The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-12-23

game was draw poker and he held
four kings. On the last time around
he promptly laid his hand down.
thought had made mistake in CIV
ing him the SO If he knew no more
about playing poker than that. Then
the cards we're shown and one man
held four aces, another four queens
and another four jacks. Without a
doubt my friend had known where
every big card in the deck was. The
instant the fourth ace was dealt he
knew it and laid down his hand. He
was not in the same class with the
poker players we had. for they play
ed ON the square. I said nothing
for I knew nothing about the strang-
er or what he was doing. He left the
game with 1920 in his pocket, paid
me what he owed and I never saw
him again. never even learned his
name.
"Was It common to lend money to
entire strangers? It was with gamb-
lers in the early days, or for that
matter with any one, and the loaner
seldom lost by putting confidence in
his associates. A mans debt then
was secured by his honor. 1t was all
we had and q debt was a sacred
thing. II q man owed you money
and didn't see you for years he would
remember it and pay it when he got
a chance. They remembered then.
OF course they remember now, but
they depend on legal rights or any
kind Of excuse to get out of paying.
Look Him in the Eye
| "Anv stranger that looked right
could get $40 as easy as you could
borrow q postage stamp now. A
scratch Of the pen was seldom made
to record a debt. If man got UP
against it he would just come up to
some fellow that looked like he had
money and ask for $40. The one
asked would start to going right
down in his pocket while he looked
the man in the eye. If he looked
. right he got the money.
"There was lots of loaning done
with NO security and no interest
Some of the men with the gambling
instinct strong in them would worl
| in the mines or the smelters unit
|, they got check. They would gam
BILE that away and then borrow wha
[ they wanted and gamble that away
Then they would have to go bacl
, to work and when they got checl
they would pay their debts, pay TO
{ board and room and gamble as lonl
, las they had a cent. They kept thi
} up as long as they lived or as lon
, as gambling house was to be found
> Their credit was good then becaus
. they played on the square,"
i Superstitions were quite as mucl
, la part Of the gamblers equipment q
, fwit and endurance, Young solemnl
1 asserted. Not only was and Is tn
4 HANDLERS superstition inseparabl
. from the gamblers mental scheme
. hut everybody in the world ha
whims which are no more nor les
t than superstitions. he believes.
: An Were Superstitious
: Eyes. gamblers were consistent
( Isuperstitious." he said. II was o.
lperstitious. too. I had q parttcula
lway Of getting into bed and II n
J, lmemberod after I got into bed tha
{ II had not done it that way woul
d Iget up, dress and not try to slee
q that night. Every man who followe
Q Igames Of chance had his particula
,-lWays Of doing things and IL he ha
j. had luck he would blame It on SON
l. violation OF these rules.
I'll Gamblers held firmly to such b.
Q Iliefs q one that . man standing b.
Ilhind . particular player would bril-
{ him bad luck. II you rested yo'
II Ifoot on . gamblers chair he was sul
% Ito tell you to remove it. He believe
(. Il unlucky. Many more talisman
a which might consist Of . bit Of je,
IIelry or . coin to bring them luc
u They would believe that the loss
it would be followed BY dire result
It IL do not recall . gambler that did n
4 have his whims. French Levy. vi
70 had an interest In the DAILY saloo
aIvould never allow . clock In the Z