The Washington times., 1909-08-30

| players made room for him and con-
tinued their playing
At the start Nash lost a little Ind
made a few trihing mistakes, owing to
his lack of knowledge. But suddenly
luck smiled upon him; then it shone
fully down on him and he began to win
on almost every hand.
He noted that HickIe and Picketzo
mad drawn near and were watching him
closely. It bothered him, but he played
on. flushed with excitement. He had
gone into the game merely to while
away the time. for never before had he
gambled for money.
But the spirit Of the 6ing look pos
session Of him.. and he fOunC a great
fascination IN his steadily growing pile
Of chips.
Finally he began to realize that he
had better stop He was a man Of high
morals and felt hat gambling was
foolish.
He suggested that he had better stop.
What. now that you're winning"
smiled one of the men.
That's not the general rule put IN
another, with some irritation. You've
got all our money and now you want
to pull out"
las long as I'm IN Il n winning I
suppose I'll have to stay" decided Eben,
! in reply.
BY the way, gentlemen" suggested
one Of the men. Let's stop the game
for long enough to make a pool on
the number of miles the We eel runs
before tomorrow noon"
The players agreed and the pool was
/ n1oda Nnch faoIr , nE---r ~ #f1 NaaT
merely because he was winning and
they insisted.
Then the game went on and Eben's
luck stayed with him. He seemed un-
able TO lose a cent. and the stakes
were made higher, in an endeavor 10
even up the game.
But when the first bugle call for din
ner blew, Nash was over fifty dollars
ahead Of the game.
well, Wen have to quit now.
guess" said one. with a smile. There
doesn't seem to be any limit TO Mr..
Nash's luck
Eben flushed as he heard Hicke re-
peat. IN a low tone, "Luck?"
The other players heard It and looked
at the speaker ~curiously
There was no accusation in the tone.
n yet Eben felt that the Englishman
repeated It in an attempt TO make the
others suspicious of him.
Let's have one final jackpot to end
the game with" said one of the players.
All right" the agreed.
The cards were dealt and Il was asked
II anyon had jacks or better to o
the pot.
i open" said Eben. after the others
had refused.
lie noticed that Hicke was looking
over his shoulder, and It bothered him
greatly. but II was the last hand and
he did not wish 10 complain.
Having discarded, he drew three
cards and was surprised to ind that he
had a flush. "e
The betting was high. and Nash was
finally called" He threw down his
hand. showing a flush.
But how did you get that, when
you opened the pot?" Dried one. "Y3u
mad TO ave a pair or better to omen
and you drew three cards. You could
not have had ~oDeners.'
lie didn't have openers" cried Hicke.
VINO had been watching his hand.
Eben saw his mistake for the first
time. In the excitement Of ~inninq he
had become confused and discarded an
olt HlS1edu OF LWo-SpOt, nus making
1t possible to get the flush, and vet look
ing to anyone else as though he had
cheated.
He explained the mistake and hunted
up his discards 20 prove #. But Hlcke
had suggested a suspicion and II was
quietly accepted by the others. All be
ing gentlemen, little reference was made
70 II, but, though Eben offered 10 d.
vide all his winnings, they treated him
coldly and the game broke up IN ST.
lence.
At dinner Nash noticed that several
people looked at him curiously. and
once he heard from a distant table the
remark:
Yes. they say he's a professional
gambler. Cheated IN The smoking room
today"
Why Hicke had made All this trouble