The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-17
SHERIDAN'S POKER GAME.

LITTLE Fhfp Furnished the run.
II was in the game one night during
the wioter of 70 when both Conkling and
Sheridan were players. 1t was four
handed gasne ana John Chamberlin was
the Other player. lhis game at Cham
berlain's was always for IS limit 1T
fret. with an understanding that along
toward morning, after couple OF hours
OF warming Ut, anybody could suggest
the removal of the limit IL he wanted to.
The way Conkling and sheridan bluftsd
eacl other tnaS night was caution.
Both men seemed to strike out luck al
together as an element In their good.na-
tured play against each other and as both
of them caught fine hands occasionally,
when engaged in this tug-of-war OF
bluillng neither of them could get an ex-
act line on tho other. and IL was better
than play TO study their faces at the
show-downs. ConKling was having all
the success during the lattsr part OF the
night, and IL was fun to hear Little
Phil" softly uttsr dark and wooiiy things
under his breath when, time after time.
Conkling would show hand consisting
of nothing ne all after having scared
Sheridan out or produce gorgeous sat
of four or full hand at such times as
Sheridan, deciding that the Senator was
LlniilDa woald call him.
bite him, Sheridan" Chainberlin
would say, amusedly. on these occasions,
and Sheridan would tell Chamberlin TO
go to the dickens, and cali for another
deck OF cards.
"Ws started the last round OF jsckpots
with new deck. Sheridan dealt tho trst
mess himself, and after 10 had gone
around ana none OF TIE three of " could
open it. Sheridan oyened IL himself.
Neither Chamherlin nor 1 nd AM right
to stay on our hanos and so il was left
between Sheridan and Conkling, who
stayed. Conklina took three cards. and
turned his little pair into threes. Sheri-
dan dished himself out three cards, and
Dit his cigar hard when lie SAW his hand.
de made a 50 bet to draw ConKling out,
and the senator raised him $50. 1t passed
bstween Il en- with these $50 bets until
there was nearly $500 in the pot. both
fully at eacn bot.
"'I don't know so much about you this
time, said Conkling finally, and think
III just call you for safety
Both laid their han DIS down at the
same time. Conkling had three mines,
and he looked at Sheridan strangely
when he saw the color of Sheridan IS
three acos. Both Cham berlin and
myself also saw what was wrong at the
same instant, but we only smiled snd let
the two men have it out Sheriian had
"a broad. grin on his face and was just
about to rake In the pot. Conkling was
gazing at the little man of iron with n
puzzled look in mis- eyes.
80 oh. l say, there, Phii. just wait u
minute. said he. DO you really think
that pot belongs to youS
Belongs TO me?' said Sheridan
well, 1t does If the nosa on my face be-
longs to me and again he reached
over to hoe in ths pot.
"Coukling ran his hard through his
hair AID again stopped sheridan with a
gesture
=" Il don't remember ever having sea
that sort Of thing before, he said. DID
you, PHILIP
See what sort OF thing boforeY said
Sheridan. WHAT in blazes are you talk
ing about ConkiiBg?
"For reply Conkling nut one finger
upon one of Sheridan's aces, and then
pointed To another one Of the acss
never saw a pot won with three aces,
two of which happened TO he aces of
diamonds, said Conkline smiling.
"Sheridan looked at his hand, living face
up on tho table before him. and his face
became fiery red. The CONSERVATION on
his sountenance was really funny.
3" Why, said he. after a n mute blamed
IL l don't believe I'm nothing bettor
than an involuntary "windler That
other ace, you ses, is club l opened
the pot OH pair of rel aces, apd they
were Of course. these aces of diamonds
Cbamberlir. turing to tie amused
boniface, turn me out Of doors an a
fraud and sbort-card player, will your
3" Ard have the army lire a volley over
lin. Hardly. Anyhow, I'd rather soc
you ana Conkling engage in rough
and tumble light over tho thing. Go
ahead, the pair ,f you. Well see fair
play. turning to me.
'fOf course. the extra acc Of diam ond $
had shipped into the deck accidentally be-
fore il left tina manufactur. RS hands, but
sheridan, when he had in a measure re-
covered from the surprise cf tho revela-
ton, made humorous Iretension that
he had known the whole thing all along,
and convuls,d the three Of Us by feelingly
appealing to CongliDg 90 refrain from
exposing biin TO the world, for the sake
of his family, and all that sort of thing.
The hand being foul, the pot was, Of
course, divided"
Myrtle-what do you thins, I've had three
proposals In as many days and, OH, dear I'm
in such a quandary. ! don't know which one
70 aecaYt