Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-02-17
MIR. AND MRS. BOWSER.

MR.. BOwSER ATTEMPTS TO LEARN
DRAW PEDRO WITHOUT CHEATING.
How would you like to go over to
Bakers this EVENING"" asked Mr.. Bow
ser as he came home to dinner the 9th
er day 'Just for call?'' 1--WE walked
up together just now, and he wants us
to come over and play pedro. He says
they have a kind called draw pedro,
and there's heaps of fun in it.
IL guess we hadn't better go, Mr..
Bowser."
I've hadn't! Got headache or
mumps or measles?"
Mo-
Expect company
Mo-
well, then, what's the trouble?"
You know, Mr.. Bowser, you know
81 know what? What on earth ails
YOU, Mrs. Bowser? You act as if you
had got hold of some great mystery"
well, then, you get mad when you
play cards.
"Oh, 1 dol That's it, eh? When did
I ever get mad over cards?"
every time we have played"
"And why shouldn't I? When one is
DldNlI1S Will ptISOll w liz uOOou hhOW
the ten spot from the right bower he is
quite apt to lose his patience. As for
getting mad that's all nonsense"
''And if we go over there you promise
not to get mad?'
care you crazy? You are the one to
be on your guard and make promises.
eff anything should happen you
won't blame me, will your"
'Anything should happen! Blame
yon? Shall go to the telephone and
ask the doctor to come up and examine
the top Of your head?'
| said we'd 60 and Mr. Bowser was
much pleased over the prospect. As he
went away he said:
you'll play with Baker, of course,
and I'll give you So for every game you
get"
But have played draw pedro, and
you havn't.n
''Makes no difference. I'll learn the
game in two minutes, and you and Ba-
ker will never want to play another.
When he came home to supper he
looked at me with his eyes full of pity,
and as we got ready to go he said:
Now, then, let me caution you once
more. Don't act up, no matter what
happens"
| never saw Mr.. Bowser in better
spirits than when we sat down to the
card table, and when Baker started out
to explain the game, he was interrupted
with:
Never mind about that, old man. I'll
give you the benefit of all your expert
ence and then show you that you don't
know A B G about draw pedro"
We had the joker and both pedros in
the pack, so that all the points would
count Twenty-Five. Mr.. Bowser bio
twenty-five on the start-off and he was
allowed to make the trump. When we
had all discarded and drawn he led out
bravely enough and got all we had, but
the joker, which counts fifteen, hap
pened to be undrawn and he was set ;
You go back for twenty-five" quiet
ly remarked Baker, who was keeping
the count.
''How's that p
Because you didn't make what you
bid
Il can't see what that has to do with
it, said Mr.. Bowser, as he gave me a
look of warming
''Oh, you'll learn the game after q
few hands"
On the next hand out Mr. Bowsel
bid twenty-five, and Baker felt it his
duty to say:
Now, Bowser, let me explain this
game a little"
''Oh, know all about this game, ,
interrupted Bowser.
You just play your very best, and if
you get one game out of ten I'll buy
you hat
THAT makes forty-seven in the
ring" said Baker as he put it down.
I'm what ring?n
I'm other words, you are forty-seven
worse off than nothing. You bid too
high Bowser."
II do, eh! You keep right on and I'll
show you whether l do or not"
got the next trump on bid of nine,
and we made twenty-eight out of it.
Mr.. Bowser didn't say anything, but l
observed him breathing hard.
Baker got the next trump for eight
and made twenty-five, and Mr.. Bowser
grew pale and remarked:
Its pretty early to crow. This
game is young yet. l once knew an
idiot who discovered gold nine"
He was desperate and he bid eighteen
on the next hand, got it and only made
four.
'That's sixty-six you are in the
ring" said Baker.
expected Mr.. Bowser to explode and
wreck everything in the room, but the
boiler still held out. We got the next
trump for thirteen and made the full
Twenty-Five. Bowser got the next for
seventeen and was put back.
you see, Bowser," began Baker,
''you can't bid"
mo, see | can't ~ interrupted Bow
ser. I'VE might as we'll stop the game
right here. When | can't play cards
honestly, | want to quit"
But there has been no cheating"
MAY be not. | am not blind, how
ever. 1t was put-up job from the
start | saw Mrs. Bowser rub her chin
on the very first hand.n
''Why, Mr.. Bowser, you don't say l
cheated"
That's all right, Mrs. Bowser. We
won't say any more about it. No,
have some letters to write tonight. |
think We'll go home"
Come, Bowser, don't be kid" said
Baker.
That's all right-all right. l am
willing to play against chance, but
when there is deliberate cheating add
ed to bull-head luck, | beg to drop
OUT
On the way home Mr.. Bowser was
silent, but after we were fairly in our
house he turned on me with
This is another of your put-up jobs
on me! You can go up to bed, and if
you shouldn't find me here in the
Informing you can consult your lawyer
as to the future y
9.But when l awoke at midnight he
was getting into bed and five minutes
later he was snoring away as content
edly as if pedro had never been heard
of.-DetrOH Free Press.
Some Foolish People