A SAME OF BILLIARDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10957, 27 April 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

A SAME OF BILLIARDS.

A finely-equipped billiard hall m Montreal was kept by an expert with the cue. Indeed, he held a champion'a trophy. ; During the daytime there were few people to use his tables, and if anyone desired a. game the proprietor would accommodate him. One afternoon a farmer'whose lineaments were French strolled into the place and seemed greatly pleased with it. "Would you like to play a game?" asked the proprietor.. ./, The farmer admitted that he had heard a great deal about billiards, and had come to Montreal especially, to see, a game. The proprietor called : for a set of balls, handed the farmer a cue and, unlocking a private rack; took down his own tue. ' "How much do you play for!" asked the farmer. "I don't play for money." "What! nothing to make it interesting?" "If you -like we'll play for refresh-, ments." , • , "Refreshments ! What is that?" "Drinks, cigars, anything you like." -: "Yer .well. . How •much de ; gam*?", "Oh, we'll play till you are satisfied that I can beat yon," -. Meanwhile several loiterers gathered round to see the expression that would come over the farmer's" face 'when he saw the proprietor counting as much a. he liked. The farmer was given the first shot; He -took a long time to make up his mind what to do and^when it wa& made. up did a great deal of, sawiug with is cue. He missed the shot he tried fori but "scratched" one point. The prbprietor then attempted to sho-.v the spectators a very difficult round table shot, but, having no incentive, played carelessly and missed.' " Go ahead," he said to his opponent. '.''... ■ "You say we play till I'm satisfied?" he sked. . "That was the understanding." _ * "I am satisfied. I stop." There was a burst of laughter from the onlookers for the "house" had lost the refreshments. Now it happened that an amateur player, an expert, who was not adverse to betting money as the proprietor was, was looking on. When the latter threw down his cue and ordered the refreshments the expert went up to the farmer with outstretched hand and told him ho was the cleverest countryman that had ever honored. 'Montreal with his presence. Then he offered to play him a friendly game for 'a nominal stake. The farmer accepted and the game bega.i. The expert played as badly- as he could, but not badly enough to let the farmer beat himl which he intended to m order to draw his dupe into the -net. But th*. more the farmer lost the more he insisted on playing further, and, to regain his losses, continually suggest-— a rasing of the stake till he had lost m round numbers 250 dollars. Then he got very much excited. Drawing a wallet from his pocket he showed his enemy 250d01s m bills, which he agreed to put up m ease he could get odds of 4 to 1. The expert with well feigned reluctance at last agreed, and, getting the money from the Etoprietor, the stakes were placed iii the itter's hands. The expert won first shot and ran S3 points, the game being 100. Then the farmer chalked his cUe, looked at the balls and began to play. His first shot was a difficult' masse, with a draw nearly the full length of the table, and he made it beautifully. From that he po ceeded to make one difficult shot after another, always leaving the balls m the position he. desired. A "crowd gathered around, and it was soon apparent to them that no handling of billiard balls ha f l ever been seen m Montreal. The game being a short one it seemed that the player was ambitious to make nearly all the points by difficult shots. He missed no shot at all till he had counted, ICO points and won lOOOdols. From the moment the farmer made the first shot the expert, who was the best amateur player m the city, had made up his mind that he had fallen into his own trap. When the money was paid over to the farmer the loser said to him : "Now that you have been paid the bet you won't mind, telling uns who you are?" "I got leetle farm down on the Richelieu riviere," said the farmer. "Rats !" said his questioner, and, turning on his heel, left the place. Then the farmer called for refreshments and invited his admirers to partake of them. Nowy there was a billiard match to be played that night between champion of the United States from New York, and champion of France from Paris. This was mentioued.to the farmer and he oxpressed a desire to see the match. Promising to meet his new made friends at the place appointed for the game, he left them to go to supper. Meanwhile it was reported that Lanoroux, the French champion, who had been expected to arrive m the city during the d^y, had been detained. Thoie who had been amusing the farmer from the "Richelieu riviere went to the hall fearing that they might be deprived of the expected treat.' But on reaching it they were informed that Lanoroux liad arrived, though only m time for supper. When a side door opened, and the contestants appeafed, those who had met thie farmer were astonished to see him m the person of the' French champion. He won the match, and it was announced that he would give lOOOdols. to the Montreal poor. -