The Washington herald., 1911-03-12

ber three, as II from cOntaGion. With an
assumed air of reluctance, the remaining
member OF the party gives assent to the
suggestion OF his fellow-Dlayers, and ac-
CordinCly a change from short cards
to poker is made.
The betting is now on. The stranger
meets wager with wager. raise with
raise. to the seeming disCOmfortUre Of
his opponents. NcrvOuSy CIutChing his
weIl-hlIed poke and eyes prOtrudinC
like a rabbits. nc calls the limit off, with
confidence born of a wcll-niGh invncib,e
hand
Then Comes the Showdown.
Finally comes the showdown. -Four
queens" says one. as he produces the
evidence. "Why don't you stay out till
YOU get somcthinG?" sarcasticaHy ex-
claims another. spreading out four kings
with a woll-fcigncd show of triumph
You boys have both got summertime
hands" comments the stranger with a
touch Of humOr, as he exhibits two pairs
of acCs-and reaches for the money.
Just a moment demonstrates one Of
the jolly good fellows, as he intcrcepts
the movement OF his OvCrCOnfident COM
panion. I've got you all beat to fraz-
Zle,' and he startlcs the others by pre-
senting to their astonishcd gaze a
straight flush.
He then takes in the pot, along with the
'trtmmin s. and makes ready to pack
up"
Bidding their unfortunate companion a
fond adieu, the scamps now leave the
victim to ruminate over the possibilities
of the great American game.
Needless it is to explain that the prinCi-
pal actors in the play are three tricky
rascaIs in league against the strangers
purse.
The big mitt'' gentry usually come in
sets OF three. this number being required
for a quick and successful frame up"
Each is assigned A certain duty, the
delicate and sometimes hazardous task
of making the switch devolving upon
the man most fitted for the undertaking.
His able assistants act as lookout" and
do the "staIling."
Novice Has No Chance.
This will give the reader an inkling of
the difficulties that beset n man who, in
spired by the desire to get something for
nothing, endeavors to vanquish a man
whose cunning is his stock in trade.
a word of advice, if needed, may prove
helpful, to say nothing of cutting down
expenses: There is not the slightest
chance for the novice to beat an old
hand at the game. and the longer he
bucks the tiger the deeper in the mire
he sinks.
Nor is the life of the professional game
ster all that it would seem. The popular
supposition is that he is never broke, but
is always on easy street." with an
ever-ready bank roll with which to keep
himself supplied with diamonds and a
goodly supply of champagne
But so different from this is the life of
the average professional gambler that the
uninitiated may be a bit surprised to
learn that but for an occasional break
his mode of living is commonplace with
as many vicissitudes involved as fall to
the lot OF the average man of calmer
pursuits.
While the life of the gambler has its
glamour, yet it is hut a wili-o'-the-w wisp,
having nothing of real happiness or con-
tentment Though he is dressed in fine
apparel, there comes at last a day of
reckonfng-a closing of accounts-when
he learns how impotently vain is the at
tempt to escape the avenging hand of
retribution!
The run OF the gambler is toward de-
struction. To win is to lose. One loses
eventually not only the dishonest dollars
gained by sharp practices, but sacrifices
that which is rather to be chosen than
great riches"-a good name.
He who steals my purse steals trash,
But he who hlches my good name
Takes that which enriches him not,
But leaves me poor indeed.
For base counterfeit called pleasure
the gambler gives in exchange the re-
spect OF his fellow-man, becomes an out
cast, a pariah, in the eyes of society, and
a menace and nuisance to the world.