The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-23
-FOUR OF A KIND.

In those good old days which Anticipated
gamblers recall with sigh-when card
playing, with its concomitant cheating,
was a respectable amusement on all the
FLOATING palaces of the west and south
the steamer Swallow, the pride of the
Mississippi, was making one Of her fast
upward trips from New Orleans to St.
Louis. At small, Insignificant landing
on the way up, tall, lank, long armed,
long haired individual, dressed in rustic
suit, came on board, followed by short
stout, sleek looking negro, carrying an old
leather trunk and an umbrella.
"Fotch 'em along, Gumbo, and don't
spill nothin!' said the master, as he
reached the steps leading to the guards
Sup here, Gumboi''
Yes, marsa!" grinned the negro, roll
ing his eyes from side to side at the amused
spectators, who simultaneously burst into
a roar of laughter.
The principal cause of this merriment
never seemed to suspect that anybody was
laughing at him, but went up the steps
two at time, entered the saloon, and, in
the same pompous tone, said to the first
person he met:
.
craftp'
The gentleman addressed glanced at the
speaker, at the grinning negro just behind
him, smiled to himself and pointed to the
clerks office.
eccentric rustic, and with two or three
strides he reached the clerks window
Almost Immediately a crowd of amused
spectators formed behind him.
81 say, old boss, ar you the clark of
this yere boat?" called the stranger
"Yes-s sir. eel returned the clerk with a
laugh, winking at the bystanders.
aspect her b'iler won't bust, hey?"
81 hope not.''
aspect she won't snag, heyp"
II hope not. !"
sReckon I'll risk her want hull
room to myself; don't keer nothing about
cost. Name yer pilep'
If you take whole stateroom-and
believe there is one unoccupied-I shall
have to charge you double fare, said the
clerk.
II take it-let her rip!'
The clerk named his price, and the
stranger brought out an old wallet, stuffed
full of notes, which two or thres ,,rofes-
ciOllchl S5dhIiJlCiS, WIZ 0DIO LII Ulib CTOWu
behind, did not fail to eye with satisfac-
ton.
"Where to? asked the clerk as the rus.
tic rendered bill
las Ifur's she goes"
"What name?''
tPike'
'sAny other name, sir9''
'Jo---Jo Pike of Arkansaw"
tkWall Mn D;l-a Of Ar1v, AZ.
clerk, "there is your key hope you will
have pleasant trip
But thar's the nigger--my boy-you've
forgot him'' said Mr.. Jo Pike. "What'e
his damage?"
"Oh, never mind him. said the clerk.
Considering you have paid double fare
already, guess we will throw him in.'
"Gumbo, you rascal, d yer hear that
You're huy in--you re no account. Haw
hawl hawl" roared Mr.. Pike. And all
the bystanders roared in concert. Here, .
he continued, tossing the key to the black,
take that ar brass and tote off my things
and watch 'em till Icomesl' Then, turn
ing to the clerk again, he added, "Oid
boss, what's yer name?''
~ Brown" laughed the clerk.
Waal, Brown, you re d trump, and as
y
with me- Brown"
..'Bes your pardon, sir said one of tho
gamblers, laying his hand Familiarity on
the shoulder of Mr. Pike, ''you said some
thing about trumps just now. What are
trumps?"
81 reckon it's knave of settling that's
turned up nowp' said Pike, looking his
interrogation in the eye.
bo blar co1orod apI a.
laughed.
of his magnificent fourishes, 'let's ali
liquor!"
He led the way tn the bar.
''Do you ever play?" said another of the
gamblers, watching his chance and draw
ing him aside.
'Keerds?'' returned Pike
Yes--euchre, whist, poker twenty
one all tours, or anythingp
"Why, Pm boss at all of them. stran
ger Haw! hawl haw!'' roared the gentle
man from Arkansaw "The last time 7
played I licked every cub that bet agin
me. Hawl haw! haw! Play keerds? A
few''
After having another drink all round
which the gambler, in order to appear
SOiiOlOu u.s. liiolGuCu vi pehJ ing Luz, Ul0 CrOWQ
adjourned to one of, the card tables in the
main saloon to enjoy the sport of seeing
the green Pike fleeced by the skillful gam
blers. The spectators looked upon him as
a lamb in the clutches of wolves, but not
one Of them made single attempt to warn
him of his danger, for bct, des the fact that
the gamblers were not N en- to have their
plans interfered with with impunity they
thought the boasting Mr.. Pike deserved to
have little humiliating experience.
Mr.. Pike was not ready to begin plav
Immediately, however. He must go to his
stateroom first, give his boy orders, and it
was at least a good hour before the impa-
tient gamblers saw him snugly planted
down between them.
'What shall we play, Mr.. Pike, and for
what stake?" politely inquired one of the
trio.
aspect we'd better make it whist fust
that thar man opposite my pardner-fur
81 corner, till l get the feel of the
keerds, replied Mr.. Pike.
This, of course was not the game the
gamblers wanted to play, but they assent
ed to the proposition, and wasted an hour
of their precious time over it-Pike and
biS mariner winning three times In uucao.