The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
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surprise, as he noticed three other Young men seated at table in corner of the room, counting our chips.
 His companion assented.
 Its very small game" he ex- plained, as he led the way.
 My name is Esholt-Captain Es- holt-just invalided out and going home to look for job. My three friends are Mir. Graham, Captain Thomson and Mir. Leach"
 The three shook hands with MT. Cray, who sat down genially amongst them and gave lavish orders to the expectant steward, They were all very much of the same type as Esholt himself. One of them had been in the Indian army with Esholt, and the other two, after period of serv- ice, one in Mesopotamia and the other in Egypt, had recently been de- mobilized.
 We play quite small game Cap- tain Esholt repeated,a little nervous ly. "The fact of it is we are all Of us pretty hard up. We ante two shif- lings, if you don't mind.'
 Quite enough" MT. Cray agreed. "I like small game. Il take five pounds worth of chips. Whats the limit, anyway"
 Well, we've never made one," the other replied. "We just double, and we don't get very far on that Straddle when you like and pots fer jacks or better"
 The game proceeded for some time with varying fortunes. MT. Cray, aware of a certain tenseness on the part of his companions. which seemed to him inexplicable in view of the sma1lness of the stakes, played with an indifference which resulted, as is usually the case, in his steadily winning. During one of those brief periods when he was out of the. game, he leaned back and took stock of his fellow players curiously at first and then sympathetically. They were all apparently under 30, they were all either slightly maimed or with par tially broken health. Esholt had al- ready confided to him his fears as to securing a berth with his old firm and neither of the others seemed much more sanguine as to his chances of making a fresh start in life. MT. Cray looked down at his chips and wondered how to get rid of them. Pesently he found out.
 Esho1t was the dealer, Thomson was next to him, and MT. Cray next. Mir Cray straddIed Thomson's ace, and these two and the dealer alone remained in. Thomson took one card, MT Cray kept an ace and drew four. Esho1t bet, Thomson doubled. MT. Cray picking up his cards, found that amongst the four he had drawn were three more aces. He doubled again and Esholt went out. Thomson nes- itated. The amount now in front or him was sixteen shillings, and it re- quired another sixteen to see MT. Cray.
 I'd go quietly, young man, if I were you," the latter warned him. "Fve the biggest hand we've seen to- night"
 There was a spot of color in Thom- sons pale cheeks. He looked at MT. Cray xith a queer little twitch or the IirA
 "I don't want to know about your hand" he said roughly How do T. know you're not bluffing? Any way, I'm seeing your 32 and raising it the same"
 "sixty-four to see, chg MT. Cray remarked Well, make it 127.''
 TWO hundred and tifty-six, was the prompt rejoinder.
 Sorry" MT. Cray replied, "512.
 Fifty pounds" Thomson almost shouted.
 Fifty pounds" he declared, lis great deal of money at this little game. I shall call it."
 He laid down his four aces. Thom- son, with trembling fingers, spread out the two, three, four, five, six or spades. MT. Cray, after moments amazed silence, laughed good-natur- edly and produced his pocketbook.
 T congratulate yoV. young man. he said. You were in luck to ina me with such big hand"
 He paid out the notes and tho game proceeded. For. three or four rounds nothing in particular occur red. Then, when again 1t was Esho-t's deal, and the first of 2 round of jack-pots. MT. Cray found himself with a pair If kings.
 q open for four shiilings," he an- nounced.
 Make it eight" Esholt declared, looking at his cards.
 Everyone came in. Thomson took three cards, glanced at them and threw in his hand. Mir. Cray took three and found himself with another king and pair of aces. Graham on his left, took three; Leach one; Esholt hesitated, picked up his cards again, fingered the pack uncertain ly an dthen took one. MT. Cray sat for a moment quite still. He seemed to forget that he was playing.
 You to bet. sir" Thomson re- minded him.
 MT. Cray glanced at the chips in front of him.
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