The Penn's Grove record., 1884-06-07

"dJs II blD bOJo Ii OH d-AdyAh AOA nm
in the back room. Nv course It won't
do fur ye to g'win thar along o the
rest on us, but l really wish ye could
see a little Nv the sport"
"Be they a-gofn' to play with
Peleg's deck?" inquired Lish eagerly.
"They be-"
The regenerate one began to waver.
The prospect of seeing somebody cheat
ed was something that appealed strong
ly to his Puritan instinct, and the same
instinct suggested him an excuse for
taking part in the fun.
Il Dunno" he said, thoughtfully;
"but what mebbe l might feel called
on to drop in m say suthln' about the
powerful workin' NV the sperret, IN
haow much better it is ter be saved.
Mebbe 1 might be the means o. dom
some good-uv course I'll take care
not ter interfere with the game, fur !
don't wanter stop no fun. Be they at
it naow7 Guess I'll step around The
back way m drop in a second"
Lish Duzenberry's reception was
hearty and enthusiastic enough to
warm his old heart. He wa hidden
to a seat at the table; his hat and coat
were hung up for him, and, but for
his remonstrance, a "hand" would
have been dealt to him at once. He
consented to accept a glass Of whisky,
on the ground that his stomach was
"kinder Uneasy" and needed a little
bracing up.
THAT'S a big turkey ye'ye got
there" remarked Jake Higgins. as
the new conner carefully deposited on
the floor a huge brown-paper parcel,
from which protruded two sinewy tur-
key-legs as an Indication of its con-
tents: what does she weigh? Lemme
heft her a second" he continued.
"N-no, le' be-" said Lish, %nervously;
"Ye'll git the string often her, m then
L won't be able to get it on again.
The game of ''set back" vas now In
full blast, and Lish an attentive watch
er of the play of Jake Higgins, who sat
next to him. AL Fitch was Citing de-
cidedly the worst of it, although Peleg
Perkins private deck was not in
use.
"Wa-al," said Al Fitch, finally: 81
don't seem ter hev no hands. If we
was only playin' poker l might be able
to warm some ON ye."
''Take him up" whispered Lish,
nudging his neighbor and pointing to
the three queens which his hand con-
tanned.
81 never was much on poker" said
Jake: 81 guess I'll stick to set back.
I'm by"
"Lemme play the hand fur ye," said
Lish, eagerly; "I'm with ye, AL"
Nobody else cared to go in. Lish
discarded two cards and drew another
queen, almost falling off his chair at
the sight of it. His antagonist drew
three cards, and seemed on the point
of throwing up his hand.
"Wa-al," said old Duzenberry. re-
covering himself with a mighty effort:
''this hand don't look quite as big as
it did; but 1 guess L kin go a quarter
on It."
His adversary skinned through his
hand, and said'd he'd go a quarter bet
ter, just for the fun of the thing.
''I'm willin' to give ye a dollar. just
to keep the game lively" SAID Lish.
SEP I've got a five-dollar note that
says my hand beats your'n," said Al,
with a sudden boldness that startled
bis antagonist and put a serious aspect
on the game.
IN" I'm ready to warm ye outen
yer butes," said old Duzedberry, ex-
citedly, as he pumped a ten dollar bill
on the table, '"Toe the mark there, durn
ye! Toe the markl'
The silence in the room was so pro-
found that the winks which the differ
ent members of the party exchanged,
were almost audible. Lish mopped his
flushed face. His adversary slowly I'M
rolled a wad of bills, extracted there
from the sum of S25, and laid it on the
table.
''What We got2" screamed Llsh, as he
made good; "show up there, goI durn
yell"
Al Fitch obeyed. The old man stared
hard at the hand which he unfolded,
and then slowly articulated the words;
straight flush is good"
Guess III be goin', "he added, as he
.srasped his parcel. Some one had I'M
tied the string. He seized only the
brown paper, and left exposed to the
view of all a two-gallon demijohn, to
whose neck were firmly tied a pair of
muscular turkey-legs.
"Gol durn it ALI" he cried, as sOon
as he could make himself heard, SIN
play ye agin, m III get even with the
hull crew on ye. l got converted so IS
ter square with Deason Elderkin.
Naow, by gosh, III backslide so IS ter
get even with this crowd, m III do it,