Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-01-30
A Straight Flush.


cheyenne was its western terminus
MAJOR oreushaw, army paymaster was
playing cards with several men
woman on the train warned him nv q
look that they were sharpers ua.
warning was UNDECIDED indeed, resent
ed.
when the officer was a Thousand dol.
lars ahead he looked back at the We
man and smiled superciliously She
answered by shaking her head No
was still holding his own when no
looked again. She was sleeping or nre-
tending to. Then Of sudden inck
changed The professional gambler
does not always have to resort to trick.
cry The tickle goddess is apt to smile
on MIN as on the novice. There was q
square deal of cards in which three az
the Tour got good hands. and the bet.
ing was lively. The major held four
tens and kept boosting the not until
us winnings were at stake. Then he
called to find four queens out against
MIN. One more hand cleaned him ont
TO his last dollar, and he rose mn 10
give place to some one else. He look.
ed at the woman. and there was a
smile OF pity on her face. 1t angered
MIN. 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
OF the window She did not try to
catch his eye again. She gave him no
attention when he finally rose I'D and
returned to his old seat. He hadn't
30 left in his pocket He had used I'D
over 5000 of government money. He
sat stfffiy 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.
1t 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 car
to the gang he had played with. The
three men were not playing at that
moment
"Jlm. how much have you won?"
asked the woman of the lucky man.
about $4,000" .
I'D like to play a hand with you
just the two of us"
The three men looked Mt her in sur
prise. and number Of passengers
gathered around.
81 mean it," insisted the woman as
she produced money and drafts. Wen
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 to my
money Don't be a flunker."
''What are the stakes 10 beg
"Six thousand dollars"
"Wheww whistled three or four men
in chorus. 1t was a big sum of money
to be lost or won on a showdown. 1t
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 Il moment
to think and wondering if his luck
would stand by him
"Al! 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.
I'VE agreed on showdown. but |
should like to bet on this hand" he
observed.
We'll, let's call the agreement on.
replied the woman. What's your
bet?"
only five hundred to begin with"
IN see it and raise you five hun
dred."
In less than ten minutes there was
SO 600 In the pot Jim had put up his
last dollar and had TO call. He laid
down his four aces with bland smile.
"A straight flush. queen high. said
the woman as she began to gather up
the money.
The major had neither heard nor
seen. His face was turned toward the
window. but he might as well have
been blind for all he saw. He was
thinking of the penalty. by and by
a hand was laid on his shoulder aud a
package Of money was laid on ms
kpee and the woman quietly said:
Jim Daily wants you TO take TINS
back He let you play just to win
your money and show you that you
were not in the game Jim used to be
a soldier. aud me wouldn't beat Uncle
Sam"