Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-09-19
Caught. a I artar
By SAMUEL E BRANT

! By SAMUEL E. BRANT
, John Riggs and Elmer Burch, two
young men Of the world. spinning
about on an auto tour, stopped one day
at a country hotel and, liking the lay
of the land. the scenery and more .es.
pecially the cuisine of the house, con-
Guided to remain for awhile. They
soon discovered small game going on
in a room behind the Office and went
in to lookso on. They were adopts at
the national' game Of poker. but only
played aagentlemen with gentlemen
for pastime and not for the purpose Of
replenishing their exchequers.
The game they watched was being
played BY four men, one Of whom ap-
peared to be greenhorn. who was be-
ing 1eeced by the other three. They
had not been playing long, and Riggs
saw that the sharpers were permitting
the greenhorn to win. When they left
the table fol. supper he was consider
ably ahead. and the others exacted
promise from him that he would give
them their revenge during the evening.
The two young tourists felt sure that
IL the winner played In the evening
the sharpers would contrive that he
should lose not only all he had won.
but whatever he had to lose besides.
Riggs said he should be warned, but
Burch suggested that he would not
take a warning Fools like that, he
said. couldn't be taught wisdom. The
only way he could be taught lesson
was to win his money from him, then
hand it back to him with a lecture on
trusting persons he didn't know.
After supper. while the two were
smoking on the piazza. the greenhorn
came out. and they began to chat with
him. Burch said to him that he had
watched his poker game and was sur
prised at his skill Riggs chimed in.
The result Of the talk was that they
invited him to cut the men with whom
he had been playing and join them in
a game in their rooms. The fellow
seemed indisposed to deny the sharp
ers their revenge and asked the friends
If they thought he had a right to do so.
''Certainly." said Burch. Every sit
ting at poker stands for itself. If
these men had won your money they
would not have played again with you
unless they wanted to. Isn't that SOP
he added. turning to his friend.
Riggs confirmed his opinion, and the
three men adjourned to a room up
stairs and sat down for game.
For half an hour the greenhorn was
permitted to win with ease. He play
ed a very poor game, but the two
friends failed to bet on their good
hands and always bet on their poor
ones. When they had let their oppo.
nent win about $50 they changed their
tactics and won it all back again. The
greenhorn pulled out roll OF crisp
ten dollar bills. manifesting an inten.
ton to buck against his adversaries fol
all he was worth. ..-...-
The friends glanced at each other
knowingly. The little game they were
playing interested them. They were
not used to spending their time with
out amusement, and they were getting
allsthey wanted. The greenhorn play
ed even worse than before. and, losing
his money, he became excited and lost
his head completely. One after anoth
er his beautiful banknotes passed into
the hands Of his opponents. A thou
sand dollars Of his had gone into theil
keeping and he was diving into his
pockets for more when Riggs stopped
him. Putting his hand on the green
horns arm gently, he said:
my friend, don't get out any more
money. We brought you up here to-
night to save you from those sharpers
with whom you were playing before
dinner. If you had joined them to
night they would have had this money
instead Of US. They would have kept
it. We are going to return it."
The man gaped at them as though
he could not understand what they
were driving at. Presently he asked:
"How do you know those fellows !
played with are sharpers?"
I'VE could see them playing you.' "
And you're going to give me back
all the money I've lost to you without
my winning it?'' =; :..l.:,
= I'VE are" ""'-S<~
The greenhorn grasped the hand Of
each Of the friends promptly.
I'm mighty glad Of it. Do you
know this money I've lost wasn't mine
1t belongs to a dear little child fol
whom am guardian"
When the man had finished his ex'
pressions Of gratitude the settling UP
came. The money was put in a pile
on the table, and the greenhorn was
told to help himself to what he had
lost. There was old money. as well az
m ~ ~ hoI