The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-06-06
CHAPTER XIX.
On His O. vn.

OF course Tommy cannot always b,
producing plays under fire but while
in rest billets he has numerous other
ways Of amusing himself. He is d
great gambler, but never plays for
large stakes. Generally. in each COM
pany, you will find a regular Garfield.
This man banks nearly all the games
of chance and is an undisputed author
ity on the rules Of gambling. When
ever there is an argument among the
Tommics about some uncertain point
az to whether Houghtt is entitled to
Watkins siXpence, the matter is taken
to the recognized autht rity and his de-
cision is final.
The two most popular games are
Grown and Anchor" and blouse"
The paraphernalia used in Grown
and Anchor" consists Of a piece Of cam
vas two feet by three feet. This is
divided into six equal squares. In these
squares are painted n club, diamond,
heart, spade, crown, and an anchor,
one device to a square. There are
three dice used, each dice marked the
same as the canvas. The banker sets
up his gambling outfit in the corner OF
n billet and starts bally-hooing until a
crowd Of Tommien gathers around;
then the game starts.
The Tommies place bets on the
squares, the crown Or anchor being
played the most. The banker then
rolls his three dice and collects or pays
out as the case may be. If you play
the crown and one shows up on the
dice, you get even money, If two show
up, you receive two to one, and If three,
three to one. If the crow does not mp.
pear and you have bet on it. you lose,
and SO On. The percentage for the
banker is large IL every square Is
played, but if the crowd is partial to,
say two squares, he has to trust to
luck. The banker generally wins.
The game Of "Hou is very popular
also. 1t takes W men to run 1t. This
game consists Of numerous squares Of
cardboard containing: three rows OF
numbers, five numbers to a row. The
numbers run from one 70 ninety. Each
card has a different combination.
The French "estan, inets'' in the vii.
lagos are open from eleven In the morn.
Ing until one In the afternoon in &C
cordance with army orders.
After dinner the 'Tommies congre.
gate at these places to drink French
beer ut a penny a glass and play
House"
AS soon as the estaminet Is sufi
GENTLY crowded tho proprietors Of the
House" game get busy and, as they
term 1t, form a school" This consists
Of going around anC selling cards al
a franc each. If they have ten in the
school, the hackers of the game de
duct two francs for their trouble ant
the winner gets eigh' francs.
Then the game ST. .rts. Each buyer
places his card before him on The ia,
BILE, first breaking up matches into ff
teen pieces.
One of the hackers Of the gal lie hal
a small cloth bag in which are ninety
cardboard squares, each with & mum
Der printed thereon, INom one to nine
ty. He raps on the table and Grief
out: eyes down, ny lucky lads"
All noise ceases AMI .s7ery ono Is at
%tentlon.
The croupier places Ids hand In tn,
bag and draws forth a numbered
square and Immediately calls out thu
uuIllDcT. Liz luuu WHO owns inc care
with that particular lumber on it
covers the square with a match. Tht
n who covers the fifteen numbers or
his card first shouts House" TIL.
other hacker Immediately com IS ovel
to him and verihes the card by calling
out the numbers til ereon to the mar
with the bag. AS each number Il,
called he picks 1t out of the onaa
picked from the bag and says, Right
If the count Is right he shouts, BLOUSE
correct, pay the lucky gentleman, and
sell him a card for the next school,
The "lucky gentleman" generally buy,
one unless he has a miser trace Ii
his veins.
Then another collection IL made, 9
school formed, and they cary on with
the game.
The caller.out has many nicknamef
for the numbers such as "Kclly's Eye
for one, Legs Eleven" for eleven
"Cllckcty-click" for sixty-six, or "Toy
Of the house" meant Is ninety.
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