Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-16

| I've seen him twist his second finger
around his first when he met Cross
eyed man. and l know he has conscien-
tious scruples against going under a lad
der. The fact that he occasionally gets
up and circles around his chair three
| times while playing poker may not prove
anything, but any man who will lay
down good hand on account of dream
is open to suspicion, and that's what
Brown did.
ut seems that Brown dreamed one
night of having a tilt with Smith. Smith
opened jack pot and Brown just hipped
him once for luck. He held the eight,
nine, ten and jack of clubs, so he had
chances of filling either a straight or a
flush. Smith drew one card-in the
dream-and Brown, of course, did like
wise. He pulled the queen of clubs.
Smith seemed to have bettered too and
they had a nice little tilt. When Smith
called he showed an ace full to kings,
and Brown woke up just as he was rak-
ing in the pile.
well, i, happened that few evenings
after this Brown and Smith were in the
same game, and after a while Brown
opened pot with aces and kings. The
rest dropped out all but Smith and he
raised the limit. Brown made good and
each man drew card. Brown got a
third ace and Smith seemed to be pretty
well satisfied with his draw Then
Brown remembered his dream. He held
exactly the hand that Smith had held in
his dream and he broke out in a cold
perspiration.
Dreams go by contraries.' he thought
to himself, and it's cinch that Smith
has got my straight flush Then he bet
white chip and Smith came back at
him with limit raise, and the limit was
pretty high. That blooming fool, Brown,
hesitated for a minute and then he lad
down his hand with sickly smile. Your
straight flush beats my hand he said.
How did you know | had a straight
flush? asked Smith, surprised Then
Brown told about the dream, and Smith
laughed fit TO kill himself. There's your
dream hand he said as he laid it out.
The eight. nine, ten and jack OF clubs
were there all right, but the fifth card
was the seven of spades.
''Of course, Brown swore, but as the
matter stands now he doesn't figure out
just where he's at. Those two hands
came so close to the dream that he can't
settle it in his mind whether fate slipped
cog that once or whether he was
chump. But | know what Smith thinks
The conductor had announced twenty
minutes for refreshments" at Maine
Central junction and when the train
stopped he stepped into the "eating
house and asked for an oyster stew.
While it was being brought to him he
passed the time by telling the lunch
counter man funny story. He was IN
the middle of it when the stew was
placed before him, SO he seasoned the
food and talked at the same time. No
ticing a small bottle on the counter he
picked it UP and interrupted his story
long enough to ask: lcsf
whats this, Bill?'
That's Tobasco sauce replied Bill.
Its a seasoning, and it's hot stun, you
bet.''
"Wcll, as l was saying continued
the conductor with his story. tipping the
bottle towards his oyster soup and rap
ping it smarty on the bottom a dozen
times or more with the palm of his
hand. Then, having finished the story he
stirred his oysters vigorously and select
ing plump one, placed it in his mouth,
where he rolled it around for a moment
Tears chased one another down his FUR
rowed face. He turned on his stool and
elected the oyster upon the floor.
There, darn you, blazei he said.
Then he went outside and yelled "All
aboard with so much vehemence that
the frightened passengers almost had
heart disease.
4 StaDletoo man Snent three hours III