Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-05-21
The Poker Club.

ing. Deacon Trotline Anguish, who
had stayed in under the chaperonage
of Cyanide Whiffles, and who appar-
emily had jacks-up and very super.
fetal knowledge of Mr.. Williams,
came in. Mr.. Rube Jackson felt q
strong temptation to put plaster on
the back Of the wall-eyed king he had
caught, hold him up with the deuces,
and try and pull something, but the
studied indifference with which Mr..
Williams gazed into space made him
lay down his hand and wish he were
dead. Mr. Cyanide Whiflles borrow
ed blue chip from the deacon, "Jsss
jess till de mex ham," and came in,
and kept the change. Then all eyes
naturally centered on the Rev. Mr..
Thankful Smith, who, in addition to
a barricade of chips which made Mr..
Whiflies' mouth water, had four
flush and Il cheerfulness Of demeanor
which BODIED no good.
''Ez my fren' loot S done open dat
jacker," he began, sweetly, 81 rises
hit So saying he put up such Il
stack of blue chips that Mr.. Whites
nearly tainted.
"What yo' go do dat for, Brer
Thankful ?" inquired the deacon, in
mild remonstrance. Oats not de
speret oh de gospil."
"Whar-whar yo' fin draw-poker
in de gospil ?" testify rejoined Mr..
Smith. "Does yo' tink de possies n
de 'vangelists writ de scripter after
rasslin' wild two-card draw agin a
hush?" he sarcastically inquired.
"No, Brer Anguish. Less ten ter
business. Dis amt no prar meetin'
ceptin' Brer Williams seems to be on
de anxious seat"
"Who-who's on de anxious seat ?"
asked Mr.. Williams, hotly. "Yo' jess
come on; l rises yo' 70 dollahs."
The deacon sadly ran over his hand.
"De gospil, Brer Thankful" he began !;
ode gospil-"
"Cheese dat" said the Rev. Mr..
Smith. 'Is yo' goin' ter pray or
poke ?"
"Ise gwine ter poke" he replied I;
Use gwine ter see yo' rise"-here he
showed up a stack of blues-"an' Brer
Toot's rise"-here he showed up an.
other stack-"an' Use gwine ter rise
it jess a leetle, 'cordin' ter der speret
ob de good book"-here he showed up
So.
Mr.. Whiflcs fled.
Mr.. Jackson was breathing still, but
that was all.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith glared defiance.
81 rise yo' back"
81 rise yo'," said Mr.. Williams,
"An' | rise Toot," said the deacon.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith was aghast.
He was dealing, and knew by intui-
ton that he would catch his fifth club,
but there was a serenity on the other
side of the table which affrighted
him.
81 jess-jess calls" he said.
81 calls" said Mr.. Williams.
Help de gentlemen" said the dea-
con, with the benevolence which In
variably accompanies pat hand.
Mr.. Williams broke his two pair
and drew to his club.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith got his club.
"Six dollahs," said the deacon, af-
ter Mr.. Williams had timidly ventur-
ed one chip.
81 calls" said the Rev. Mr.. Smith,
sullenly.
81 rise that six mo-, said Mr.. Will
liams.
81 rise yo' six," said the deacon.
81 calls gasped Mr.. Smith, shov-
ing up his last chip and his snuf-box.
"Six mo-" said Mr.. Williams.
"Six mo-" said the deacon.
Mr.. Smith shucked off his overcoat
md added it to his spectacles. 1
calls" he said, as though speaking
from the tomb.
"Six mo-" said Mr.. Williams.
"Six mo-" said the deacon.
:"I-I hain't got muffin mo-" said
The Rev. Mr.. Smith, faltering.
"Shove up dat watch" said Mr..
Williams.
"Sock dem new boots" urged the
deacon.
can dat gold-'edded cane," sug-
yested Mr.. Jackson, who, of course,
however, had no business to speak,
md was accordingly suppressed.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith hesitated.
Then he sighed and threw up his hand.
To his great astonishment Mr.. Will
iams did the same. The elder softly
hummed hymn, tried the focal
ength of Mr.. Smiths spectacles, as
iumed Mr.. Smiths ulster, thoughtful
y inserted Mr.. Smiths watch chain
N b;s veet nocket collared the hank