The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-07
A Game of Draw Poker.
"Parables for the Old Folks" by Murat
Halstead in Chicago Tribune.

A certain man went down from Chicago to
Ohio taking with him return ticket, lest he
fall against a Cincinnati wheat speculator and
be robbed Of that wherewith he would fain buy
flour and gum shoes for his family in the sea-
son of cold which cometh upon those who live
in Chicago from the tenth to the fourth month
and find himself amid sinners and publicaas,
whose mercy is strained even 50 fine that it
would bother you some to discover it,
And when he had reached Cincinnati he
went to an inn and gave to the landlord there
of three pieces of silver, saying: 'No monkey
business with me, Charlie; [ am from Bitter
Creek" And he who kept the inn marveled
greatly, and said unto himself: "These be
strange men that come from Chicago; never
are they to be bilked by hotel bill, and he
who endeavors to outwit them is invariably
headed Off" But nevertheless he bethought
himself of poker game which was that night
in the inn, and laughed to himself with ex-
ceeding great Joy. Then arose the landlord
and went into the place called Bar, where OF
certainty he should find the man from Chicago,
and approaching him, said
"There be in this inn, even in the third
story thereof a small party of prominent citi-
zens which do play at the game called draw
poker Perchance thou might, after much
travail, secure seat among them"
And when the host of the inn had spake
these words wltching smile did play around
the lips of the Chicago man, and he answered,
saying: 81 am yet young, and OF a certainty
far from mine home and family, and fearful
lest fall among thieves"
But the landlord rebuked him, saying: In
this party whereof L speak are only business
men, two being colonels and one a judge.
Would you not deem it an honor to play with
these?" And the Chicago man was overcome,
and said softly: 81 shonld twitter,| which which
being interpreted means that he should blush
to gggle.
yator, until three stories were below them,
and the landlord knocked softly on the door OF
a room in which light gleamed brightly,
And the door opened.
And when the Chicago man had seated him
self and bought of chips an hundred shekes'
worth he spake not, but drank heartily Aud
it came to pass that after many deals one OF
the colonels did bet seven shekels whereupon
bet also the Chicago man like amount, and
did vanquish the colonel, who had that which
is called two pair And when this had oc-
CURED thrice the colonel said unto the judge:
''He is playing them close to his stomach
And it was so.
But presently there came to the colonel a
hand of exceeding beauty and strength, being
four aces And he who held them was filed
with glee ana knew uOb i6aI, piACluS IA bllo
center of the table great quantities OF shekels.
And when it came to that which is called the
draw the Chicago man took not of tho cards,
saving that he was content. But the colonel
drew one with great boasting, telling, with in
tent to receive the others, of how he would
bet, if perchance he made a full, which is a
hsnd of great strength, and capable of over
coming threes, or even a flush, but which eau
not prevail ag linst fours. And having said
these words he wagered heavily of silver and
gold, all of which the Chicago man did cover,
and even betted more, whereupon put the
colonel also his watch and diamond on the
table, and wagered them freely, and when all
had been betted the Chicago man said,
"Straight fush," even as he spoke gathering
unto himself all the treasures which the table
held And when he had placed in his pocket
all the shekels, aud in his shirt front the da-
mond and had adorned himself with the