The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-22
POKER ATHOPEWELL CORNERS
THE CHALK-ANTE GAME RE.
VIEWED ~ NEW YORK COURT.
Farmer Ira stevenson Got Cash for =
$50 check, Lost SIT. Then stopped
me Check The Court UphOlds Him and
Hes Got the gas Vet, Besides the $50.

Farmer IRA St-Ntilsuu NsuL NNAn TOT =
$50 check, Lost SIT. Then stopped
the Check The Court UphOIds Him and
Hes Got the S8s Yet, Besides the $50.
Where they raise the most famous
reaches, way down south in Hopewell
The milk stools are the chairs, soap boxes
the tables and red, white and blue chalk
marks the checks when they indulge In
the good old American game. The para
pbernalia Is primitive, but the dark ways
and the vain tricks have penetrated well
into the heart Of Maryland.
Ira Stevenson, aged and goateed, and
strict deacon though he IL, can tell about
Il for he has had experience. How he
feu from grace, yielded to seduction. lost
his peach money and recovered II by a
forced midnight drive he remembers too
well ever TO forget.
II was c tsp day in early fall and Ira
wa feeling a mite perk and fresky az he
bitched his spirited colt 10 his red side
har wagon and started for the Corners.
two short miles away. check for $50,
from Brewer 4 Son, New York produce
merchants, lifted up his spirits still higher.
With a good peach crop, high prices and
prompt payments on every shipment
prosperity reigned in Ira's neighbor-
boos. Suppose he did start TO town little
early that day and intend TO stay little
late
When you get that check cashed, Try.
YOU come right straight home. Don't
YOU 20 hanging around with them at the
Corners
The effect Of the good wife's parting
adnonition was lost by the time the colt
drew up before Bill Whittingtons, scarcely
mile away.
Pears like you all are working people,
saluted Ira.
Jest hanging around waiting for some
body that amt afraid to show up drawled
Bill. coming from behind the barn. Jest
naturally reckon / can spare a minute
or two il you'll hetch up that there low bred
colt
The authoritative version Of what hap
pened next Ira Stevenson committed to
manuscript In letter 70 Brewer Son,
produce merchants on Barclay street, this
city. Later the letter fell into the hand
Of James Forrest, a lawyer at 81 Warren
street Mr.. Forrest searched diligently
for the letter yesterday, but was unable
10 find it, From Mr. Forests description
OF the contents IL Is regrettRble that the
original is gone, He remembers the glst
Of i. but can not preserve the vernacular'
From the LAWYERS description IL appears
that Ira was feeling so lively and snttish
that he wouldn't have run away from any
thing that day. And when Bill Whiting
ton proposed tantalizingly game OF draw
out In the barn, where Bills wife wouldn' {
know. Ira was ready Bill brought along
his hired man, a young chap from the
Corners 10 make up the game.
They played with one Of the decks that
Bill and Ira used TO shuttle at old sledge.
Ira admits that he didn't know much about
poker but reckoned from his experience
with Bill at old sledge that he could take
care Of himself with his neighbor at any
game.
Three legged COW stools were improvised
into chairs a soap box served as a table
and instead Of checks they used red, white
and blue chalk. The limit was rs cents
and when they anted nickel each player
made white mark on the soap box. Fol
10 cents it was a red mark, and when any
one raised it the limit the blue chalk was
brought into play.
Ira had a bad run Of luck from the first
Soon he had lost all his loose change an
md TO resort 10 the check. Bill took il
into the house and acCommodatingly cashe /
II for him. Fostering the loser bit and act
log aggravating.
With a fresh stock Of funds Ira 8 sporting
blood ran high and he raised no objection
10 raising the limit. His had luck con-
tinued and discretion jumped ahead OF valor
after he had lost Sl2 more. He went home
20 face his wife.
W hen ne produced Dut SS5 OF lne uty,
explanations we're in order. II was no use
trying 10 beat about the bush; the truth
had 10 be told. When the dame superior
Of the household had loosened her mind
the commands we're peremptory.
you 20 licketty split TO the Corners, Try,
and YOU telegraph those New York pluto
Gratis not to pay that check till they hear
from me"
Ira obeyed. His message was pithy and
hcorc"
Kill that check he wired. letter fol-
lows
Brewer 4 Son, vino are produce mer-
chants on Barclay street, did as directed,
Bill Wilmington didn't get his money, and
when the check WAS returned. payment
stopped, Bill brought suit against the
makers Of the check through Robinson,
Beade A Ward Of this city. The case was
brought before Civil Court Justice Lynn
and then carried 10 the Appellate Term.
That BODY decided against Wilmington
yesterday on the ground that the con-
sideration was a gambling debt, =
Meanwhile, Ira Stevenson, wiser from
experience is also money In pocket. The
produce firm has paid him his $50 and up
10 date he has got the S3S in change also.