The Irish standard., 1886-04-24
FILLING A FLUSH.
One of Those Occasions that Some.
ftmea Come 20 the Poker Player.

pay up GnelC D1ll III Luc uOtc1, AuO SOE15
$50 or $40 for my own expenses. I may
add that $500 was considerable item to
me- and it would have been difficult to
replace it just then, as my personal ex-
penses had been running very high for
the last two mouths, trying to economize
in town.
Ihad scarcely got my things safely on
board when ran across chum.
HHallo! old man; going down." he
said.
eyes going to bring my wife home.
$50 am I, /" he said. ssAnd We'll have
a good time tonight for the last Of the
season. Well get the directors room,
and you'll make one of select party of
six for quiet game of .s5 limit; the
others are on board. :"
"Oh, no, my Christian friend, not I.
I've cut the seductive game. You couldn't
drag me into game tonight with g. span
of mules I"
"The deuce we can't" he said. "You
mean we couldn't keep you out with
shot gun, and you know it. Well, I'll see
you after grub, /" and he left ME.
Alas for human frailty. At about $3.50
found myself seated at the table behind
five cards.
Bye 80 I was $50 out.
A SIS Jack pot was started, and went up
to kings, opened it with a pair of aces,
was raised twice, stayed, bettered my
hand. bet, was hoisted, called, lost, and
was $40 out.
All this time was swearing internally
at myself, calling myself all kinds of bad
names, and was thinking of hiring some
body to kick me around the boat.
The game proceeded. was soon 1925
out, when another jack pot was started
I was getting desperate, and scarcely
cared a cuss whether lost the rest Of my
money or not. Round it went, jacks
queens, kings, aces, and there it stayed
three times-s21O on the table-when the
man two places ahead Of ME rhe con-
tractor) said: "I'll open it for IS.
looked at my hand; nothing at all
yes, dirty little bobtail flush. I had
been drawing for hushes several times,
but never caught them, but there was too
much money on the table to stay out, and
the fellow on my right Clipped in. "Stay."
said, and dumped another IS. "Ten,"
said the man ON my LETT. "Drop," said
the next man. :'rn stay" said, and TN
I went ss5. more. was getting pretty
low in my finances by this time The
other fellows stayed. 1t was nice, big
pile, but no chance Of my getting it..
growled. "Cards," said the dealer.
"Two, calls the opener. held up my
finger, and card was thrown. By acci-
dent it turned face up-~just my luck, the
queen Of diamonds: wanted diamond
to make my flush, but, Of course, could
not take it up ''Give me another one,"
said choking down my disappointment
The dealer carefully passed me another
card, apologjzing for his stupid mistake.
I don't remember what the other men
drew, my attention was caught by the ap-
pearance of the opener, who was looking
at his hand with a most f1endish express
sion Of glee.
hated to pick up my card: sure to be
wrong. But here goes; chucked out
jack of clubs and drew my fate toward
me. Six Of diamonds; canght my flush
then, after all. Then, looking at my hand
again--by all that's powerful nearly
fell off my chair. Hadn't noticed was
only one short of a straight, and now
counted them-5, 4, {, 8, of diamonds,
straight flush. took one look at the pile
on the table Can it be possible? Held
the cards (sQueexers) close up to my nose,
and skinned them on, sorting them into
their consecutive order. Yes, there they
were--4, 5, 6,7, Of diamonds. Tears
came into my eyes, and a big lump into
my throat. Iconldn't have spoken for $50.
A half glass of water was in front Of me-
raised it. How my hand shook, but
managed to swallow 1.-THE water, not
my hand. AS WAS doing SO the opener
spoke:
;sBet tive," he said.
care you going to call, Bob:' said one
"Yes'' i whispered. l had sense
enough left to give the fellows on my left
a chance to raise it, which they promptly
did, s.I'en," "fiftcen," stwenty," came
in prompt succession "Twenty-fve,"
said the opener.
"F'ive harder still," I chirped.
..Hallo what the devils struck you?"
said my chum.
"Pn show you later" said, ''if you'll
lend me fifty, because Pm nearly burst"
"Certainly, here you are" he said.
Round it went till only the opener and
myself were left in, and l hadn't more
than all X left.
"This is getting monotonous," he said;
.you make decent bet, I'll raise it 81 like
amount, and you can call. Pm tired OF
this S5 see-saw."
Cali right" said. ss,Vhat do you call
a decent bet-$50.:'
.No," he replied. elf your hand is
worth fifty more it ought to be worth two
and fifty"
"But haven't got that much on me" I
said.
..Never mind. Take your bond. I
know YOU"
1 knew / hal him. He'd opened the
pot and drawn two cards He had fours,
l knew, and big ones; but. would you
believe it, my heart almost failed lie.
looked at my hand again. Yes, they were
there. None OF them had escaped. Call
right I said "bet $3.50"
make it s5oO' he said. My hesitation
had made him more anxious, and opening
his wallet he placed five crisp 800 bills on
the table,
81 owe it," said, ''and cali"
"Well, my friend" he said, with
smile on his face we've both got fours,
know, but mine are aces"
ssBy no means" I said. 81 haven't got
fours, but a little straight commencing
with four and running up to eight, and
they are all diamonds, straight flush,
Mr.. K-" And I placed them on the
table.
Great heaven" he replied. s'You
drew two cards?"
ssOh, no, didn't. You drew two;