The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-12

scisntihc poker a. I ever cav played
anywhere. even among PROFESSIONAL.
There wna no such thing a. confederation
shown. We all took and gave the heav-
lest blows We could.
1t hAppened, - Il sometimes win even
among players Who are evenly matched,
that for four o. i've Hittings In succession
the luok ran heavily against one man.
] Not only was he the only loser 10 any con-
siderable extent but his loses were heay-
Ter than any Of ~ had incurred. and this
not merely once or twice but In each sue
cessivo sitting and George was the
loser. .
A a matter Of course Il was noticed
and thsre was considerable comment
on u, half iocular but wholly friendly.
0eorge took L calamity, making no
complaint but saying IN q confident way
that luck always turned a6oner o. later
and that when L should DO 20 he would
take keen aatiafaction In gWatting ~
a. severely a. We had been Punishing
him. Thare wasn't one Of ~ who would
that had happened. though We had no
idea that luck had turned AGAINST him IN
business also and that HE weekly lOasea
az POKER were really Gripping him.
he had told IN Of HE troubles b.
could have had eli the help he needed. and
Il 10 certain that We would not have con-
tinued % take his money every week,
but he was a high strung fellow who had
made hie way thus far unaided and who
had. AZ Il proved. too much confidence
in his ability 20 pull through alone. 80
week after week he joined M AZ Frod'e
place. debonair and happy a. ever 20 all
seeming. and no one OF N dreamed Of
the trouble that was ahead 81 ~
he last night we played he vas In par
iieularly high spirits We had had a
loyOue day. sailing and swimming In
the afternoon and taking q long drive
10 the moonlight after dinner 20 when
the women had gone away and We had
gathered IN the smoking room there was
no indication Of anything but entire con-
tens and the prospect OF another enjoy
able night
The windows were all Oman and the
cool breeze OG the salt water brought not
only ia refreshing relief from the sum
mer heat but bore also the music Of the
surf 70 our ears. The buffet was klden
with all we could desire in the way OF
good cheer. The lights were sha,ted
exactly right and nothing In the way Of
creature comforts was lacking.
so the game began. and Tor the first
half hour it seemed as N the luck had
actually changed George played with
uAhnAuNHut nerve ana Two or tnFee tunes
won considerable pots by really brilliant
play. but In a moment the tide turned
again.
! remember Il was my deal and Fred
had put up the ante. Will and Harry
both came IN and George raised. That
let I'd out. and |. having only a small pair
also dropped, but Fred looked az his hand
carefully and then reraised.
=, VIII saw no reason 70 continue. but
Harry chortled aloud 4 didn't want %
scare you out. he said. and put up so
more
-0eorge said nothing. but he smiled
confidently and pushed his whole stack
onward, where upOn Fred said Too
strong for me, and threw down his O.rds.
but Harry called for what he had In front
Of him, since he could do no more. and
showed down jack full. saying Beat
that and take the money
don't know whether ! can or not.
said George coolly. II YOU hadn't shown
your hand I'D have stood pat. but a. Il Is !
guess III have 70 pull for a fourth nine
showing down a nine full he threw away
the pair and called for two cards
As ] gave them 70 him. / certainly
hoped he'd get the nine. but he didn't. !
and without a trace % emotion he called
Tor another stack a. Fred took the deck
20 deal That stack. though. and another =
and another went the way OF the hrst and
BY the time the game broke 40 he had
lost again, more heavily than ever
Even then We had no thought q dis