Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-28

The Rev. AIr. Thankful Smith Has
Brush with MIR. rOoter Williams.

Last Saturday evening the Thompson
street Poker club held its fret regular
meeting OF the season. The Rev. Mr..
Thankful Smith, who disappeared from
mortal gaze last May with other Trus
tees Of a Hoboken picnic, was enthusiast
tically welcomed and called to the chair.
lie said he had found catdshing in tho
Adirondacks all that could be desired,
and with this explanation OF his absence
proceeded to count out the chips. The
Inequalities OF the club had been eX-
tended TO Mr.. Gus Johnson's uncle, who
had recently held lucky sixteenth in the
Havana, butt 1t was gloomily explained
that as that magnate had visited tn e
lions festival early in the day it would be
necessary to send a shutter or other con-
veyance for him, and PROBABLY provide
him with a bed until midnight az least.
There being bylaw il the constitution,
made st the instance Of the lsndl ord aud
the R0undsmau who frequented the Ylcin-
ity. that the club should adjourn at 1 a.
m. precisely, the visit Of Mr.. JOhns9n's
opulenJ relative was reluctantly post
poned aud the members cut for deal.
Prof. Brick startled, the club by taking
a pot. The Secretary made minute OF
the achievement. and the professor begged
that be might he allowed TO withdraw his
resignation, which had been under con-
sideration since March, The game then
proceeded. with steady twO-pair streak
Iavoring Mr.. Cyanide Whites and Sc
ries OF bobtails rapidly demoralizing the
Chair, when the door softly opened and
Whit Of patch0uly aud Mr.. Tooter VIII
liams entered together.
His appearance Was such as to dazzle
Mr.. johnson and made even the Elder
Jubilee Anderson proud 10 be able to bow
TO him: but the Rev. Mr.. Thankful smith
merely pulled his hat lower over his eyes
and requested Prof Brick, who sat next
10 the dealer, to wake up and ante.
Mr.. Williams leaned elegantly against
the mantel, and holding his cigar in such
a way as to show his new tODaz ring to
advantage. ditfused more patohOuly by
daintily fleckinR duet from his patent
feathers with his handkerchief
The Rev. Mr.. Smith shifted once or
twice, made an irrelevant remark about
sewer gas, and asked Mr.. Johnson 10
please open the transom. Then he gave
way to a furious riot OF chips which
frightened Mr.. Whites three kings out
OF the country.
''Whadjer playin' p inquired Mr.. Will
liams, languidly comparing his brilliant
timekeeper with the club clock.
"Pokah,o said the Rev. Mr.. Smith, who
was dealing. "We'se tryin' to play pO-
kah.v be added, "an' if Brer Anderson
I'll quit lookin' at yo' 2dollar STERN
wiudin' buggleT alarm, an ante, Wen cit
dar."
The hand was played in silence, and
when the reverend gentleman drew in the
pot with two bow-legged jacks, only the
lsbOred breathing Of Mr.. johnson broke
the hush.
Mr.. Williams poeketed the watch,
picked bis teeth for few
minutes. blew a cOntemplatiVe cloud to-
ward the ceiling, and then drew out
yellow pOcketbook, Ostensibly to polish
the silver initials glittering in the cor
'.whad am de limmickY'' he inquired,
swpetly.
eDe hmmick," replied the Rev. Mr..
Smith, as sponsor for the party, ode Inn
mick am whad a gentleman keers ter blow
in. Bud dis amt no cyclone game" he
added.
'-wha-whad am a cyclone gameSo
asked MIR. Williams.
'Plavin' on wind" replied the Rev.
Mr.. Smith. giving the cards a double cut,
il being Mr.. Whi1iles' deal.
He then proceeded to fail for the nine
teenth time TO nil his flush, and as Mr..
johnson drew in the pot Mr.. Williams
seemed TO be inspired with a thought.
"Kn come in" he asked, beaming on
the Elder Jubilee Anderson, who had just
lost 81.
"Cern'ly," said the Rev. Mr.. Thankful
Smith, taking OF his coat and preparing
for business.
"Duss of dat cheer TO- de genelmau,
Cyl he said to MIR. Whites, can ef Gus
quits smokin dat punk. an de persesser'll
blow his bretf lords de de-, Well git mo
ventilation. Pears like polecats broke
loose rOun' hyRr.''
This last shot at the pRtchouly nettled
Mir. Williams, aud the ObsequiOus man
ner with which Mr.. Whites busted a
chair for him failed to please; but he re-
pressed his feelings, sat down and tossed
new 5-dollar bill to the Rev. Mr.. Smith,
who was banking as usual. The gentle
man adjusted his spectacles, critically ex-
amined the bill, wet his fingers and tried
its sm00tbness, and then inquired:
"Yo' kissed dat bill good-byer
Mr.. Williams said nothing.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith folded it twice and
stuck IL behind his ear.
alt yo' feels bad, yO' kin look at 1t once
mo- befo' goin' home +"
Still Mr.. Williams refused to retOrt, 80
the reverend banker counted out two
stacks and passed them over. Prof. Brick
then had deal in which everybody
passed, and jack pot was in order. 1t
was opened on the fourth round by Mr..
Whites, who had three sevens. and let
every one in for four blue chips. Mr..
Williams seemed TO hesitate about com
ing in, and after a moment OF breath
less excitement Mr.. Gus Johnson, who
was dealing. tlmidly inquired what he
was going 10 do.
fYo' shet up, Gusp interrupted the
Rev. Mr.. Thankful Smith. "YO' low
flung niggahs doan' unnerstan' de Fifth
aveyou style. It's wulgah ter hurry"
This fired Mr.. Williams
Il rise dat TO- dollahs," he said, wick
edly.
Prof. Brick and Mr.. Whites couldn't
get cut fast enough. but the Rev. Mr..
Thankful smith drew out the old wallet
and began to shuck out bills.
"Wha-whad yO' dOin'fv asked Mr..
Williams. aghast az the sum displayed.
Else gwine tar dynamite jaw Gool.v
retorted the Rev. Mr.. smith, counting out
his roll: "Pse gwine ter buss Cy Fier an
In ole Vanderbilt outen he salvation
he continued, stlll shOwering notes on the
table; "im a razzlin' VIII Wesseu Union
an crowdin' de Chenille BANK be sun
plemented. as he added another pile-"I
sees dat TO- dollehs an / rises dat sixty
tree
With this he slammed the wallet down
with an energy that lifted MIR. Wbiflles
two feet from bis chair, and favored Mr..
Williams with steady and penetrating