Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-21
AGAME OF
POKER
~
BY J. B. FERGUSON


often for fun and when We sat down
90 a game this Saturday afternoon had
no idea OF running into BIG game.
But Bingle, who was real estate
Aealer, had made large sale. pocket
Ing several thousand dollars commits
sion. which had just been paid him
In cash. Parkinson was operating In
wheat and had just closed out an in
yestment which had paid him SIS, 600.
As for me, l was on the opposite side
OF this luck, having lost $500 by the
bursting Of a bank. Nevertheless ] had
$50 in my pocket that had been paid
me after banking hours.
As may be supposed, I was not re-
sponslble for the high betting that
gradually grew upon the party. I was
drawn into II very unwillingly. 1t
started by Bingle's getting a full Of
mines and Parkinson getting three
aces.
dropped ont then, and Bingle Won
$40. It's easier to expand than to
contract, and after that, there being
some good hands around the board.
we kept betting higher with every
hand. Though had very little money
to start In with, / had unlimited credit
with my two friends. Indeed, though
the other two had the cash, we played
on tab. But with US tab was as good
as gold.
Bingle and Parkinson were both
winners I was a loser. I had no
business to be In such game, for the
loss of a thousand dollars or there
abouts would break me up. OF course
my friends wouldn't press me for any
quick payment, or any payment at all
for that matter. but / would pay any
way, or IL didn't I could never look
either of them in the face till did.
Instead Of losing a thousand / got
socked for three or four thousand. The
devil seems to be in cards. Here were
three bosom friends, wild with excite
ment, trying to ruin one another, who
under other influences would give
their lives for an opposite purpose. We
grew more and more wrought up till q
jack pot was opened and every man
came into the betting.
Now. 1t was evident from the mo-
nent we all took up our hands that
there was going to be some pretty
warm betting, but whether It was to
be on big hands or bluffing on small
ones was a question. Desperate, I
sailed in on three tens. Bingle raised
me and Parkinson raised Bingle We
were shaping on the bets with some
six or seven thousand dollars In the
pot when we were brought to q halt
by sharpsring on the telephone bell.
Somebody from Parkinson's house
asked us IL Parkinson was with as
and when told that he was said he was
wanted at home Immediately; his wife
had tainted.
Parkinson threw down his cards,
face on the table, and ran out Of the
room. leaving me and Bingle with big
pile in the pot. We concluded to wait
awhile, thinking that Parkinson might
telephone us after getting home. So he
did, but his wife had received a stroke
and had died before he reached her.
OF course some time must elapse be-
fore our game could be resumed. After
consultation, Bingle and / decided to
drive a tack through each hand, face
down. fastening it to the table. This
was done. and, scooping the pot into a
handkerchief, tied up the corners and
1t was committed to Bingle's charge.
Then we went about our business.
Parkinson caught cold on the day Of
his wife's funeral and was confined to
the house. He lay there for three
months, during which time suffered
untold agony. not knowing whether I
was out some $4,000, which meant ruin
to me, or by the hand that was locked
up would come out even. As fond as
j was Of Parkinson, / preferred that he
should die rather than linger between
life and death, keeping me in suspense.
Such is the influence Of gambling.
Parkinson finally died, and Bingle
and had conference as to what we
should do about the locked up poker
pot. ss. - ..".
Parkinson's interest In 1t was part
Of his estate, and when man dies
the law takes charge Of his estate to
see that it goes to the proper owner,
and no one has any right to touch any
part Of it. The condition was not only
but embarrassing. 1t
kept me on the anxious seat, and in
order to settle who owned the poker
pot the whole matter must come out,
and not only must it be known that
Bingle and /, who lived. had been in
dulging in big game, but the same re-
lection would be cast upon Parkinson.
who was dead.
Bingle and I went together to a law.
yer, told him all about the matter and
asked his advice. He took a week to
look up the case, then asked US to his
office and said:
"The jack pot. according to certain
decisions have run across. is part of
estate-if he won IT. But
4 he didn't win and he owed either or
both of you money by gambling losses