The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-27
POKER NO GAME FOR URINARY
COLONEL RECALLS AN EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN CABIN WITH
\ TRUE SPORTSMAN

tONISNIIAN
up the North Coast Limited fits YOU
like an undershirt.'
SO You think I'm the holdup?' I
asked. Now that 1t is called to my
attention this would offer a pretty snug
harbor for a storm tossed highwayman
LII I awhile. BY the way. what
arc YOU doing here?'
Doing assessment work on a pros
pect back In the mountains he said.
III take YOU over there when the
storm quits
That evening my host brought out
a deck of cards and suggested a game
of seven-up.
1T is too much to hope that you
are ~conversant with any such complex
pastime as poker he said. Train rob-
bers don't go In for poker as a rule
! divide my time impartially between
poker and my regular vocation. which
l shall not name just now I replied.
My host appeared to be immense
ly pleased.
Count out some matches for
chips while ! am shuffling.' he said,
and We sat down on opposite sides of
a soap box.
II have about $500 with me-
said, and l shall call for a showdown
when I have put that amount into the
game
"'Suiting my game to YOUR apparent
poverty. I'll play only $500 against
YOU he replied. If you win. we per-
haps can arrange the matter further
my host showed from the first
hand that he was a nervy and ven
fjdent II !. having in mind my lin.
tied resources. played cautiously. As
l remember now. my play was SO pru-
went that I played only cinch hands
and at the end Of two hours was
$500 winner.
For a man who takes 10 few
chances l don't see how YOU managed
to hold up a train remarked my host
after ] had called him on three aces.
You don't appear to care any more
for 500 than YOU do for your right
eye
discourse on hat unfor-
tunatc event at B~earmouth is getting
on my nerves. I replied. You seem
to forget that If l were really that H.
lustrious criminal I'd probably train
my guns on YOU and totally cffacc you
from these mountains.
I'D thought Of that he replied.
but you don't look like a murderer.
You are the sort of a man who sets
store by a friend and ! can see that
YOU arc growing fond of me. Your
weakness lies in the error hat YOU
think Your $500 is the only money in
the world
His talk had the effect of irritat-
ing me and presently l picked up a
~bob-tailed flush and started to bluff
him out of Il big pot.
Fl saw my hundred dollar raise
end drew three cards. drew n card
in order TO make my play strong and
I tapped myself without looking at
my draw.
You are making an arrogant dis
play of wealth there. my friend" said
only $500 left. You have the furtive
air of ii man out on a limb. I'll call
You for what l have. I've got a pair
of tens.
"'That's good 1 replied glancing at
my fifth card and discovering it did
not match my flush.
THAT play destroyed my judgment
and in less than half an hour / was
broke.
LAS you evidently think I'm a train
robber.' l said. it would be useless to
offer YOU n check for another stack.
However, if you will advance me $500
On this ring I'll take n more crack
at YOU
"'Glad to accommodate you,' re-
piled my host. It's your deal
I'VE PLAYED for half an hour and
! won steadily; FINALLY, l picked up
three Jacks and got tangled up in am
other big pot. After a raise by me
and Il back tilt by my host We drew
cards. l drew one card in order to
conceal the fact that I held a set of
threes. In dealing he accidentally
turned the card over and under the
rules of the game I could not take
it. The next card off was the fourth
jack. My host stood pat.
81 think I'll move in again. ] said
showing what chips and money ] had
into the center of the table.
I'm sorry for YOU, but I'll have
to call replied my host. I've got an
ace full
Mine are four jacks I replied,
taking in the money.
Well it was growing late. s. We
quit and rolled up in our blankets.
The next day ! started down the trail
toward home with the original $500 in
my pocket and two twenty dollar bills
which ] had won. ! reached Butte
two days later.
II walked into the First National
bank to buy a draft. using one of the
twenty dollar bills / had won in the
mountains. 1t was Il new bill. one Of
the latest issues of the Treasure State
National bank of Helena.
The bank teller looked at the bill
and then asked:
Where did YOU get this. colonel?'
From Il friend of mine I replied.
well. our friend held up the
North Coast Limited and got $780,
900 in bills like these said the teller.
Where is our friend?'
81 can't remember which friend l
got it from replied. I've had it for
several days
Sure. my friend OF the mountains
was h train robber. but I felt no
overpowering call to play him a low
down trick after he had been square
with me. There's a code of honor
among poker players, you know"