The San Francisco call., 1909-11-07
5 STORY

geston. IN.
II carelessly stripped of $500 from roll OF oills
and placed them under my chips Johnson e
plored wallet and fshad out twice tnak aniouAs'
and in a few minutes there was $4,000 IN signe %
the cheap little table of that Pullman car as IL ven
tearing through the night on it's way soutn- 1hiS
was poker! The very sight of the money gave me
thrill The negro porter stood back in the doorway
and gazed on this display of wealth with wide open
eyes and mouth.
AT last we have gentleman's game. CRIED aS
raised Bishop $40 on two pairs which found IN my
hand before the draw
Il won $500 in the first two hours and then struck
one of those distressing streaks which come 10 al
players at times. 1t then past midnight but no
one cared for that Each had not less tnan
$4,000 in front of him. the ante was $40, and bets
up to 5000 were not uncommon. Johnson won
steadily.
For so deals I would not get decent pair Then
I would get a good hand, plunge and be beaten By
better one Then there would ensue another period
OF miserable cards For two hours won only two
small pots, and a hasty calculation showed that
than $1,000 behind
"It was about 5 o'clock in the morning that got
three kings the draw. 1 raised twice before
cards dealt and in the draw got pair Of trays
craftly opened the betting with $40. Bishop raised
$780, Johnson studied his hand while and then tilted
it $500. Here my chancei came back with
$1,000 All dropped their cards but Johnson. still
left of my $4,000. OF course. had the 100000
belonging to the frm but had thought or
intention of using that in poker game than have
now of kicking this table over
The Fatal Fives
1--WE got you beat, kid drawled Johnson tossing
across $1,000 bill and exposing his cards. If it
were some men 1 know would back, but III
just call you Four fves ought to be good, ehg
"Then was when began my descent into hell. 1t
-0,fCv Nh
of those four fves and of every face in that
Pullman as vivid if the actually again stood
before my startled eyes.
1T did not take long to lose the rest of my
money In a few hours l had thrown away the ac-
cumulations of my life. l thought of my penness
bride thought of hundred distressful things while
l tossing my remaining hundreds into the nav
of that merciless game I suffered the agonies Of
the accursed A cold sweat stood on my brow; my
face must have revealed my acute distress, but the
fever of the game all my companions and they
did not read the terror in my eyes. hated al Of
them and especially the fat and prosperous Johnson
Why should he with his millions despon of the
few thousands that meant everything in the world
to me?
-I do not recall that underwent any severe moral
struggle when dipped into the $4,000 which had
been intrusted to by my firm. but have
since had keen sympathy for man who betrays
trust l betrayed mine then and there, and knew
weapon within my reach and that money in nay
pocket and burning hole into my heart
Il placed $1,000 Of that money in front of and
played poker for my life. When the and
lighted up that dingy little apartment [ had lost
$4,000 more. 1 spread the remaining $4,000 in front
of and announced that it all I could afford to
lose-and l certainly spoke the truth.
I'VE were about three hours f1m New Orleans
when I again picked up hand with three kings
in it. I opened the pot for $500 Blake had three
queens and raised $500. Stevens stayed Bishop
picked up pat flush and raised the pot $500 Johnson
studied his hand a while and put in his 5000
raised $1,000. had little idea that my kings were
good. but longed to have the tragedy over. Blake
and Stevens dropped out. Bishop studied me and his
pat flush long while and called. johnson care
Iessly tossed in his $1,000 bill He was then not less
than $4,000 ahead and most of il was my money
when Bishop said that he wished no cards saw
the beginning OF the end. Johnson took two, and so
did l. 1 caught pair Of trays and had identicaIly
the same hand. card for card thatI did when John
son beat with the four fves Now a king fun is
fairly good hand, but. do you know, had no con
hdence in it. l was down and out awaiting stoidiy
the final blow.
Hot Betting
Il made nominal bet Bishop promptly put in a
$1,000 bill. Johnson peered long at the corner of
his cards. sized the amount OF money in front Of
= Bishop and myself, and raised $4,000.
Sorry to do it. boys, but you must play EN- when
they your way he said, looking more at Bishop
with his pat hand. than at Keep out kid
III raise you $4,000 retorted throwing in all
save q few dollars of my original $4,000.
Bishop threw down his flush with some appro-
pirate remarks. Johnson looked at me with surprise
every line of his forid face
Well, WE'LL. he exclaimed reaching for HI.
money It's shame to do it. but poker Is poker
and you are the one who started this no Hnt bust
ness I've got 'em again I CALI
I supposed he meant that he had four nves aea,n.
but when ne laid down jack full 1 nearly tainted
MY heart came up in my throat my voice failed ma