The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

And so the game proceeded for an hour,
Broderick's ill-luck costing in that time
between thirty and forty dollars, which
were tantaliZingly stacked in front of the
comedian. The basso felt sore, not so
much at the loss of his coin as at the
gentle guying he was getting at the
tongue of his opponent. No man can
stand even the most good-natured refiec-
tions on his ability as poker-player, and
Broderick was no exception. He felt so
down on his luck that he threw up his
hand and got another member of the
company to play his money for him. He
left the car for few minutes and re-
turned with a pocket Hoyle he had man
aged TO borrow, the reason for which be-
came apparent in a short time.
Taking a seat near the players Brod-
erick awaited the chance that he knew
was bound to come. Barnabee had a
fashion of appealing to the rules on all
occasions, and, in the absence Of book,
took offhand liberties in their interpreta-
ton. In consequence he was in constant
friendly dispute with his opponents, es-
pecially when he was losing, as he began
to do Immediately Brodericks substitute
sat in. The tide had turned against him
and in short time the substitute had
won back nearly all the basso had lost,
confirming Barnabee in his first impress
sion that Broderick was easy game. He
had a yearning that the principal might
replace the substitute, and he made slur-
ring remarks intended to rouse up the
sporting blood of the basso.
You're nice poker player" said, "to
quit Just because you were losing q few
dollars. 1 sat down to play with you and
you get out. 1 insist that you play your
own hand"
Broderick hesitated long enough to
deepen the impression that he was a
mark" and then replaced the substitute.
Two hands had not been dealt till Bar
nabee appealed to the rules on differ
ence of opinion as to the strength of two
hands He began his own Interpretation,
only to be cut short when Broderick
pulled the Hoyle.
81 thought you might want to learn the
rudiments of the game" said the basso,
80 l dug up this.
Barnabee laid down his hand and eager
ly turned the leaves, confident that his in
depreciation of the rule he had sought to
quote would be borne out by the great
American authority. 1t was not Hoyle
was against him. and that did not help
his state of mind. He yielded, however.
as grac acefully as man can who sees the
other fellow raking in the shekels and
buckled to to retrieve his fallen fortunes.
Luck would not change for Barnabee.
AS they played on, Broderick increased
his winnings with every deal, mostly from
Barnabee, who, be it known. plays too lib
orally ever to cart away much money.
The disputes which the basso contrived
were frequent and so were Barnabee' ap-
peals to the rules, which, three times out
of four, loored him. He fumed inwardly
and fretted outwardly and got himself
into such a state of mind that he was not
sure he was playing poker or was the
fall guy in a big mitt game. He played
worse and worse, and finally quit, thirty
odd dollars to the bad, most Of 1t in the
possession of that soft mark, Bill Brod-
erick."
The comedian was sore for several days
after the experience, but he gradually
comforted himself in the knowledge that
he had smashed his non-poker playing