BETTING A HORSE AT FARO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3954, 22 March 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

BETTING A HORSE AT FARO.

In a. party of poker players a night or two ago tho conversation turned upon high stakes at gambling, and then upon tho queer clmraster of bets made in the presenco of the speakers in tho past. ' Mustang Joo,' said ono, ' I knew in Texas. He made his living by catching and selling mustangs, and he was a gambler from 'way back, too. Played to win or lose, and where ' short cards' were concerned, generally won. He rode a beautiful horse he called ' Dan ;' had him caparisoned as gorgeously as a lady at the Vandorbilt ball, with gold and silver trappings, and had him trained better than any circus horse I ever saw. Joe had refused 5000 dollars for him, saddle and bridle. One night I was watching a faro game in San Antonio. Tho chips were five dollars, and there was no limit. Joo had just come in from Mexico with nearly 11,000 dollars in cash, and he was playing. The ace and queen seemed to be his favorite cards, and 500 dollars went on every bet ho mado. He finally got broke. 'Go on with the deal—l'll be back in a minuto,' he said to the dealer, Jack Bryant, and went out. The next deal had just commenced when Joo returned, and after him, harnessed in all his bravery, stepped the horse Dan. '' Any aces out ?' asked Joo coolly, while the crowd looked with amazement at the horse, which was gazing with almost supernatural intelligence at the faro layout '' One,' answered Bryant laconically. ' Jack, will you give mo 400 dollars for Dan ?' asked Joe. ' Yes.' 'no goes for 400 dollars, thon!' Dan, the horse, reared himself at a sign from Joe, and one of his four hoofs tho gambler placed on the layout on tho aco. Everyone watched in breathlnss silence. The card won. 'Go home, Dan,' said Joe, and the horse trotted out of the room and to his stable. Joo sat, playod all night, and drew out of tho game 9000 dollars ahead.— Denver Times.