The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-03-26
"A Straight Flush.

playing cdTub Will stNctdI beh. A
woman on the train warned him by a
look that they were sharpers. Her
warning was unheeded indeed. resent
ed.
When the officer was a thousand dol
lars ahead he looked back at the wo-
man and smiled superciliously. She
answered by shaking her head. He
was still holding his own when he
looked again. She was sleeping, or pre-
tending to- Then Of a sudden luck
changed. The professional gambler
does not always have to resort to trick
cry. The tickle goddess Is apt to smile
on him as on the novice. There was
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. He look
! ed at the woman. and there was
smile of pity on her face. 1t angered
him. He Clipped with government
greenbacks. He 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 looked at the woman
she was either mapping or looking out
<.P Ir Avvv <o
catch his eye again. She gave him no
attention when he finally rose up and
returned to his old seat. He hadn't
| SIS left in his pocket. He had used up
over $1,000 of government money. He
sat stifily in his seat. staring straight
ahead Of him. wondering how he should
die. He was not the man to turn cur
| and run away. All his friends COM
bined could not raise that amount Of
money offhand. He had lived under
army regulations as an officer and a
gentleman. and he would die that way.
It was to be suicide pure and simple.
either before reaching Cheyenne or d.
rectly afterward. The major didn't
shrink from the idea. He was trying
to plan the time and place. AS he
was busy with these thoughts the wo
man rose up and passed down the cal
to the gang he had played with. The
three men were not playing at that
moment.
"Jim. how much have you won?'
about $4,000"
I'D like to play hand with you
Just the two of us"
The three men looked at her In sur
prise. and number Of passenger
gathered around.
II mean IT, insisted the woman a.
she produced money and drafts. wei
cut for deal and have a showdown
The biggest hand takes the stakes"
''That Isn't regular. Besides. In
playing in great luck today and woult
be sure to beat you"
'"rhen you will be welcome to my
money. Don't be flunker."
"What are the stakes to be?"
"Six thousand dollars"
"Whew" whistled three or four mel
In chorus. 1t was big sum Of none!
to be lost or won on a showdown. l
staggered even the professionals.
IF you will agree that we may dis
card and draw after the deal I'll e
you" said Jim after taking a momen
to think and wondering II his lucl
would stand by him.
"All right"
The woman sat down. the cards wer
cut. and Jim got the deal. With 81
many eyes watching him he dared no
attempt any tricks. The woman sai(
her five cards would do, and the gam
bier held up two aces and drew thre,
more cards. When he saw that he hat
dra wn two more aces he felt sorry To-
the woman.
I'VE agreed on a showdown. but
should like to bet on this hand" h,
observed.
We'll. let's call the agreement of,
replied the woman. whats you
bet?"
rOnly 1--WE hundred to begin with"
"I'll see 1t and raise you FIVE hun
dred."
In less than. ten minutes there wa
$4,000 In the pot. Jim had put up hi
last dollar and had to call. He lait
down his four aces with bland smile
"A straight flush. queen high" sal,
the woman us she began to gather vi
the money.
The major had neither heard no
seen. His face was turned toward tn
window. but he might as well hav,
been blind for all he saw He wa
thinking Of the penalty. BY and b.
a hand was laid on his shoulder and
package of money was laid on BIZ
knee, and the woman quietly said:
Jim Daily wants you to take thi
back. He let you play just to vii
your money and show you that 70,
were not In the game. Jim used to b.
i soldier. and he wouldn't beat Uncl
SAM"
do you mean IT." asked the majo
as he came to life again.
"Of course | do. and II there is any
thing over what you lost you may do
nate 1t to the hospital ut Cheyenne"
"And-and they cheated meY'
Twenty different times. That
their business. You thought you coul,
play poker: but. you see. you don't know
| chvYrEc ha