The Elbert County tribune., 1906-11-01
PRESCRIBING !.
FOR The DOCTOR


modest means meet every Sunday
afternoon for a quiet little game OF
draw poker At the last meeting. the
doctor. the senior member OF the quin-
tet. had tried ito make away with a
large pot by standing pat on a hand
that was unfit for, publication, and
which was called and beaten by
pair of jacks held by Wilkins, whom
the doctor detested ON account OF his
inquisitiveness. The doctor, who was
rather cboleric, had left the room In
rage. vowing. as he had on varions
other occasions, that he was do Z
with the game forever. hut n weeks
time had smoothed his rultts4f feciisgs
and 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 hut
ton at regular intervals. and also do
ing the rest. which gave him n very
optimistic view OF things in general.
He had stood all raises and with "a
Jack. king and queen of hearts was
| trusting in kind Fortune, with n child
like faith that was beautiful TO behold
TO bestow, upon, himsa straight fissh,
II 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.
fnf t.f,, IA.
| tom of his glass.
Mr.. wilkins, II you VIII come out
of your trance and call for your cards
the game viii proceed said the doc;
tor with growing impatience. and east
ing wolfish eyes at the STACKS Of blne
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 mp queen as a 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
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 has
frightened up all at once and seemed
to take considerable interest in tho
situation.
| IF you people play poker with me
you have got to have the goods" VIII
kins remarked. Doc, just stack up
alongside Of that II you think well Of
your hand" he said as he dumped a
stack of yellows defiantly in front q
him. and then put stack OF blues on
top of the yellows.
There was dangerous CLEAN In tho
doctors eyes as he fingered the bills
that were under his checks.
well. mine are pretty good cards."
he raid. "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. I don't want any of your gym.
pathy."
Wilkins peeled two tens of 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?"
I'm sitting behind four of the big
gest mines in the deck, that's what!"
snapped the doctor.
Sorry, Doc" said wilkins as ha
drained his glass, but they won't dc:
have here royal straight flush OF
hearts" and he counted them down,
one at time-"Ace, king, queen, Jack,
ten" AS he dropped the last card en-
the table his face took on troubled
expression. The card was an eight,
and not ten of hearts.
The doctor had been rapidly going
into a 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 1t 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 promise to my wife
in my life. and too late to begin now"