The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-26
WOMEN M POKER.
A Came That Changed Two Deal
Friendar Into Deadly Enemies.

A Came That Changed Two DsaS
Friends Into Deadly Enemies.
Saida man of my acquaintance recently:
"Do you know, I believe women would
be the most desperate gamblers on earth
II they daredl'
"Nonsensel' was my remark.
cts not nonsense" he argued warmly.
"I've watched them, old and young, pref
ty and homely, light and dark, and even
in the small games that their pocketbooks
and their consciencss allow them to play
their excitement in winning or losing Is
something terrific"
And he caused me to do alittle think
ing on his side, though not for the world
would have admitted 1t to him.
I remembered game Of cards that
caused the separation Of two Of the dear
est and sweetest women In the world three
years ago.
OF course it was poker.
Poker seems to be played everywhere,
or was at that time, and this diabolical
cluster of "fulls,'' "straights," 1.-TWO
pairs" 'threes Of a Kind, "Hushes" and
"fours" has caused more misery and made
more mischief among the women Of this
city than will ever be exploited nr"
There were five of them in a fashionable
boarding house up town, and I, as a call
er, made six.
Rain had ruined matinee proposition,
there was nothing to read, and dullness
descended
Lets play poker" said Mrs. g.
"Splendid!" was tho general ejacula-
ton.
Two Of the ladies had never played, but
they were soon instructed Then 1t was
discovered that there were no "chips."
But a descent upon the cook produced 800
or 400 white beans, which Mrs. G. took
charge OF.
"I'll be banker, +" she said as she counted
out the beans in lots Of 100 each. well
play cent limit and you shall have Is
worth"
The two amateurs gurgleti with a,nuse-
ment.
"How awfully funny!' they said.
"Why, we feel like real gamblers"
declined to join the game believing
that is in the pot was worth $40 in the
lack pot"
The game proceeded amid much nerv-
GUS excitement and many "Ohs!' and
"Ahs!" and "Dear mes!" and remarks Of
that sort.
"Why, ism It that fushf"
"Why, your hand wasn't a. good as
mine think you're real mean." u
The somebody asked:
"What good are four queenss"
Whereupon all laid down their hands
and the inquisitive one gathered in all
there was in sight, with the remark:
II didn't have four queens, but just
wondered.
At length there was battle royal on
between Mrs. G. and one of the beginners.
Happened to sit right behind the lat
ter and saw her hand.
It consisted Of three aces and pair of
kings Nothing but -four of kind"
could beat it.
Back and forth, back and forth, bet and
"raise," more bets, more raises" until
the holder of the full hand" had exhaust
cd all her beans and clamored for more.
The banker gave her 100 more and
made a memorandum Of it.
The betting went on as fercely az be-
fore. felt like giving the "full hand"
lady hint that she was betting her hand
too high, but Of course could not do 80.
At last the banker called" and threw
her hand on the table.
-Four sixes'
"Dear mel" sighed the loser. Thought
I'd surely win. What lot I betl Lucky
it wasn't real money!
Mrs. G. started at her.
"What do you meanf"
"Why, it's lucky they were only beans"
"You must be crazy, Mrs. B. The
beans represent money. You owe me S."
"Why, you re talking nonsense
Mrs. G.. lips grew very white.
"Do you mean to say" she asked, that
you didn't understand that we were play
ing for money!"
"Of course didn't"
Mrs. G. swept the beans into n,reeepta-
ole; dabbed the cards into the table drawer,
cast a look of whitening scorn upon her
late opponent and stalked out Of the room.
The two women have not spoken to each
other since-san Francisco Call.