Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-05-27

CT Sophia Lee. SOphy she was called 1or
short. She was woman of masculine
characteristics. She always declared
that she was able to take care Of her
self under any and all circumstances,
and she proved it by doing so.
She was born and bred in Cape May
county. Her father fished for living
the year round in Delaware bay and the
inlets on the east coast. Sophy was an
only child, and from early girlhood I'M
til her father went to the bottom Of the
sea in his fishing boat during south
east gale she was his companion ON land
and water She knew the waters of Del
aware bay and the east coast by heart,
could take up a pound net as well as
a man, and there wasn't a point about
handling boat with which she was not
familiar.
After her fathers death she took pos
session of his nets and boats and set
aboutearning living for herself, which
she did easily. The woman was taught
to play poker by her father, who was
looked upon as the stiffest player in
South Jersey. He was always at it when
not at work, and the pots he lost were
not to be compared with the number he
won. His success at holding cards wen
for him the name of Lucky Job Lee, or
abbreviated, Lucky Job.
When IS years of age Sophy could play
as clever a game as any of the old
timers, and at the age of 20 there
wasn't a poker player in the county
who hankered after taking hand with
her. She seemed to have inherited her
fathers luck, and, besides, she had the
courage to meet all kinds of bluffs half
way and did not hesitate to make one
herself when she was satisfied that she
could carry it through successfully.
Job Lee had friend of the name of
William Eaton. Eaton was 20 years
older than Sopby, but he was anxious to
have her for his wife. When he made
the proposition to Job his answer was:
go win her if We can, Bill; she's big
enough ter know whether she wants ter
marry We or not, an eff she don't amt
goin' ter make her"
Eaton mentioned the matter to
Sophy, but she wasn't disposed to tie
up to any man, and plainly told him
so. But that didn't cool his (Bill's) ar
dor. He pressed his suit persistently,
and Sophy as persistently refused him.
Eaton was a lucky poker player him
self, and he frequently sat in game
with Lee and his daughter. 1t hap
pened that about year after her
fathers death Sophy dropped into the
tap room of Munson's tavern at Goshen
one night. When she found Eaton and
two of his friends engaged in game
she asked if she might take hand.
She was welcomed to the game. The
men saw an opportunity, they thought,
to get back some of the money she had
taken from then in times gone by. But
Sophy had her luck with her, and she
handled the cards carefully. In short
time Eaton's friends were broke and
dropped out Of the game. Bill was hold
ing his own, and that fact evidently net
tied Sophy, who began to put dash
into the game unusual for her.
Neither of the players was able to get
very much the best of the game. Luck
was about evenly divided. Finally
Sophy started a jack pot, and, after the
cards had been dealt a dozen times
without the pots being opened, the
spectators began to get interested in the
game.
At last Eaton opened the pot on So
phys deal.
'I'll let ye in cheap, Sophy," said he,
as he showed $40 to the center of the
table.
'I'm in" replied Sophy, putting up
the money. "How many cards?"
'"Two," replied Eaton.
Sophy dealt the cards and laid the
pack ON the table.
'Hain't you goin' ter take emmy?
asked Eaton.
''I'll stand pat" replied Sophy.
"Bluffin' agin, ?" said Eaton, with a
grin, as he picked up his cards and
looked them over. ''Waal, I can't lay
this hand down now. I'll bet $50 it's
good" He put up the money.
''I'll bet $50 more you're beat" said
sophy, laying down 500 on the pile of
paper and coin.
I'll raise that $780," said Eaton, after
carefully consulting his cards.
The betting went on until neither
player had money. Eaton had raised
Sophy's last bet, ...-. 49, .yoman had no
money to meet it.
BILL" said she, looking across the ia
BILE at her opponent, "you've wanted me
ter marry yer for long time, an 1
hain't never wanted ter do it, and
don't now. I'll tell yer what I'll do eff
yer think we've got the best hand: I'll
bet myself agin your sloop Marthy that
can beat ye, an eff l don't I'll marry
we tonight, right here, eff it can be
DONE"
I'll call ye," cried Eaton, almost be-
fore Sophy had finished speaking.
-Four kings" said Sophy, spreading
out her cards.
Sour aces" said Eaton, spreading
out his.
I'm yourn," calmly remarked Sophy.
Eaton was wild with Joy over his
good luck, and a messenger was at once
dispatched for Horace Trimble, JUS
II 10 - ~