The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-09-26
Caught a Tartar
b. 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
pecfally the cuisine of the house, con
cluded to remain for awhile. They
soon discovered a small game going on
In a behind the Office and went
In to look on. They were adopts at
the national game Of poker. but only
played as gentlemen 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 a greenhorn. who was be-
ing aeeced 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 for supper he was consider
ably ahead. and the others exacted a
promise from him that he would give
them their revenge during the evening.
The two young tourists felt ure that
II 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 be would not
take a warning. Fools like that, he
said. couldn't be taught wisdom. The
only way he could be taught a lesson
was to win his money from him, then
hand 1t 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 bis 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 so?'
he added. turning to his friend.
Riggs confirmed his opinion. and the
three men adjourned to a DON up
stairs and sat down for q game
Tor hale nm hD,,r Tho ~vnonknw~ ~yon
permitted to win with ease. He play
ed q 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 q roll Of crisp
ten dollar bills. manifesting an inten.
ton to buck against bis adversaries for
all be 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
ont amusement. and they were getting
all they wanted The greenhorn play.
ed even worse than before. and. losing
his money. be 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 their
keeping and he was diving into his
pockets for more when Riggs stopped
him. Putting bis 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 we're playing before
dinner. II 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
be could not understand what they
were driving at Presently he asked:
"How do you know those fellows !
played with are sharpers2"
1--WE could see them playing you"
"And you're going to give me back
ID the money I've lost to You without
my winning lNF sa
I'VE are"
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
Il belongs to a dear little child for
whom I am guardian"
II When the mar had finished his ex-
yp~ressions Of gratitude the settling up
came. The money was put In q pile
On the table. and the greenhorn was
told to help himself to what be had
,lQet There was old money. az well -
new biliS be had brought out.
"Ill take the ragged stun. gentle
msn." he said. ''and leave you the
efoan money
Pocketing the ragged stun he
grasped his benefactors' hands again.
thanked them with. moist eyes and
withdrew. (
The next morning the friends looked
~ him. but did not zee him. Nor
aWeFe the sharpers about. either.
sHprch. needing change. stepped up TO
the hotel clerk and asked him 70 break