The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-23
PAPA. MAMMALS DEAD

Heartrending Scene in a saloo.. 5.
While Game of Poker Was Play
ed,
Al party Of men were sitting in a.,
back room OF West End saloon play
ing poker a few nights ago. There
were five in the game, and the limit
was SOC. madesmall because the play
ers were workingmen who had drop
ped in to pass the evening over beer
and cards.
Things went on slowly for the first
hour, when the beer commenced to get
it's work in, the winners showing their
chips out more boldly, which made
the loser play more desperately.
So far the biggest loser was red
faced burly sort Of a man, known as
Jim Robertson, who lives with his
family not a great distance from the
stockyards. He is heavy drinker,
and the m ore beer he drank the more
recklessly he played and the deeper he
got into the hole. At the loss of every
pot he sWore and cursed his luck and
the good luck of others. III
The clock struck 10 when a thin
faced boy of 10 or ~ years approach
ed the table, and, stepping up to Rob-
ertson, said:
"Pa, ma wants you..'
"All right; I'll be there soon," was
the gruff answer, and with that the,
boy left and the game went on, the
players hardly noticing the Interrupt
ton.
Quick and often went the drinks, and:
llveller than ever went the chips. An.
hour later two of the players were in
the hole to the extent of So to So
each, while Jim was in deeper than any
of them. The winners were quite
merry over their luck and rushed the
jackpots with considerable vigor,.
Then as the hands of the clock were
edging toward the midnight hour one,
of the players said:
Lets play ten 5o-cent iackpots
and quit.''
"'That's me-" said Jim; II think 1
can win out if you do"
cts a co. echoed the others.
Two red chips, each SOC, $3.50 in>
the pot, and only SOC to draw. What
a temptation to the loser seeking to.
get even.
! And the loser was in every pot, be-
| fore the draw, after the draw, inevery-
! thing save in raking down the chips
| that pleasure was left to the winner
only.
Five minutes to ~ O'Clock, andnow
comes the last pot.
h "Let's make this 81 each?"
"a dollar it is, and 81 to open it. ,"
cts a co. with a hurrah.
And Jim opens the pot.
He is raised.
Perhaps it's only blind to keep the,
others out. II so, it doesn't work, as,
the pot is too big, and the others drop
in with 50 each. Then Jim scans his
hand like a true sport, looks at his
chips, and, seeing that he only has,
two reds and a few whites left, goes
into his pocket and brings out ",
the remainder OF a twenty that he
had brought in early in the evening,
his whole weeks earnings, and with
the grace of an old-time winner, says.
''Play forthree.'
"Play for four" says the next, the
man who made the original raise.
The others concluded it best to drop
out. They were not in it. Shook
hands,: Had no business there.
"Play for FIVE" says jim.
"Six," says the other
"Play for the balance in the bill,'
says Jim, calling sight.
Eyes" 49,
"Well, cards.
Don't want any," says Jack.
| ''Nor I. What have you got2'"
king high straight -
''No good; ace high flush here
'H-an d-!'' --s.
Just then a boy stepped up to the
table. 1t was the same lad who had
called before, but his face was CHASTITY
white and his eyes were wet with tears.
AS he came up he touched Robertson
on the shoulder and, in a low voice,
but heard by every one present, said:
"Papa, mamma is dead" -Cincinnar
tt Inquirer.