The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-11-16
The Wicked Old Gentleman.
Boston Commercial Bulletin

Nice old gentleman he was big
white vestcoat, low cut shoes, bald head
and silver-bowed spectacles. He led
In the singing on Sunday evening in
the hotel parlor. and sang that old
fashioned bass in Coronation and
china in that sonorous up and down
style which scountry choristers use in
the practice in accompanying a big
fiddle, and withal had the bland be-
nevolent look Of q good up country dea
con.
He was looking round the house
next night, and stepped IN where some
OF the boys were playing cards-some-
thing where they were talking of calls
and raises and seeing The boys
looked little disconcer.ed, but the
old man didn't say anything till the
hand was played out. and one of the
party under the pr-tence of having an
engagement. winked to the others and
said he must 20, intending to break up
until the old man had gone away and
then resume the game. But he had
scarce turned his back when the aged
visitor remarked quietly
wonder he didn't raise ye with the
hand be had.
Do you understand the game asked
ore of the party. taking q cigar from
bis mouth.
Wall, lectle; I've seen 'em playing
on it, and sometimes thort I'd like to
take hand JUS for fun.
Juot oa,I opnthar ernyoro Won
try game or two with US.
Wall, don't mind JUS for the fnn
of the thing. So the old man sat down
and with COED deal of instruction
managed to get through with the game
aud won the penny ante. Thar. said
he, il that fellow that's gone had been
spunky and put in IS he'd go. it in
stead of these eight cents, wouldn't
he?
Why, certainly. said one of the yonng
men, certainly. It's your deal uncle
now, why don't you go in for a five
dollar ante?
Wall. said the old fellow throwing
around the cards, dunno but will.
but hain't got nothin but $40 bill
| that drew outen the bank tn come
here with.
Well, uncle. said the other. gather
ing up and glsnoing at his cards. I'll
&C yer twenty and you can put it in
the missionary box when you win it,
If you like
Sho! so kin, said the old man, /
don't think it would be gamblin' at all
| If that's the case.
Not at all, said the other, winking to
his companions.
Wall, then don't keer if I do 60 ye
this ere fifty-but 'spose you'll think
I'm doin' on it to skear ye-but our
denominations tarnal poor, and big
contributions Just what they arc hank
erin arter.
Oh, no. I cover your fifty, uncle ; we
| ought to be liberal, you know, and SO
the game went On till finally the old
man remarked: Wall. l had no idea l
had this roll of bills in my pocket-so
you cal: Edo ye!-$5O0 up-yes, you've
got three pictures-three queens aud
and jack. Well, it's kinder queer I
got tother queen-haw! haw! haw,
Yes, I'm sorry for you. but what are
your other cards? asked the young man
triumphantly.
Well. three on 'em are kings-why.
darn it. all that ere pot'o money is
mine. young feller! said he. stretching
out powerful paw and squeezing the
bills out of the young mans hands. who
had already begun to roll them up
Praps. mister, you'd like to take your
hand agains said he to the other, who
had returned in the meantime; they
are going to sing some sam times be-
fore going to bed, and l promised to
join 'em.
There was blank look of astonish
ment In the game as he left, and the
thought forced itself into more than
one mind of the danger of trusting to
annoarancea