The Forrest City times., 1891-08-07
room of the Bithvn;a. th

| Un0h ouIi, tnOS6 WHO ueCllno tO play throw down their cards, and the next man to the left exercises his option of raising the stakes, or going bet ter" This goes on at infinitum till those who are betting against the first [ man decline to stake more money, when the other players show their hands in succession, and the highest hand wins everything, unless the origi- nal player exhibits higher one, or "puts up" a stake so high that the | others refuse to cover it, in which case | they all pay up to him and look as pleasant as they can. If this takes place, though he takes the money, he | does not show his cards. His hand may, in fact, contain nothing; in which case he IS said to have "blGffed the table,"
 Now, the highest possible hand is what is termed a straight flush, or flush sequence" to the ace-that is to say, ace,king, queen, knave, and ten of one suit. This hand is impossible to beat when it is held by the person who makes the first stake, for even should another player have the ex- traordinary good luck to hold an equal hand, ties pay.
 The rules of the game of poker are extremely strict. All money bet has to be placed upon the table-rubis sur Fodgle, as the French have it. | Now, 1had n straight flush in spades dealt me; l was so astonished at my | great good fortune that my hand shook as "planked down" my ten dollars, and declared that l stood pat that is to say that did not want to better my hand by taking cards. They were evidently lot of | big hands out. for each of the six men playing though it was plain that held big hand or was simply bluff | ing, increased the stakes 1 put on another one hundred dollars when it came to my turn, for knew that I must win. Then one of the players was frightened out, and the stake went on increasing until I had three thous- | ane dollars in front of me, for each man went bitter"-that is to say increased his stake. Two of the play CTS caved in.
 "You can't buff me. mister" re- marked Colonel Jabez Jackpotts; "I'll l double the stakes" and he put up" the requisite amount in notes. Focl that 1 was, l doubled him again, partly because knew that I must win, partly because 1 wished to dazzle Psrthenia's pepper.
 But Colonel Jackpotts raised me again, and so we went on till 426, 1000 In American notes lay in front of each of us. It was five-sixths of my little fortune-tive-sixths of all I had in the world, and though knew that must win, gave sigh of relief as Colonel Jackpots calmly remarked:
 ''1 guess I'll see your swagger hand mister"
 laid flush sequence to that ace up- on the table with triumphant smile.
 tDamnation, cried Colonel Jack potts. Then he suddedly stretched out his great paw and spread the cards out. And lol there were six cards-ace, king, queen, knave, ten ot spades and the eight of hearts.
 Il am sorry for you, mister" re- marked Colonel Jabez Jackpotts, with q benignant smile; that's q foul hand. Hand over them chips."
 ''I had lost
 How 1t happened l could not tell "lt must have occurred In the deal ing, l thought.
 l appealed to the bystanders of fered to refer the matter to we'll known American diplomatist who was looking on
 You have lost" he said calmly. You should have examined your cards more carefully. The laws of poker, like those of the Medes and Persians alter not"
 , Colonel Jabez Jackpotts carefully counted my great pile of notes, and they went into his capacious pocket book. Then the party broke up.
 That night l opened my soul to Mir. Persimmon. II am a ruined man, sir" said. "I have lost all had in the world except $500 had intend ed, MT. Persimmons, to ask you for your daughters hand. That's all over now, through my absurd folly. l shall never forgive myself, and I've got to begin the world again"
 Was Party fond of you, boy?" he asked laconically. He did not give me time to answer Party was fond of you; she told me so herself. It's lucky thing for you that Party is fond of you. For Party's sake I'll see you through this thing. Jackpotts is sharper, and Senator Straddle and the doctor are his accomplices.
 
 The following evening Mir. Persim- mon placed q note case in my hand
 For Party's sake, !" said he, "I'm going to lend you some dollars. Play from that case, Mir St John; there's only one way of 'besting' scoundrel like Jackpotts, and for Party's sake he's got to be bested. When I give you the signal by taking out my haad- kerchlef, you go on betting till all's blue, for Jackpotts has got to be bested. Try and not lose your head" said Mr. Persimmon. Your straight flush hand was right enough last night Jackpotts is . smart man; it was he who put the eight of hearts there--I saw him do it; but ii I, being your friend, had attempted to unmask him, no one would have believed me. Then 1t all dawned upon me for the first time
 We began to play. We played for about a quarter of an hour; it was my turn to bet. had nothing in my hand d-nothing whatever, I was about to throw it on the table in disgust, when to my horror, saw Mir. Persim- montake out his handkerchief. gave him look of agony; he only smiled.
 One by one, asl increased the stakes, the players dropped out. had over $40, 900 staked in front of me. and