Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-09-26

A WICKED OLD GENTLEMAN.
How he Sang Base and BaseIy Tool.
In the Boys.
Boston Commercial Eullstin.

| Boston Commercial Bulletin.
Nice old gentleman lie was big white
waistcoat, low-cut shoes, bald head and
siver-bowod spectacles. He led in the
singing on Sunday evening in the hotel
/ pariOr, and sang that oll-fashioned bass in
coronation :" and .Clina" in that sono-
rous up-and-down style which country
choristers used to practice in accompany
ing the big fiddle. and withal. had the
bland, benevolent look of good old up
tcountry deacon.
He was ''looking round the house,
next night. and stepped in where some of
the boys were playing cards-soMething
where they were talking of ''calls" and
raises and seeing" The boys looked
a little disconnected, but the Old man didn't
say anything till the hand was played out,
and one OF the party, under pretense OF
having an engagement, winked to the 9TH
ers and said he must go. Intending to break
up till the old man had gone away and then
resume the game. But he had scarce turned
his back when the aged visitor remarked:
II wonder he didn't raise with the hand
ne held.''
"Do you understand the game ?" asked
one of the party, taking cigar from his
mouth.
"Wail. leetle I've seen 'em playin' on
it, an sometimes thort I'd like to take a
hand just. for filn.''
"Just So" said another; g suppose you
try game or two with ESP
"Wall, l don't mind jes' for the fun er
the thing" So the old man sat down and
with good of instruction, managed to get
through with the game, and won on the
penny ante. "Thar.' said he. ..if that
teller that's gone had been spunky and put
in 50 he'd got it Instead of those eight cents
wouldn't hep
why, certainly" said one of the young
men, certainly it's your deal uncle: now
why don't you 90 in Tor a s. ante?"
"Wall," said TIE old fellow, throwing
around the cards, 81 donu but will. but
hahn got nn:hin' but Il $50 bill that
drew outen the bank to come here with"
Well uncle" said the other, gathering
up and glancing at his cards, :. I'll 20 $40,
and you can put it in the missionary box
when you win it, if you like"
"Sho! SO ken," saoid the old man."
don't think 'twud be gambolin' at all ef
that's the case. y
Not at all" said TIE other, winking to
"Well, then, don keer ef ! go youtnIs
ere other fifty-bit suppose you'll thinl,
I'm doin' on ii 10 s,secr ye-but our demon
iDnt:An ss far .rl n T.; onnt,.iht1-
-ti"n is jest what they're hankerin' arter."
"Oh, no; cover your fifty. uncle we
ought to be liberal, you Know" and so the
game went on till finally the old man re-
marked, Wall, I'd no idcc had this ere
rolls O bills in my pocket--so you call, do
ye?-S5oo up-yes. you hev got three pic
ters-three queens and JACK! Well, It's
kinder queer got tother queen-haw!
haw! haw!"
"Yes, I'm sorry for you, but what are
your other carls?' said the young man
triumphantly.
"Well, three on 'em ez kings-why, darn
it, all that ere pot o moneys mine, young
feller." said he, stretching out a powerful
paw and squeezing the bills ont of the hand
of the young man, who had already begun
to roll them up. "Praps, mister, you'd
like to take your hsud again." said he to
the other, who had returned meantime;
" they are goin' to sing some sam tunes up
stairs before going to bed, and promised
I'D iine EN-
There was a blank look ofamaZement in
that circle as he left, and the thought forced
itself into more than one mind of the dan
ger OF trusting to appearances.