Morris tribune., 1886-10-06
Thompson Street Poker Club.


regular meeting OF the Thompson
Street Poker Club Saturday evening,
for Mr.. Cyanide Whites had at last
succeeded i'll steering his opulent uncle
against the game, and to every ones
surprise Mr.. Tooter Williams was
found to be absent when the secretary
called the roll. Various THEORIES were
advanced to account for M. Williams
invisibility, the most plausible being
that of Professor Brick, who said
that if any accident had happened, it
might be that the lateness OF the hour
had interfered with the securing OF
bail; but as Mr., Gus. Johnson had
seen Mr.. Williams at ITO on Hobo
ken ferry-boat, in company with q
lady OF great social distinction, this
hypothesis was abandoned, and it
was finally concluded that the honor
able member was withheld by some
fashionable engagement, and perhaps
was now leading the german.
My. Whiffies's uncle proved to be q
somewhat troublesome bonanza. In
the first place, efailed to understand
how chips could represent money,
but insisted upon every pot being
composed of specie, and delayed one
exciting hand four minutes by ringing
all the coins composing q bet his
nephew had made, and compelling
slightly battered. Then, although
the value of the several hands had
been carefully explained to him by
the Rev. Thankful Smith, who occu-
pied the chair, and would be perfectly
remembered when he held three against
two pair, or a flush against straight,
he would invariably forget when the
situation was reversed, and an al
most interminable argument would
be necessary before he could be con-
WINGED his hand was beaten.
The Rev. Thankful Smith had OBJ
served all this frugal behavior with an
eye of displeasure, and, when finally
his own bluff OF seven dollars had
been called by the old gentleman. with
great cheerfulness and two jacks, his
temper began blowing off at the safe
ty valve. ~...----- -
~~''Yo'se dom a slick trade, Brudder
Simon" he remarked in that soft tone
which the regular members knew was
the forecast of trouble "Pears like
yo' catch onto de tecknickle pints
right Off"
Brother Simon acknowledged this
compliment with bland smile, with
out, however, removing his eyes from
the pack, for Mr.. Gus Johnson was
dealing.
"Mos' new beginners gifts skint at
de game" continued the Rev. Thank
full Smith; but yo' seems to be genel-
man wifi q shrewd intelleck n plays
two jacks for all dey's wuff. P'raps
yo'd like ter sWole de ante n SO hyar
she goes" and he tossed out two
dollar bill and two red chips which
made it SIS to play. Mr.. Gus Johnson
was so nervous that his calculations
went wrong, the result being that nobo-
dy got a decent pair and a jackpot was
therefore in order. The pot amount
ed to SIS; the excitement was in
tense; it was Prof. Brick S deal, and the
silence was painful. Nobody could
open. Everybody sweetened. The
deal passed to Elder Jubilee Anderson,
who carefully squeezed each card and
breathed laboriously at the end of
each round. In the moment succeed
ing, and when all eyes were fixed upon
the senior Whites, who had first right
to open, a series of complicated foot
steps were heard on the stairs, the
door slowly opened, and the odor of
Hoboken dissipation entered, accom-
panied by Mr.. Tooter Williams.
If Mr.. Williams had been leading the
german it had evidently been lively
and spirited affair, for his shir was
rumpled, his vest unbuttoned, his
trousers fecked with mud, and his
hair arranged with extreme irregular
ity; one eye was swollen, his dress
coat was slit up the back almost to
the collar, and his general appearance
was that of one who had been having
a time with the boys. He entered
with lurch, staggered violently
against Prof Bricks chair, recovered
his equilibrium with difficulty, balanced
himself on his toes, took solemn
survey OF the party in general, and the
senior WHITES in particular, and JIM
quired in a voice which bore distinct
traces of Hoboken:
"Whadjer doln'?"
The Rev. Thankful Smith smiled and
replied in soft voice:
"We'se tryin' ter poke @ little, loot
Jess little, n dis am the fust jack
err"
Mr.. Williams gave another lurch
and fell over Mr.. Gus Johnson, who
kind of propped him on his feet, as re-
CURED by Article A of the constitu
ton, which provides for the care ofin-
valid members. Then he stood a
while at the pot, and, after a solemn
pause, inquired again:
"Whad's de limmick?"
The Rev. Thankful Smith was softer
still in his reply:
"Same old Jay Cool limmick; play
her for all she's wuff."
An idea seemed to strike Mr.. Will
liams. He dove into his left-hand |
coat-tail pocket and drew forth large
package, the outside of which was a
two-dollar bill. The sudden produc- |
ton of this enormous capital caused |
breathless silence, and made the
eyes of Mr.. Cyanide Whites shine with |
excitement. Then Mr.. Williams said:
"Lemme in?"
The members exchanged glances. 1t |
was irregular to let an outsider in
jackpot after the cards had been dali,
but this seemed to be q proper case |
for an exception. The Elder Whites
already had jacks up, eyed the roll of
money Mr.. Williams displayed, and