we may dis
card and draw after the deal I'll go
you" said Jim after taking a moment
TO think aud wondering II his luck
would stand by him.
"All right"
The woman sat down. the cards were
cut, and Jim got the deal With so
many eyes watching him he dared not
attempt any tricks. The woman said
her five cards would do, and the gam
bier held up two aces and drew three
more cards. When he saw that he had
drawn two more aces he felt sorry for
the woman
1--WE agreed on q showdown, but /
should like 70 bet on this hand" be
observed.
"Well, let's call the agreement Of"
replied the woman. ~Whats youE
DetT't
Only Eve hundred to begin with"
"I'lI see 1t and raise you ave hun
dred.2
In less than ten minutes there was
$4,000 In the pot, jim had put up his
last dollar aud had to call. He laid
down his four aces with bland smile
"a straight ilush. queen high" said
the woman as she began to gather az
the money.
The major had neither heard nor
seen. His face was turned toward the
window, but he might as well haze
been blind for all he saw He was
thinking OF the penalty. BY and by
a hand was laid on his shoulder and a
package of money was laid on his
knee. and the woman quietly said:
Jim Daily wants you 10 take this
back. He let you play just TO win
your money aud show you that you
were not IN the game. Jim used 10 bc
a soldier. aud he wouldn't beat Uncle
Samr
do YOU mean itT asked the majol
as he came TO life again.
"Of course do. and II there Is any
thing over What you lost you may do
nate II to the hospital at Cheyenne"
.And-apd they cheafcd meg''