The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-26
WHAT THE c0L0NEL'S
WIFE HELD AT POKER
(ChIeago M Oeean.l

stories, had turned 10 card stories. The
senior major leaned toward the FIRE and
knocked the ashes from his pipe against
the andiron.
'The queerest bit of poker ever
saw" he said, was played by a wo-
man. She was the wife OF little Bill
stuyvesant. You remember Bill Stuy-
Yesant. colonei-in the Third-gradn-
ated IN '69?"
The colonel nodded.
He was with Reno at the Custer
business" he answered. = met him
the next week. He resigned afterward
and went into business"
That's the one. BIZ was mighty
We'll connected Ia New York, but he
didn't have much cash. If IL hadn't
been for his poker playing he never
could have kept the pace he did.
He lived better than any other Off
Ger IN the regiment. He put up one of
the neatest games I've had the bad luck
10 mix up WITHHOLD blooded and
steady. but with enough warmth 10 il
10 rush his winnings 70 a fragile when
the [ me came.
well. one day old Bin went off and
got married all of d sudden 10 the TIM
idest. most blushing, prim little sprig
of country girl you ever saw. 1 heard
his family raised The devil; but it didn't
matter. Bill and the wee one settled
down at the post, and were as happy
as if she We're a Van Something or
Other, or ne were Farmer Jones.
"Bill. though. never let IN "a hole on
poker. but he was honest about IL with
his wife. The game usually ran in his
house, and she sat and watched until
bedtime. At first she worried a good
deal. I think.
III made everybody feel awkward,
too, 10 have her about But after a
wh"le she perked up. and we got to
missing her II she wasn't sitting there
by the fire. sewing or reading, OF else
leaning over Bill's shoulder watching.
his cards and asking fool questions.
Meets Bride at House Party.
About year after they We're mar
ried Bill and she went on leave-east.
The family wanted to patch up
II started for New York little later
myself, and soon after l hit that small
town chap named Brockman asked
ME up the Hudson to a house party.
When I arrived who the deuce should l
find there but BIZ 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 i'm society.
I felt right sorry for the little thing
''She and Bill had just arrived. and at
dinner l noticed the curious patrOniz-
ing looks that were handed 10 them
bo'h. The roor child blushed, and sat
dumb. Bill looked mad and drank too
much champagne.
Along about the bird somehow the
talk turned on cards. There were a
couple of hard faced matrons there,
that I sized uD as human sharks from
the start. They led the pack I'm the
| card movement, and they never
dropped the scent until they had il
fixed that the ten of US should make
two tables Of pOker after dinner.
Mrs. Stuyvesant tried 70 beg or be-
cause she couldn't play. but the human
sharks insisted on teaching her, and
me- de so many mean title pokes at her
country breeding and Bits poverty
that at last Bill settled the business
himself. So after the cigars / found
| myself at a table with 3 II and Mrs.
Bin and the two instructors.
'The lesson was short enough. The
| professors wrote out list OF hands for
| Mrs StUyvesant to use. told her the
rules. and answered the few pitifu1
! OTeStiOns she asked 7 was mad clean
THROUGH. Bill wes boiling.
This is a damned outrage, he
whispe~ed. Helm her If YOU cam
ut was a no limit aff9ir-a very swift
one. too wos too busy myself 20
think more Of Mrs. s. but 7 saw that
Sic was terr'bl conserve tive. afraid Of
Der life and irs+ dribhlins away her
chirs in antes and iacEnots
Throws Down Winning Hand.
zone or twice she threw sure VIM
ming hands face up on the table--afraid
| 10 bet them. The human sharks were
giggling and gobbling up chips. Bin
was losing. / was about even.
Then somebody started a jack-sl0
all around. 1t was sweetened a 81 chip
for I'VE deals running. That put SO
N It.
Then one of the sharps opened il
| for the size on Mrs. Stuyvesants deal.
The other shark stayed. / dropped. So
did Bill.
Il looked at Mrs. 5. She was very
much excited. Her eyes were swapping.
and>she was examining her list of
| hands intensely.
Oh she cried, I wish I knew! I
wish | knew Can't I ask Billie?'
- No snapped Shark Number One.
oh cried Mrs. s, then Yes, I
must!' and she showed out $50 worth
OF chips.
Pill turned white. / shook in my
/ boots. Shark Number One hesitated
/ and scowled. Then she pushed out her
/ SI5. Number Two cropped, with a
| nasty little word. Number one drew
/ two cards. Mrs. Bill put down the
/ pack.
How many does the dealer take?'
| cracked Number One.
az? oh. / don't want any, All
swered Mrs Bill.
Bill sighed contentadly. The shark
( bet 81. The pot now contained 276
/ simo'eons.
/ Dear mer cried Mrs. Bill, 4 want
/ TO bet lots. Bill, lend me sonnet and
/ she showed 800 out on the table. and
settled back with the pinkest, most
/ impIoring expression. mutely begging
/ the shark TO come on.
THAT lady looked at her cards and
/ froWned
Not this time she snorted. II you
want people to bet when YOU have
| anything YOU must learn TO bet some
/ times when you have less than a
! straight flush. Take the pot. Three
/ kings openers
Game Of Successful BLUFF.
"'Oh. OH. cried Mrs. stuyvesant.
| and was what you call bluffiing, too
| and she threw down the four, seven
| and nine Of clubs. The queen OF hearts.
and the ace Of spades. 4 thought you'd
! be fooled she went on naively, be-
! cause I'd been so careful BEFORE
s"Bill confessed to me that he nearly
/ died OF heart disease right on the
1 spot was too happy to notice. I
/ was watching the human sharks.
How did you do it,? I whispered
admiringly when the play had started
! again.
Mrs. Bin smiled in her bewitching
/ way.
"'oh! she answered softly. I haven't