Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-25
A Flush AND A STRAIGHT.
Deacon Sliderimcks Experience with vh:skcy
Poker.


Poker.
From ths Boston St,r
Deacon Sill derback has a pious aversion to
cards, which he Looks upon as free passes TO
Whatever place may be submitted for the old
fashioned birthstone factory. but he likes to
play authors, aud INDUCES in that mild diss;
patton in the bosom of his family when he can't
hha q good excuse for remaining down town
important matters connected with the church
often compel him to stay out late in consulta-
tson with the other deacons aid upon these oc-
casions the spiritual condition Of the beniyhtea
heather is discussed in the back room Of Dea
con Magruder's grocery. James Bowers
worldly young man: but a very entertaining and
lively companion, takes part in these discussions
once in while. Nj. Bowers is discreet young
| man.
James read in the paper that an Eimtra man
had devised game of wlisSey poker 20 be
played with the truly good and harmless ..au-
thOrs cards; SO he purchased pack and took
them along to the nextconference on the prop
agation ofthe faith among the EsGumaux. held
in Deacon Magruders back room. on Saturday
evening. Deacon Sliderback and Deacon Ma
gruder held an argument about the amount of
saving grace an Esqumaux could absorb; which
was interrupted by James Bowers making some
! hlppant remark about bears grease and sug-
| costing game of authors. The two deacons
readily assented. and. after PLAYING n while
James voted the game duh and unfolded seine
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
nVe cards turned down on the table constituted
the widow hand and that. the man holding
the age had thcprivilege OF exchanging his hand
for the widow" or knocking and 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 sus-
famed his reputation by picking upthe widow"
beacon Magruder drew ''Eyangene" to fill
| from the hand that Deacon Sliderback discarded
and laid down the Marble Fam" which was
snapped up by Bowers to pair with .'The House
of Seven Cables" They drew around twice.
| when Deacon Sliderback Knocked and they all
stood their hands and showed down. Deacon
Magruder held q Longfellov full on Dickens
| Deacon Sliderback exhibited two pairs Cooper
| up and James had three HawthOrnes giving
Deacon Sliderback a point for the lowest hand
| Inc game went along all right until each of the
deac0ns had four points and James only two it
| being agreed that the man getting five points
| nrst 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 a sly glance at it as
he did so. The deacon tossed around the cards
and Deacon Magruder stood pat and knocked.
Whlie James picked up the widow" and threw
| down his hand one. of the cards being ..Seyen
Lamps of Architecture" which Deacon Slider
back agerly picked up
What have you got:" said Deacon Magru-
| der to Mr.. Bowers.
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
HOinmo Quit Rt." 'Ninety-three" .'TOiIers of
the Sea-" and Napoleon the Little" land |
guess that'sthe boss hand OUT
:" Hold on" Clipped in Deacon Sliderback. II
can beat that. You say it's straight don't
you?"
''Yes, that's what call it. What have YOU
got?'
''Wel I've got Ruskin flush" remarked
Deacon Sliderback eXultingly showing down
Modern Painters" ''Deucalicn." Grown of
Niid Olives" Seven Lamps of Architecture"
and ''StOnes of Venice"
''No you DON'T said Deacon Marruder:
that no better hand than my Hugo straight" '
Hugo to thunder..' responded Siderback.
getting excited; Il claim flush and that beats .
any straight in the deck. ANY fool knows that"
i Don't call me fool. Deacon Sliderback
I've played poker as much as you have, and
say your hand is only straight.
." say it's fiuSh.'
All llSub. tHtL flliilc Il HUSH. ana IL beats
yours, because it Is a pat, and you filed
" wasn't going to say anything. Deacon Ma
gruder. about that card you dropped under the
table; but when 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 a 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
Ion, 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 pach.
and never say ANYTHING about it!"
"You're lar."
" You're another, you dumbfounded old null
lisaloot."
Then they clinched and fought all over the
store, tipped over gallon..of molasses. and
Wallowed around in the contents of an upset
flour barrel, and when the neghbors came in.
Deacon Magruder was sitting on the floor with
his back against potato sack. Deacon Sill
derback was doubled up in bushel basket
with his arms hanging outside, and his legs
pointing up toward the salt Goldfish hanging
from the rafters and both were garing savagely
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 a genuine poker
deck over the floor.