The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-29
In u Poker Game Where Chips
Were Of Many
Colors.
WANTED STACK OF BROWNS
But Realized Little More Than
His Own Original In
vestment.
~ DAVID A CURTIS.

Ing Of draw poker was q recognized in
dustry throughout the Mississippi VAL
icy and elsewhere. but mainly In the
southern portion Of that valley, there
existed q belief which was widely preva-
lent among those who gave close atten-
tion to the matter. and which appeared
to DO founded on fact. that some. at
least, among the gentlemen who adopted
that industry as q means Of livelihood
would, when occasion served, take I'M
due advantage OF an opponent In the
game.
Theoretically this was held to be, In a
high degree. reprehensible, since one Of
the cardinal principles OF the game was
that all players stood on an equal foot
ing and that each enjoyed the same
rights and privileges that belonged to
all the others. AS a matter Of practice,
however, II came to be we'll understood
that actual conditions were more potent
than any theory In determining the
course Of action to be expected in an
emergency, and the game being prolific
OF emergencies, there were instances in
abundance in which the said undue ad-
fortunate player whose skill In the
manipulation OF the cards or whose
power Of quick observation was inferior
to that OF his antagonist.
Moreover. there were casuists OF a
certain school who openly defended this
course OF action. holding that since the
sole object OF engaging in the game was
to obtain possession of whatever money,
or equivalents of money. might chance
to be under the immediate control Of
the other participants in the game, the
essential principle of draw poker was
sufficiently indicated by obtaining such
possession without too close a regard OF
the means employed toward that end.
Old man Greenlaw, who at the time
referred TO kept a saloon in Arkansas
City In which there was a back room
where a game Of poker was not infre-
Quently played by certain habitues OF
the place and others. was an avowed
adherent Of this school and was wont
to express himself plainly on the ques-
ton Of casuistry involved.
Draw poker" he would say. in the
dogmatic fashion which was character
eppytomb O. life in genl. Most any
thin what happens anywheres is liable
to happen into a game. an when it's
did, it's did. TIL amt no good belly
achin over It. o co'se, II they is
shootin'. faint really did til the
shoo,in's all over, but whatever Is is
right That's just as true as If twant
wrote in the Good Book When
things did 1t can't be ondid. an bein' its
been did. just nachully it's right mo
special into game O. poker. What
happens into game Is to be tookened
as a dispensatory o. Providence an
faint no part o wisdom TO to kick
Another thing. 'Tain't noways sell
dom what IA man II say how he's gwine
to set in agin 70 the purpose o. gettin'
his money back, what he done lose into
the game afo'. Now that's one thing
what they can't nobody never do. Rea-
son he can't is what faint his money
alter he done lose it, % cose, he en-
mebbe Set in an win out. but they
can't nobody win his own money into
poker game.
. when he's done lose the money
amt his no mo-. II b!onss 20 .o'.her
Teller. an II he's lucky he en- mebbe
win 1t, but he can't win back his own
money when taint his n
"Oh. don't know" said Mr.. Owen
Pepper on one occasion when the old
man was expound!ng this view Of the
subject, to the manifest annoyance of
his hearers. II was true enough that
they regarded him as more or less OF
an authority on questions connected
with the game. but it was also true that
each man present considered himself
MI AL, md TIM
all conceded with what he was saying,
his long winded inslstence was some
what wearisome and they welcomed Mr.
Peppers interruption with most I'M
usual enthusiasm.
"Oh ] don't know" he said 81 done
seen a game played oncct. when a man
KEEP on winnin' his own money re-
: peated. To- somepin' like two days an
nights. An mon that, he never win
nobody else's money all that time, even
II he done win a mJority o. the pots I
was played durin' tho hull time, like he
sho' done"
Having the wisdom to perceive that
he had stunned his listeners Mr.. Pepper
lapsed Into silence at this point and pro-
ducing pipe proceeded to fill II.
Old man GreeDlaw's first impulse ap-
peared to lean toward the exercise OF
physical violence, and he moved de-
liberately toward the corner where his
bungstarter was kept, but before he
reached 1t Jim Blaisdell spoke up.
''rhey is some Hes" he said, slowly,
what IL heap sight mo- entertainn'
n facs. Pears like this yer mought be
one on 'em. Anyways I druther listen
to EN- n | would 70 to be preac he'd
to death bout somcpin | knows
aready. Go ahead, Pepper, tell us how
come this yer man win his own money.
Don't sound nachul, some way"
"Oh. I don't know said Mr.. Pepper.
"Wsy II happened peared like it was
nachul enough, but II sho was uncx-
pected. When Buck Hilton come TO
Helena an opened a s'loon there he
put c'nsidable money into IT, an they
want no question bur he done had the
finest place this side o. Memphis. They
was two lookln' glasses into 1t must "a
cost him ten dollars apiece.
But he spread hisself mo- in fttin'
M MS poker room nor he did onto the
4 bar. The table was probly the hand
soonest one In Arkansas, an his chairs
= M ~ Six Ig,, lac t..,lf