Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-25

Deacon SI!derlackis Experience with Vh;skcy
Poker.

y.
Poker.
From the Boston Star
Deacon Sliderback has a pious aversion to
cards, Which he looks upon as free masses to
whatever place may be submitted for the old
fashioned birthstone factory. but he likes 70
play authors, aud INDUCES in that mild ,iiss;-
patton in the bosom OF his family when he can't
ma good excuse for remaining down town
important matters connected with the church
often compel him to stay out late in consulta-
ton with the other dsacons. and unon these oc-
casions the spiritual condition of the benishted
heather is discussed in the back room Of Dea
con Magruder's grocery. James Bowers.
worldly young man: but very entertaining and
lively companion, takes part in these discussions
once In a while. NJ. Bowers is discreet young
imam.
James read in the paper that an Elmira man
had devised a game OF w;liskey poker % be
played with the truly good and harmless ''au-
thors" cards; so he purchased pack and took
them along to the next conference on the prop
agation ofthe faith among the Esfuinaux. held
in Deacon Magruder's back ROOM on Saturday
evening. Deacon Sliderback and Deacon Ma
gruder held an argument about the amount of
saving grace an Esquimaux could absorb; which
was interrupted by James Bowers making some
| fippant remark about bears grease and sug-
costing game of authors The two dpaconS
readily assented, and. after PLAYING while
james voted the game dull and unfOlded some
Ideas about making it more interesting. He
knew the two deacoHs were wholly ignorant of
the national game of draw. and he explained to
them the relative value of pairs. two pairs and
SO 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
hVe cards turned down on the table constituted
the widow hand and that. the man holding
the age had theprivilege OF exchanging his hand
for the ''widow." or knocking and passing the
privilege to the next. Deacon SIiderback held
| the age and being known in the community as
the friend of the widows and fatherless, he sus-
tanned his reputation by picking I'D the ..witlow"
Deacon Magruder drew ''Eyangene' to fill
from the hand that Deacon Slilerback discarded
and laid down the Marble Faun," which was
snapped up by Bowers to pair with 1.-The House
OF Seven Gables" They drew around twice.
when Deacon Sliderback Knocked and they all
stood their hands and showed down. Deacon.
Magruder held a Longiellov full on Dickens
Deacon Sliderback exhibited two pairs Cooper
up, and James had three Hawthornes. giving
Deacon Sliderback point for the lowest hand
The game went along all right until each of the
deacOns had four points and James only two. it
being agreed that the man getting five points
first would be stuck for the drinks. 1t was
Deacon Sliderback's DEAL and he passed the
pack to James, who cut the ''Stones of Venice
for the bottom card. taking sly glance at il as
he did So The deacon tossed around the cards.
and Deacon Magruder stood pat and knocked.
while James picked up the widow" and threw
down his hand one. of the cards being ..Seven
Lamps of Architecture" which Deacon Slider
back agerly picked up
What have you got:" said Deacon Magru-
der to Mr.. Bowers.
1.-TWO small pairs, ''Thackeray'' and George
Elliott" replied James. showing down Pen
dennis" Vanity Fair, Daniel Deronda" and
| "ROmOla"
I've got Hugo straight. remarked Deacon
MaSruder, laying down Les Miserables," Il
Honmo Quit Rit." ''Ninety-three" .'To;lers of
the Sea-" and Napoleon the Little" land l
guess that's boss hand OUT
" Hold on, Clipped in Deacon Sliderback. Il
can beat that. You say it's straight, don't
your"
Yes, that's what call it, What have you
got?"
"Well. I've got Rilskin flush" remarked
Deacon Sliderback. exultingly. showing down
Modern Painters" ''Deucalion." Grown of
Wild Olives" Seven Lamps of Architectural
and Stones of Venice
No you don't" said Deacon Marruder:
that no better hand than my Hugo straight ."
Hugo to thunder" responded Sliderback
getting excited Il claim flush and that beats
any straight in the deck. Any fool knows that"
- Don't call me a fool. Deacon Sliderback
I've played poker as much you have, and |
say your hand is only straight
" | say it ffuSil.'
yours, because it is pat, and you filed"
:" wasn't going to say anything, Deacon Ma
| gruder, about that card you dropped under the
table; but when a member Of the church stoopS
to such thing to get out of setting up his three
glasses of cider in his own store, it was time he
was shown up. won't mention it outside this
time. though, if you give in beaten"
do you mean to accuse me of cheating, Dea-
con Sliderback?" said Magruder, in tone of
suppressed emotion.
That's about the size of it, am panied to
say, sir and it grieves me that a professor of
religion should"
''Oh, you dry up. you old fraud" yelled Ma
gruder. didn't see you deal the Stones OF
| Venice" to yourself off the bottom of the pack
and never say anything about it!"
you're a liar,"
you're another you dumbfounded old null
| ligaloot''
| Then they clinched and fought all over the
| store, tipped over u gallon..of molasScs. and
waiiowed around in the contents of an upset
| flour barrel, and when the neighbors came in
| Deacon Magruder was sitting on the floor with
| his back against a potato sack. Deacon Sill
| derback was doubled up in bu>hel basket,
| with his arms hanging outside. and his legs
! pointing up toward the salt goldfish hanging
! from the rafters and both were gIaring sayagely
| and putting hard for wind. while James Bowers.
esq, was lying on the counter choking with
laughter. after having gathered up the .'au-
thors" cards and scattered genuine poker
deck over the floor