Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-14
STRIPPED IN FIVE MINUTES
What Broke the Heart of n High
Roller with Money to
Blow.

or all the gay sports that made gambling
joyous profession in the salad days of
Cripple Creek there was none so blithe as
Johnnie OBrlen.
His oravats were the loudest that
screamed, his diamonds the largest that
flashed and his laugh the heartiest that
echoed through the canyon of the stream
that gave it's name to the booming mining
camp. His gambling place was the pride
of the camp, as well as Of Johnnie himself;
so courteous and affable was the dapper
little Irishman that many a man was wont
to remark that he had rather lose against
Johnnie's game than win from another.
Many years in following boom camps
with his faro game had vested Johnnie
with much riches. and he never failed to
announce, no matter what occasion for a
bet might arise, that he played no limit.
No matter how big a roll the other fellow
flashed" he was always ready to cover It.
But much prosperity begetteth pride, and.
Johnny waxed proud. His fame as the big
gest 'high-roller" between The River-all
westerners thereby meaning the lIissls-
sippi-and the Pacific coast was we'll es-
tablished; but even this honor began to
pail upon the king of mining camp sports.
He longed to carry his name east, like
Alexander Of old. and like this same Alex
ander, show the degenerate jewellers there
that they were not deuce high when they
stacked up alongside Johnnie O'Brien.
After much thought his plan of campaign
was determined, and all the house had
many a farewell bottle on him that night
when he took the eastbound Overland in
search OF new worlds to conquer It was
not money that Johnnie sought, bear in
mind 1t was glory and fame as the king
OF sports from coast to coast. .
one morning Johnnie got off the train
at Cripple Creek, went quietly to a modest
restaurant he had never stopped to pat
ronize before, and after a mild meal that
fortnight ago he would have sneered at
Tor infants food, betook himself to his
palace OF chance. Unlike his usual breezy
entry, he slid quietly through the door and
was in the middle Of a circle of astonished
friends almost before they recognized him.
And 1t was indeed hard to recognize in the
sUbdued little man the clustering sport
that had so lately departed bent on con
quest and glory.
He was not changed-and vet he was
There was the same noisy cravat, but IL
made sound now like a piano with the
dumb pedal on. There were the same dia.
monds, but instead of their dazzling flash
they emitted now but a subdued twilight
all the trombone had dropped out OF f.
He meekly shook hands all around without
word. His friends. dumb with astonish-
ment, gazed on him aghast What had
Chicago done to the pride Of the Rockies?
They did not have long to wait
Boys" said Johnnie, after slipping
glass Of vichy and milk. II might as well
Tess up I thought I was some big when
l sailed away the other night, but I've
found out different now. I'm a four
flusher, piker, a seven-spot, neither h. gh
nor low, and not worth d-n for game.
picked out Chicago, you know, to show
those pig-stickers a touch OF high life. and
the day / got there / went TO the bank
to get some drafts cashed into five SO 900
bills.
''This'll wake 'em up. thought. Then
inquired for the biggest faro game n the
city, and after dinner blew in there with
ms little bunch Of bills sticking carelessly
In my vest pocket
There were two or three tables running
fairly well filled up with players. but Oft
In one corner was a table with nobody do
ing business. The dealer was sitting there
slouched down In his chair With his hat
pulled over his eyes, talking to the lookout
IN make that mutt sit up and take
notice. think to myself. When l get
through with him he'll count things from
tonight Ike the folks down south count
from "befo' de wah." SO ! saunters IN
peels off a $4,000 bill and carelessly filings
1t over, on the high card"
"'Chips% says the dealer, reaching for
II. without looking up.
No. / snaps. let her go as she lays
for just one bet on the high card DO you
think I'm little high school cadet pla., ug
tiddle-de-winks?'
The dealer doesn't say a word but Just
turns the cards. They come quean-s,x
which sends that bill into the dealers tin
In second ] sets another OF the bills over
on the high oard-and it don't have time to
settle down before that dealer turns me
ont Of IT,
Then ! slaps down another right quick
SOS he know I amt caring anything about
such chicken feed-and 1 haven't got ms
fingers OFF it hardly before the cards come
h gh-iow and the dealer chucks that bin
over in the TN as carelessly as II Il was
quarters worth Of postage stamps
Il pulls out another one, the fourth OF
them Bis bills and puts IL where ia ST
the Others The dealer turns the cards sort
O. langu.d Ike he's bored a sucn "a slow
penny-ante sort o. game but ne turns n
nlne-four and takes in the money all right
And VIII le he's tucdlg tho last Of $50 %
down in the TIN ~ turns 20 the lookout AMI
says. That's a mighty pur'' grl 1 seen
you with this morning, Jimmie Just think
OF e man ta,king about purity girls wheu
ia lost that pile 20 him N less thaa five
mlnutesi
well. I've got one more biH lrst. you
see. and 7 s,aps that down some vicious on
the high card. Turn for that" / says b..
vets the end OF his finger with the tip o.
his tonsUc. turns out a high-iow-and drops
my last bill over monrst tFc rest.
''Thats all. bors" conclud FL Johanie with
q sigh. '"rhe game vac a square one ano
didn't mind losing the $4,000 But what