The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-07-16

the idea of dazzling Mr.. Persimmon
and so creating a favorable impress
sion, which is what Parthenia meant
by getting down his back.
If had hot been so taken up with
Party I might have discovered in
time that Colonel Jabez Jackpotts,
Senator Pat Straddle and DR.. Clap
perton Fudge were professional sharp
ers. On one fatal night they won five
sixths OF my little fortune, exactly
$4,000. Ithappened this wise.
The game ofpoker stripped OF it's de-
tails is very much like the old-fash-
toned game OF brag. AS played in the
smoking room Of the Bithynia, the
first player puts up. e., stakes a
small sum; those who decline 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 intinitum 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 a higher one, or
quits up" 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. Ii 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 "bluffed the
table,"
Now, the highest possible hand is
what is termed a straight flush, or
"hush 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 Podge, as the French have it.
Now, Ihad a straight flush in spades
dealt me; was so astonished at my
great good fortune that my hand
shook as l "planked down" my ten
dollars, and declared that I stood
''pat'-that is to say that did not
want to better my hand by taking
cards. They were evidently a lot OF
big hands out, for each OF the six men
playing, though it was plain that I
held a big hand or was simply "bluff-
ing" increased the stakes. I 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
ers caved in.
"You can't buff me. mister" re-
marked Colonel Jabez Jackpotts; "Tll
double the stakes" and he "put up"
the requisite amount in notes.
Fool chat l was, I doubled him
again, partly because l knew that 1
must win, partly because I wished to
dazzle Parthenia's pepper.
But Colonel Jackpotts ''raised" me
In American notes lay in front OF
each Of us. 1t was fve-sixths Of my
little fortune-fve-sixths OF all had
in the world, and though I knew that
l must win, I gave sigh of relief as
Colonel Jackpots calmly remarked:
81 guess I'll see your swagger hand
mister
l laid flush sequence to that ace up
on the table with a triumphant smile.
'Damnation," cried Colonel Jack
potts. Then he suddedly stretched
out his great paw and spread the
cards out. And 10! there were six
cards-ace, king, queen, knave, ten
of spades and the eight of hearts.
81 am sorry for you, MISTER" re-
marked Colonel Jabez Jackpotts, with
a benlgnant smile: "that's G. foul
hand. Hand over them CHIPS"
81 had lost.
How it happened I could not tell
lit must have occurred in the deal
ing" l thought.
/ appealed to the bystanders. Of
tered to refer the matter to a 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 Modes 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 Mr..
Perslmmon. ID am a ruined man,
sir" l said. II have lost all had in
the world except $500. 1 had intend
ed, Mr.. Persimmons, to ask you for
your daughters hand. That's all
over now, through my absurd folly.
| shall never forgive myself, and I've
got to begin the world again"
s'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 a
lucky thing for you that Party is
fond OF you. For Party's sake I'll
see you through this thing. Jackpotts
is a sharper, and Senator Straddle
and the doctor are his accomplices."
X Il X
The following evening Mr.. Persim-
mon placed q note case in my hand.
'sFor Party's sake" said he, "I'm
going to lend you some dollars. PLAY
from, that coco M Tol,.,.