The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-10-07
A FLUSH AND A STRAIGHT
Beacon sliderbaek's Experience with
whisky Poker.

dissipation in the bosom Of his family
when he can't lind good excuse for
remaining down town. Important
matters conpected with the church
oftei. compel him to stay out late
in consultation with the other dea-
cons, and upon these occasions the
spiritual condition of the benighted
heather is discussed in the back room
Of Magruder,s grocery. james Bowers
worldly young man, but very en-
tertaining and a lively companion,
takes part in these discussions once in
while. Mr.. Bowers IN a discreet
young man.
James read in the paper that on
Elmira men had devised game Of
whisky poker to be played with tho
truly good and harmless "authors"
cards; 30 he purchased pack and took
them along TO the next conference on
propagation of the faith among tho
Esquimaux, held in Deacon Magrnd-
er's back room, on Saturday evening.
Deacon. Slidefback and Deacon
Magruder held an argument about the
amount of saving grace an Esquimaux
could absorb, which was interrupted
by James Bowers making some flip
pant remark about bear's-grease, and
suggested a game of authors. The
two deaeons readily assented, aud, after
playing awhile, James voted the game
dull and unfolded some ideas about
making II more interesting. He knew
the deacons were wholly ignorant Of
the national game of draw, and he ex-
planned TO them tho relative value Of
pairs, two pairs, and 80 on. The
deacons seemed TO catch on very
readily, and agreed to play for cider TO
make the game interesting.
James dealt the hands, and explained
that the five cards turned down on
table constituted the "widow" hand
and that the man holding the age had
the privilege of exchanging his hand
for the "widow," or knocking aud
passing the privilege TO the next.
Deacon Sliderback held the age, and
being known in the community as the
friend of the widows and fatherless, he
sustained his reputation by picking mp
the "widow" Deacon Magruder drew
"Evangeline" to ill from the hand
that Deacon Sliderback discarded, and
laid down the marble Faun," which
was snapped up by Bowers to pair
with. The House Of Seven Gables. "
They drew around twice, when Deacon
Sliderback knocked aud they all stood
their hands and showed il down.
Deacon Magruder held Longfellow
full on Dickens Deacon Sliderback ex.
hibited two pairs OF Cooper up, and
James had three Hawtherns, giving
Deacon Sliderback point for for the
lowest hand. The game went along
all right until each Of the deaeons bad
four points and James only two, il
being agreed that the man getting 1--WE
points first would be stuck for the
drinks. IL was Deacon Sliderback'a
deal, and he passed the pack to James,
who cut the "Stones Of Venice" FOL
the bottom card, taking sly glance al
it AZ he did 80. The deacon tossed
around the cards, and Deacon Magru
der stood pat and knocked, while
James picked up the "widow" and
threw down his hand, one of th'
cards being "Seyen Lamps of Archi
lecture" which Deacon SliderbacI
eagerly picked mp.
"What have you gotp said Deacol
Magruder te Bowers.
Two small pairs. 'Thackery' Rn'
"George Elliott" replied James, show
ing down "Pendennis," vanity Fair,
"Daniel Deronda, and "Romola."
'T've got Hugo straight" remark
ed Deacon Magruder, laying dowI
"Les MiserabIes," "L'Homme Qui Rit,
"Ninety-three," "Toilers Of the sea,
and Napoleon the Little" "and
guess that's the boss hand out"
"Hold. on" shipped in Deacon 81
derback, 81 can beat hat, You "a
it's straight, don't you9'
Eyes that's what l call it. Wba
have you gotP
"Well, I've got Ruskin fush," r'
marked Deacon Sliderback exultingl'
showing down "Modern Painters,
''Deucalion. "Crown of Wild Oliver,
Seven Lamps of Architecture" an
"Stones Of Venice"
"No you don't" said Deacon VI,
gruder; "that's no better hand tina
my Hugo straight"
"Hugo to thunder" responded 81
derback. getting excited; 81 claim
flush, and that beats any straight
the deck. Any fool knows that.
"Don't call me fool, Deacon 81
derback, I've played poker as much
, you have, and say your hand is onl
a straight"
81 say it's flush"
"All right, then; mines hus
and it beats yours. because it is a pa
and you filed"
81 wasn't going to say anythin
Deacon Magruder, about that card yc
dropped uuder the table; but when
member of the church stoops to such
thing to get out of setting up thr
glasses OF cider in his own store, it
, time he was shown up. / won't me
ton it outside this time, though, if "
give In beaten y
"Do you mean to accuse me of che,
| ing, Deacon Slid .rback4" said Magrud
l in tone of suppressed emotion.
; "Thas's about the SIZE OF it, / a
panied to say, sir. and it grieves I
that a professor of religion should"
"Oh, you dry up, you old frauc
yelled Magruder. didn't | see y
deal the Stones of Venice to yours
off the bottom of the pack, and ne,
said anything about ftq"
you're a liarg'
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