The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-11

lat the finish. they all congratulated UeT
lupon her wonderful u of luck
Marvellous, wasn't it, replied the
new member, sweetly and pleasantly,
land the six representatives wives de-
lDarted from the hotel together. But they
didn't say a word to each other about
1.-The regularity in the play of the new
member.
The next session was held at the
home of n Of the congressional wo-
linen. The new member was again in
ldulged in her strange but exceedingly
profitable popularity of play. She won
NEARLY all of the big pots, but only on
Ia few occasions did she show what she
had o the pots on, and when she did
display her hands her cards were very
strong ones With the exception of the
three times, however, she merely an
nounced, in a placid, perfectly confident
and easy sort of tone, what she had,
threw her cards face down into the
discard and pulled in the chips.
lat the close of play on this afternoon,
however, she had a slight lapse OF
memory, apparently. 1t was a jackpot,
lin which all had stayed. The hostess
land the new member were the only two
to stick for any length of time after the
draw, however. The hostess had a spade
flush that looked pretty good TO her,
land she sawed a lot or 1t But the
new mmeber appeared to be quite in
jvincible.
'rOh, I'm afraid you have me beat
again" said the hostess, but | can't
lay my flush down. | call" and she
bounced her two-bit chip TO the cen
tier.
Mine is a ten-fuil on ~sevens," COM
lposedly remarked the new member,
lchucking her cards into the mess with
Iout showing them and pulling in the
pot.
"A ten full?" one Of the other wo-
men started to say Why, ! had a pair
lof tens, and"
"a nine full on sevens, | should have
Isaid," corrected the new member, with
lout a symptom of excitement.
"The six congressional women, on
talking it over when they met at a re-
'ception on the following day, ventured
to express themselves mildly about the
phenomenal streak of luck on the part
lof their new poker member.
Il wish she'd show her cards,
Though; when she calls or is called"
Isaid one of them p~laintive(y.
$50 do l." they all agreed, and then
they fell silent. They were all think
ing queer things by this time, but none
feared to be the first to express her
Thoughts
At the third session-the last IN
(which the social fgurante took part
with the group of congressional women
Ia niece of the hostess, a young mar
Iried woman from the far west, was
present. She was visiting her aunt for
Ia few days. When the game began az
tier the luncheon this niece didn't care
Ito play, not knowing much about the
Igame, she said, and being very un-
lucky at it, besides. She merely looked
lon. After a bit she took a chair directly
behind that of the new member, al
Though the new member didn't notice
lit It came to pass a few minutes az
tier the young had taken her
Ichair behind that of the new member
THAT the latter was called.
II filled my f1ush," she announced
with a pleased air, and, tossing her
|cards into the discards, pulled in the
Ipot. But she noticed the slight gasp
behind her and shifted around in her
lchair to catch the eye Of her hostess
niece.
please, my dear, don't sit behind me
lit makes me so nervous she said to
1.-The young woman from the far west,
land the young woman got up. There
Twas a curious expression in her eyes
las she did so
Il believe I'll play after all, auntie,"
Ishe said to the hostess.
She sat in and bought a stack. On
the first hand she caught three queens.
iShe boosted it before the draw. all
dropping u except her aunt and the
NEW member. The young woman didn't
better her hand, but she thought it was
|pretty good as it stood and bet the
limit. Her aunt who was next, dropped
The new member boosted back.
II call YOU promptly said the
lyoung woman, sticking in her quarter.
l"Mine are three queens. And yOurs?"
Three kings replied the new mem
her, tossing away her hand as usual
and starting to pull in the money.
Just a minute, please" said the hos
tess's niece in a hard tone that never
ltheless had a Slight quaver in it, and
tshe covered the chips in the pot with
her two hand Il called you, you
know. | haven't seen your three
kings. A mere form, I know, but"
land she deliberately picked up the five
lcards thrown away by the new mem
Der and scanned them.
only a pair of hin2S here SO far as
I can see," she said "There is q jack
with the two kin2s, though. Dourr.ess
Iyou mistook the jack for a king"
"Assuredly, I must have" said tie
new member flushing. Are you sure
you picked up the right cards?"
Perfectly sure quietly replied the
niece of the hostess. The top five, just
Jas you threw them away The pot Is
lmine. of course. An odd mistake on
your part. Perhaps your eyes are
Itired?'
IT have q head2che-thp luncheon T