The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-04-28
OPENING A JACKPOT.
STANLEY HuNTLEY.


 we play little game of poker. Do you know how to play poker: :''
 guess SOL replied Mrs Spoopendyke, hitching up her chair, and dusting the top of the table with towel. ''Isnt that the game where you have the right and left joker, and pass when you take it up!"
 If you have any kind of luck you do" retored Mir. Spoopendyke- '' learned this game over at Mir. Specklewottle' the other night. The way you play II is to have one pair, or two pairs, or four aces. Four aces beat anything. When you get four aces, you want to bet your last cent. Now I'll deal five cards apiece"
 Il hope I'll get four aces" giggled Mrs. Spoopendyke. 1" If do, win, don't l ~
 Yes. if you ge, 'em. grinned Mir. Spoopendyke. Now. wha. do you do!"
 Let me see wha, I'll do.' murmured Mrs. Spoopendyke, niboliag at the cor ner of one card, and regarding the rest with puzzled visage. Suppose have the three of eights and the two of queens. l can't play, can :"
 You might play in the menagerie.' snorted Mr. Spoopendyke. running over his hand, and frowning sloomily as he failed 10 detect pair, or anything likely to make one. If you've got slch a hand as that. your proper sphere would be playing before crowned heads. Wha, do you do: Are you coming in :: Where $ your ante, anyway: Don't you know it's your edge:.
 "Of course proclaimed Mrs. Spoop- endyke, boldly. Il know that. Now I lead my edge" and she laid down an eight-spot 5. though presume ' our edge will take it.' And she rested her chin on the table. and stared a, the card. earnestly.
 "What ye doins:" demanded Mir. Spoopendyke. ." You don, play ,ha, one !. Where's your ante?"
 Do you mean herr" fuitcred Mrs. Spoopendyke. hastily catching up her eight-spot. and laying down the queen. Fl thought wouldn', play her till had drawn your four aces. Then l would win, wouldn't :"
 Take up that card' retor;ed Mir. Spoopendyke. slernly. Take rp that card. and put one ofyour checkers in the middle of the table. There: So. That's the way to play. Now, how many cards do you wan, =
 Le, me think iiuttered Mrs. Spoop- endyke. Let's see. believe iii take ten
 = Better take a gross" snor;ed Mr. Spoopendyke. eyeing her. wrathfully :" Perhaps you'd like half a barrel. Don, you know you can't draw but five: Ii you've got any bad cards. throw e n away. and I'll give you some more for 'em. If your cards are all good. you can stand pat. Do you want to stand pat: =
 "l guess SO" sighed Mrs. Spoopen- dyke. helplessly. If stand pat. do I play the eight, or the queen:"
 You don't play either, replied Mir. Spoopendyke, helping himself to live cards. and drawing .. couple of kings. x cw. it's my bet. bet two; what do you bet -
 Then bet two" answered Mrs. Spoopendyke. brigh;ening up. as she be- gan to see her way clear. ." bet d queen and an eight" and she Laid them ,wn with confidence.
 That calls my hand, said Mir Spoop- endyke gleefully only you don, bet your cards: you bet your checkers. Put in two checkers. and show your cards. .'
 Mrs. Spookendyke showed her checkers into the table. and laid down three elghts and pair of queens.
 Where'd you get 'em:' roared Mr. Spoopendyke. recognizing his defeat. "Nhatd ye want to keep talking about the three of eights and the two of queens Why didn't ye tell me you had a full hand -
 You gave 'em to me, returned Mrs. Spoopendyke. dolefully. Il only had those i've. Wha, does i, do:"
 II, makes il jackpot" growled Mir. Spoopendyke. seeing a chance for him self in his wite's utter ignorance of the game. Now we've each go, to pu, in one checker. just because you played in tha; way
 lin sorry. dear" oooed Mrs. Spoop- endykc. rather pleased with the idea of getting ou, of the scrape al any expense. And yet l nigh, have known it would have made Ii Jack pop, if had stopped to think -
 When you stop to think you only want stick of chewing gum and a rat trap 10 be female seminary. Do you know wha, jaek-po, is: Got some kind of notion that it has three legs. and is used to cook mush in. haven't you :: Well, 1t isn't. and it isn't to sit there and grin at. either, l, takes pair of jacks. or something as good as them to open it. Now, take these cards and tell me whether you open 1t. or not" Mrs. Spoopendyke examined her cards critically.
 Il stand p-.. she remarked after long pause. Say, dear, are four aces as good as a jack pot.:
 Certainly" replied Mir. Spoopendyke who had captured an ace, pair of kings. and a couple of tens. Now, open tha, pot for four chips"
 Then open it for four" said Mrs. Spoopendyke. following her husband's $ eN- ample.
 II raise you ,en." grinned Mir. Spoop- endyke. Now you are playing some thing like. Want to raise me-"
 Of course gisgled Mrs. Spoop-n- dyke, who hadn't the remo,es, notion