Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-09-02

you VIII nave q pleasant trip.
But thar's the negro, my boy,
[ see you've forgot him =! said Joe
Pike Of Arkansas, looking around
at Gumbo who was standing back,
quietly awaiting orders, with the
trunk on his shoulner and the old
umbrella under his arm. "What is
his damage ?"
ooh, never mind him :" said the
clerk. Considering you have paid
double fare already, 1 guess we will
throw him in
"Gumbo, you black rascal, dyer
hear that ? You're huv in-your
no aecount-haw haw y roared
Mr.. Joe Pike, of Arkansas. "Here,
take that ar brass and tote off my
trunk and umbrella, with nary a
spill, f." he continued, tossing the key
to the negro. Then turning to the
clerk again, as the negro withdrew,
he added: "Old boss, what's your
name ?"
Brown" laughed the clerk
"Wall, Brown, you're brick ,.and
as | am about to liquor, | want you
to liquor with me"
"Beg your pardon, sir :" said one
Of the gamblers before mentioned,
laying his hand familiarly on the
shoulder of Mr.. Pike, and speaking
loosely, "you said something about
trumps just now, what are trumps ?"
II reckon it's knaue Of so'thing
that turns up now !" said Mr. Pike
looking his interrogation straight in
the eye.
The gambler colored, and the
crowd laughed and cried:
Good !! Good !"
"Gentlemen," said Mr.. Joe Pike,
with one of his magnificent flour
ishes, "let's all liquor"
"Do you ever play ?" said one of
the gamblers, watching his chance
and drawing him aside.
"Keerds ?7 returned Pike.
eyes; eucher, whist, poker, all
fours, or anything you choose :"
"Why, [ am a boss on all of them,
stranger haw haw haw !" roar
ed the gentleman from Arkansas.
"The last time l played | licked
every cub that bet agin me haW !.
haw Play keerds ? 'Spect | do
a few. Let's all have another wet,
and then see who wants me to show
'em how -
After having another drink all
around, which the gambler, in order
to appear generous and get the good
will of the company, insisted on pay
ing for, the crowd adjourned to one
of the card tables in the main saloon,
to enjoy the sport ofseeing the green
Mr. Pike fleeced of all his money 10y
the skillful cheating of three notori-
Gus gamblers. In one sense of the
word, the spectators looked upon
him as a lamb in the clutches of
wolves; but not one Of them made a
single attempt to warn him Of his
danger: for besides the fact that the
gamblers were not the men to have
their plans interferred with with i'm
punity, they thought the Boosting
Mr.. Pike deserved to have little,
sharp humiliating experience, and
they felt morbid curiosity to see
in what manner he would bear his
defeat and loss. Such is human
nature the world over, when no par
ticular chord of sympathy Or inter
est is touched,
MIR. Pike was not ready to begin
to play Immediately, however. He
must go to his state room first, fix
himself up a little, give his boy or
ders, and it was at least good hour
before the impatient gamblers saw
him snugly planted down between
them.
"What shall we play Mr.. Pike =?
and for what stake ?" now politely
inquired one of the trio.
'Spect we'd better make it whist
fust-that thar man opposite is my
partner-fur a dollar a corner, till /
get the feel of the keerds,'' replied
Pike, looking triumphantly around
with an air that seemed to say:
"You see l know what / am talk
ing about even though | do look