The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-15

A2ainst All tie Tens in the Deck.
Bill S~tuyvesnnf's Wife Played Queer
est Bit of Poker Ever Put Up at a
Card Table.
The talk in the mess, having nm
through campaign tales and women,
tales had turned to card tales. The
senior major feaned toward the fire
and knocked the ashes from his pipe
against the aHdjron.
The queerest bit of poker l ever
saw he said, was played by IL wom-
an. She was the wife of Little Bill
r. Stuyvesant. You remember Bill Stnv-
vesant, Colonel-in the Third-gcad-
uated in go"
The colonel nodded.
He was with Reno at the Custer
business" he answered. Il met him
the mex week. He resigned afterward
and went into business"
That's the one. Bill was mighty
well connected in New York, but he
didn't have much cash. If it hadn't
been for his poker playing he never
could have kept the pace he did.
He lived better han any other Off
Ger in the regiment. He put up ore
of the neatest games I've had the bad
buck to mix UP WITHHOLD blOOded ana
steady, but witt enough wamth n it
to rush his winnings to a fragile when
the time anne.
We'll, n day old Bill wen off ard
got married all of a sudden to the
timidest, most hlushing prim little
sprig of a country girl you ever saw
| heard his family raised the devl.,
but it didn't matter. Bill and the wee
n settled down on the post. md
were as happy as if she were a Van
Something or Other, or he were a Far
mer Jones.
ssBil. though, never let up a hole on
n, but he was honest about it v!Ih
wife. The game usually ran in his
Mouse, II she sat and watched uni.
bedtime. At first she worried a good
deal, ! think.
1t made everybody feel aWkwhra.
too, to have her about. But after Il
while she perked up, and we got to
missing her if she wasn't sitting there
by the fire, sewing or reading, or else
leaning yer Bills shoulder watching
his cards and asking fool questions
"AbOua-a. year after they were mar
ried Bill and she went on to live east
The family wanted to patch up.
Il started for New York Il little lat
myself, and soon after | hit that
Hall town a chap named BrOckTnan
'aSked me up the Hudson to a house
party. When | arrived, who in Tie
deuce should find there but Bill
~Stuyvesant and his frau.
She was pretty as ever, but just
as shy and timid. She didn't seem to
be having a very thrilling time in So
ciety. | felt right sorry for the lite
thing.
She and Bill had just arrived. and
at dinner | noticed the curious pat
ronizing looks that were handed TO
them both. The poor child blushe0
and sat dumb. Bill looked mad and
drank too much champagne.
Along about the bird somehow tho
talk turned On cards. There was q
couple of harG-faced matrOns there
that | sized up as human sharks from
the start. They led the pack in he
card movement and they never drop
ped the scent until they had it fixed
that the 10 Of us should make two
tables of poker after dinner.
Mrs. Stuyvesant tried to beg off be-
cause she couldn't play, but the human
sharks insisted on teaching her, ard
made so many mean little pOkes at her
country breeding and Bills poverty
that at last Bill settled the business
himself. So after the cigars | founi
myself at a table with Bill and AIRS
Sill ard the two instructors.
THE lesson was short enough. The
professors wrote out a list of hands
for Mrs. S%tuyvasant to use, told her
the rules. and answered the few pitt
full questions she asked. | was mae
clean through. Bill was boiling.
This is a damned outrage. he
whispered. Help her if you can.
1t was a nc-limit affair-a very
swift one, too. | was too busy myself
to think more OF Mrs. S. But | saw
that she was terribly conservative,
afraid Il her life. and just dribbi.nG
away her chips IN antes and Jackpots.
"Once or twice she threw sure WIN
ming hands face up on the table
afraid to bet them. The human sharks
were giggling and gobbling up chips
Bill was losing. | was about even.
Then somebody started a jack-Slo
around. It wa sweetened at 81 n clip
for five deals running. That DuT S.5
in It.
Then one Of the sharks opened it
for the size of Mrs. S~tuyvesants deal.
The other shark stayed. [ dropped.
So did Bill.
u looked a. Mrs. S.. she was very
much excited. Her eyes were snap
ping, and she was examining heT list
of hands intensely.
"'Oh, she cried. I wish | knew: J
wish ! knew? Can't l ask Billie"
No snapped Shark No. One.
oh" cried Mrs. S, then YES: |
mustt" and she showed out $3.50 worth
of chips.
Bill turned white. | shook Iii my
boots. Shark Number One hesitated
and scowled. Then she pushed out