The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-02
STIFF GAME.

William Cullen Bryant's Poker Rules
On the last trip westward of the
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse, it will be
recalled she brought a tremendous
crowd of passengers, both in the cab
ms and in the steerage-and among
the former were many Americans and
foreigners of note, says the New York
commercial The Kaiser also brought
along some very stir games of poker,
and the breaking up of a certain $10,-
200 Jackpot has never as yet been
satisfactorily explained ashore.
On the afternoon of the second day
out the sea was particularly smooth
and the weather fine; so nearly all the
women passengers were on deck and
not few OF them, properly escorted,
OF course, were attracted to the smok-
ing room, where big poker was ION. I"
They stood In circles two or three
deep intently watching the play.
Ihere were six in the game at one
table, and the ante on this particular
deal was $40. 1t turned out a natural
jack, with $50 in it, or course, on the
start. Rundlett Hale, cotton factor of
memphis, opened 1t for 800 on a pair
Of kings. Just behind him stood Mrs.
Emma 2. Russell of Boston, comedy
widow OF about 35, with wealth of
wavy golden hair and weeds deep
enough and heavy enough to stand
alone. She was excitedly interested.
Everybody stayed in, around to the
player on Hale's right, an English
man, VINO was the dealer. He set it
up another hundred, and Hale went
back at him with another. Only one of
the other players stayed in.
On the deal Hale drew only two
cards, holding up an ace with his two
Kings, both on the chance of pulling in
an ace or two and for the evident pur-
pose or deluding the others into a no
ton that he held three of kind. The
next man took only one card, and the
Engllsnman, after thoughtfully sur
veying his bunch for fully minute as
also.
Hale started the betting with $1,000.
Inc second mamie was Bostonian
and something In Leather-merely
saw 1t. The Briton saw" and jumped
II up aonther $1,000. Hale was plainly
Ieased. He hesitated moment, FUN
bled at his pile of greenbacks. and
tnen, mumbling in discouraged tone.
AesJ uOWht nc Threw his QaQQ on
the board.
The Boston man promptly saw" the
Briton's raise, but didn't hoist it. The
Briton looked surprised, and then ex-
tremely sheepish as he faced I'D a
four-1ush of diamonds, the ten-spot In
which had caught the ten of spades
making pair below openers. The Bos.
tonian proudly showed up a four-hush
OF clubs, in which the queen had been
matched by another, making only a
pair of queens and the winning hand
and he gathered in the fat pot.
Mr.. Hale of Memphis had to expose
his kings In order to show that he had
had openers.
Il never would have done It. Rund-
lett!" exclaimed a friend of his, who
was standing near, "neveri" wouldn't
lay down kings under those circum-
stances. Come now, would any of
you?"-and he appealed to the by
ISLANDERS. None of the men vouchsaf-
ing an opinion, the plump widow pro-
ceeded to color up a bit as to her
cheeks as she remarked softly:
"Oh, don't know guess he plaved
that hand about right. There's excel.
lentSauthority for it. Don't you recall
that passage in Bryant's 'Thanaton.
sis? 1t begins. Thou shalt lie down
with kings" "A