The times., 1897-05-16


cesses of the carl table, got hold of a pack
OF cards In a celiuloid case, and, after laZiiy
toying with it, sai3 ne: III
John, let's play q single Jack, just to
see how the cards ruHl'
"Ail right replied Cbambern, for
what lmit-the sky?'s
That's my game,'r said the Kentuck
ian, and both men put up hundred dollar
bill in thecenter of thetable. iTheyarrangesi
that it should be plain case Of Jacks or
betser to open The Kentuckian shook the
cards out of the case, shuffled them, and, ut
a nod from Chamterlin, dealt the hand
Conkling and the Cabinet officer stood look
Ing on with their hands in their. pockets.
ChamheiliI picked up his cards one by
one. He was a cool headed man who had
learned the game OF poker at an age when
most boys are just mastering shinny, but
the witnesses afterward declared that his
face certainly flushe 1when M had gathered
in all of his five cards. But be didn't say y
anything until the Kentuckian slowly pick
ed up his cards, and he was probably so
wrought up himself that ne did not observe
his opponents suppressed excitation," as
Conkiing put it, in coming the hand.
"Phil,'' said Chamherlin to the Kentuck-
ian, II don't want To be hard on you, but
I'd never have any more luck as long as
live if didn't play this hand as it deserves
to be played So I'm going TO break il
open for five hundred showing the money
into the pot
"John,' replied the Kentuckian, with
d little tremor in his Voice, II feel m duty
TO warn you right now that I've got you
beat on the go in, and don't want to take
any unfair advantage of you; but | can't
afford to turn "a churlish seowi TO the
smile Of Fortune any more than you can;
and, So John, it'll cost you "a thousandinore
to draw cards.
"Well,' returned Chamberlin with
sigh, showing the raise into the pot, Il
never saw aKentuckian yet who knew w hen
he was licked, and I'm really sorry for you;
but you're bringing it all on yourself. F."
"Car.ls?'' inquired the Kentuckian
IN play with these" said Charnherlin,
closing his hand and running over his wal
let
Well said the Kentuckian, Il don't
need any myself. Make your bet-but he
careful, John, be carefull''
When you adopt that imhecile tone,
Phil said Chamberlin, ''you do IL at the
sacrifice OF my sympathy. A thousand''
''John,'' said the Kentuckian, looking at
his opponent mournfully, "you are the
stubbornest manin the Western Hemsp here.
and you certainly need some OF it taken ont
OF you A thousand more than you'll
Senator said Chamberlin TO Conkling.
who had been standing behind the Ken
tuckian, come over here and have look
at this hand Of mine, and add your voice To
my warning to our friend across the table. =
Conkling obeyed the request and glanced
at Chamterlin's hand. I'm not in this
game, John,' he said land it wouldn't be
square for Inc to make any reII arks. -
He said afterward that he had to turn TO
the sideboard and stuff his handkerchief
into his mouth to keep from roaring
"Oh, very well. them said ChamberlIn.
You perceive, Phu, tnat I've done my
best for You. am Therefore reduced to the
necessity of raising you another thousa nd, >
pulling ont his check took and writing a
check for the amount with fountain pen.
Handy things, those fountain peHs,'
! replied the Kentuckan. r'Lend me IL -
He also produced his cheek took and scrib-
bic ! check, w hch he thrus; into the center
of the table with a confident flourish
"John'' he said. II stall enjoy your
discontinue less than that of any man of
my acquaintance. But / certainly am not
going 70 fIyin the face of + rovidence by lay
ing down Il hand like this or anything
like it. Thousand more!'
Conkling broke intooa laugh, W bich he
turned Off into a cough. 81 never came
so close TO suffocation in my life he said
afterward.
When there was $14,70O in cash and
checks In the center OF the table the Ken
tucEiau, whose turn il was to bet, cleared
his throat.
.'Chamterln,'' said he solemnly, "this
thing has gone far enough Neither one Uf
us is q millionaire l do not propose in
dulging your notorious recklessness any
further | see plainly that you are inst
wild red Indian enough to bet your iast
blanket and pair OF nIoccaslns on that nst
fun of cards, even in the teeth of my SOLEMN
assurance that you are the worst thrashed
man from here to Alaska. John. call yon'
Charnheilin spread his hand out ON the
table before him. -Four of The cards were
aces and the other one was a king The
Kentuckian spread out his hand at the same
time. 1t consisted OF four kings and an ace
The two men gazed at each other acr)Ss
the table with expressions OF blank stupe
f!cation. They were aroused by q below
from Conkling that might have been heard
over in Lafayette Square.
SENATOR said Chanherlin, severely,
wheeling around, wv hat als you?''
Mr.. Conkling, subj said the Kentuck-
ian, we would be pleased, sub, if you would
be good enough to explain what plea ses
you, sub"
Conkling took firm grip at his sides nd
after few gasps and suppressed shrieks,
got the handling of himself.
"Ineversaw duel with blank artriGs, s.
he controlled himself long enough 10 say,
"but, after all, think the tragic earnest
ness of two men engaged in pla ying game
! of pinochle deck of cards is quite as humor-
ous.'' and he fell into another spasm of
laughter.
Chamherlin and the Kentuckian gaZeA at
each other with sheepish grins for min
ute and then tore up their checks aud split
the pot. Chamberlinalways Us smaintaine,i chat
it was the most grievous disappointment Of
his life. not on account OF the money. hut
on account OF the riddlng OF what lie
thought such an alright cinch-New York
Sun.
All of Him.
He evidently was from the rural dis
and therefore his upeasip.Ss ur,,n