The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-11-08
PRESCRIBING
FOR the DOCTOR

a. park lNe gentlemen of
modest means meet every Sunday
afternoon for a quiet little game of
uraw poker. At the last meeting the
doctor, the senior member of the ouin.
tet, mad tried to make away with n
large pot by standing pat on a hand
'iat was unit for publication. and
winch was called and beaten by
pair OF Jacks held by wilkins. whom
the doctor deteste' on account of his
lnqulsltiveness. The doctor who was
rather choleric, had left the room in
rage, vowing, as he had on various
other occasions, that he was done
with the game forever. but a weeks
time had smoothed his ruffied feelings
ana he was now the picture of good
humor and composure.
What added somewhat to his pres.
ent good humor was the fact that he
held in his pudgy fat hands three
mines, before the draw, and all the
players in on large jackpot.
wilkins had been pressing the but
ton at regular intervals, and also do
ing the rest, which gave him a very
optimistic view of things in general.
lie had stood all raises and with
jack, king and queen of hearts was
trusting in kind Fortune with child
like faith that Was beautiful to behold
to bestow upon him straight flush.
1t was the doctors deal and he
nervously tossed the cards to the sew
eral players as they called for the
number desired. Wilkins, with a
pleasant smile on his face, was lost
in thought and absentmindedly max
ing rings on the table with the bot
tom of his glass
Mr.. Wilkins, If you will come out
Of your trance and call for your cards
the game will proceed" said the doc
tor with growing Impotence, and cast
ing wolfish eyes at the stacks of blue
and yellow checks in the center of the
table
wilkins came back to the present
with start. Beg pardon, Doc" he
said, "just tear me two off the roof.
Any two will do"
The doctor dealt two cards to him,
and holding up a queen as kicker
to his three mines, dealt one card to
himself. He squeezed his cards tight
ly to see that none of them got away
and slowly skinned them over with
considerable misgivings, as he thought
of several one-card draws against him.
To his great satisfaction he found
fourth nine.
The opener on his left led off with
modest bet and the others simply
made good, except Wilkins, who had
frightened up all at once and seemed
10 take considerable interest in the
situation.
IF you people play poker with me
you have got to. have the goods Will
kins remarked. Doc, just stack up
alongside of that If you think we'll Of
your hand" he said as he dumped
stack of yellows defiantly in front of
him, and then put stack of blues on
top of the yellows.
There was a dangerous CLEAN in the
doctors eyes as he fingered the bills
that were under his checks.
We'll, mine are pretty good cards."
he said, "I'll just bet you $40 harder,
Mr., Man." and pushed checks and
money into the pot.
A sigh of distress went up from the
other players as they dropped their.
hands reluctantly into the discard.
1t was up to wilkins again. Doc" he
said, I've got you beat, but I'll just
call you. know you've been loser in
this game, so I'll let you down easy"
The doctor glared fiercely over his
spectacles at his opponent. Never
you mind about me, you play your
hand. | don't want any of your sym
pathy."
wilkins peeled two tens off his pile
of bills and pushed them into the pot
saying meanwhile, Now, my elderly
friend, will you kindly let us see what
YOU are sitting behind"
Pm sitting behind four of the big
gess mines in the deck. that's what"
snapped the doctor.
Sorry, Dov," said Wilkins as he
drained his glass, but they won't do;
| have here a royal straight flush of
hearts," and he counted them down,
one at time-"Ace, king, queen, jack.
ten" AS he dropped the last card on
the table his face took on a troubled
expression. The card was an eight,
and not ten of hearts.
The doctor had been rapidly going
into state of nervous collapse, but
on seeing the last card had recovered
quickly.
I've been playing poker 40 years,
and that's the first ten | ever saw with
only eight spots on it," he said, sar-
castically. He drew in the pot and
glanced at his watch Great Scott"
he exclaimed, 81 had no idea it was so
late. Here, cash these checks; |
promised my wife would take her to
church tonight, and | just have time
to get there
A protest arose, but all to no effect.
Never broke a promise to my wife
in my life, and too late to begin now"
the doctor said, getting into his coat
and moving toward the door
cuancer had taken no mart in the