The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-26
PAPA, MAMMALS DEAD"
Eeartrending Scene in Saloon While
Game of Poker Was Played.
F,o,,, tho CjncJo,lnti En01lirer

GI0aI S1OlnB OSChO al % EesAOOh w AAAO
a Game of Poker Was Played.
From the Cincinnati ENQUIRER.
A party of men were sitting in the back
room of a west end saloon playing poker a
few nights ago. There were five in the
game and the limit was so cents, made
small because the players were working
men, who had dropped in to pass the even
ing over beer and cards.
Things went on slowly for the first hour,
when the beer commenced to get its work
in, the winners showing their chips out
more boldly, which made the losers play
more desperately.
So far the biggest loser was a red-faced,
burly sort of man, known as Jim Robert
son, who lives with his family not great
distance from the stock yards. He is a
heavy drinker, and the more beer he drank
the more reckless 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.
The clock struck 10 when a thin-faced
boy of 10 or 10 years approached the table,
and stepping up to Robertson, said:
PA, ma wants you"
"a II 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 interruption.
Quick and often went the drinks, and
livelier than ever went the chips An hour
later two of the players were in the hole
to the extent of SIS to 50 each, while Jim
was IN deeper than any of them. The win
ners were quite merry over their luck and
rushed the jack pots with considerable
yigor. Then, as the hands of the clock were
edging toward the midnight hour, one of the
players said;
"Let's play ten 50-cent jack pots and
quit"
"That's me-" said Jim; II think 1 can win
out If you do"
ITS go,n echoed the others.
Two red chips. each so cents, 50 so in the
pot and only so cents to draw. What q
temptation to tie loser seeking to get even.
And the loser was in every pot. before the
draw, after the draw, in everything save in
raking down the chips-that pleasure was
left to the winner only.
Five minutes to IL O'Clock, and now comes
the last pot.
s'Let's make this 81 each"
"a dollar it is and 81 to open it."
'lr's go, with hurrah."
) And Jim opens the pot.
He is raised.
Perhaps it's only blind to keep the 9TH
ers out If SO it doesn't work, as the pot is
too big, and the others drop In with So
each. Then Jim scans his hand like true
sport, looks at his chips, and. seeing that he
has only two reds aud a few whites left,
goes into his pockets and brings out a V,
the remainder of 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 for three"
"PIay 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 fve," says Jim.
six" says the other.
''Play for the balance in the BILL" says
Jim, calling sight.
"Yesn
"Well, cards?'
Don't want any," says Jack.
'Nor L What have you got"
king high straight"
mo good: ace high flush here"
t. and -m
Just then 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 deadw