The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04
CATS WERE THE CHIPS.
A Poker Gsme Between Hermits for the
Western New York Championship.

HAMLIN, N. Y, Sept. 2e.-The strangest
poker game ever played in western New
York was fought out two weeks ago by
Pete Smelling Of this place, better known
a. the Cat Hermit, and Old Man Booker
Of Garrison, likewise a recluse and some
thing OF Q cat fanoier. The two nlen live
about one mile apart, with the town line
between them. It was in reality town
against town, with cats for chips.
The game grew out OF professional jeal-
ousy, as each Of the players pretended tc
be the boss hermit in point of years, hard
luck and number Of cats. Last August
Old Man Booker happened to meet Pete
at the village store. and among other things
declared that when it came to poker he could
make Pat Sheedy hunt cover.
Il am strong on 1t; he announced. I'm
husky. l haven't played for years, just
because know there is no one hefty enough
to mako 1t interesting"
III you dig up my past you'll find I'm
quite cuss with the pasteboards. myself.
said Pete
Dare you to meet me- cried the Old
Man.
I'm for that What shall We play for3'
asked Pete.
Old Man Booker scratched his rough
chin and thought deeply. Then he had
an inspiration.
How are you fixed for cats?" he asked.
Got about fifty. and twenty kittens,
replied Pete.
"All right let's play for cats, said Booker
So 1t was agreed, and two weeks ago the
game was pulled of. Booker collected
his feline assets and carted them
Pete had his chips meowing and splitting
In an empty room and no time was lost in
bringing out greasy deck Of cards. and
the game began on kitten ante and two
cat limit.
On the first hand Pete straddled the ante
for one cat. but his boost began to eat up
Booker's kittens.
-I'm not going to lose my edge that way
declared Booker. If you want to fight
cats I've got some thoroughbreds in that
crate"
A compromise was effected by bringing
In two big boxes with stout covers, one for
kittens and one for cats. Booker refused
to play and Pete pulled down the stakes
On Booker's deal 1t went into jackpot
and 10th put up ldtten, as neither had
openers.
Change cat for me- requested Pete.
Booker pushed two kittens across the
board.
On the next deal Booker opened for two
cats and Pete drew cards and boosted
the sweeting one kitten. Booker drew to q
pair OF queens and caught a small pair.
Pete split a pair OF jacks and found
aOh, I'll bet Kitten said Booker
See your kitten and raise you two CATS
Pete came back
Booker called and lost.
For the next six hands they simply swap
ped kittens back and forth without getting
any action. Then on q Jackpot Booker
opened for one cat. holding pat club
straight, nine high.
caught the ten OF diamonds, which gave
him diamond straight, ten high Then
the cats flew into the box fast and furious.
The boxes began to get a bit crowded
and vacant room was used to accumulate
the chips Both men left their cards on
the table and stood by their respective
cats As each called his raise he would
grab the limit by the necks and toss them
see here, Smell, I'm out Of cats, but We
got O show for my stakes. .announced
Booker, AZ he threw In two kittens and went
shy . cat:
SWELL, Book, we'll show hands now or
seal up tbs cards until you can raise more
cats. It's . shame to take your cats. I
wish you'd call me-.
mot by Q long chalk, Smell. I'll never
lay down on this hand. III die first. Give
me ten hours TO hustle In for more cats and
then wen show up
This was agreed to and inside OF six hours
Booker drove up with twenty cats and
six kittens. The limit was raised and the
whole bunch OF furry chips were deposited
In the fighting cst-pot, and the cards were
unsealed.
Thus did Smelling win the cat-poker
Of western New York and
break Old Nan Booker.