The sun., 1908-09-13

Di0u tho uNo Were areauy engaged IN
friendly game. and Mrs. Blaisdell saw to
1t that the Rev. Mr.. Hambuster should
enter the room soon after he arrived.
He was tall, lean, powerful looking
man, with shrewd eye and humorous
smile. but there was no trace of the smile
on his countenance when he saw what
was going on.
Il truly am surprised and grieved, my
friends he said. earnestly, ito see you
engaged in ungodly pastime at q time and
place like this. OF course, this is NOT
exactly the Lords temple, but under the
circumstances it Is no more than fair TO
say that we are sitting under the drip
pings Of the sanctuary. and your game
in such a case seems little short Of sacri-
legious."
Them is tol'able hard words, dominic. .
replied old man Greenhut with. some dis
play Of indignation. "We uns amt none
on us reg'la chu'ch members, but we IN
law 'bidin' citizens and don't p'pose for
to stand for no wrybald statements. not
even I'm a preacher. Is they any good
reason why Jim Blaisdell shouldn't set in
with Few o. his friends into his own
house an have friendly game?'
"No," admitted Mr.. Hambuster. "but
there's good reason why he shouldn't
be playing cards for money. The evils
OF gambling are too"
"Oh, that's what's eatin' OF you. hey v
interrupted the old man. you'd oughter
remember as how the Good Book says The
Judgment O. the hasty is gently upset.
We amt playin' f'r money. We're play
in f'r chips. an II you was all things to
all men, like the Scripter tells. you'd be
more liable fer to take hand with us
nor you would be to revile us f'r righteous
ness sake.
1T may be-" said the clergyman. 1that
was over rash in thinking that you
were gambling, but it had that appear
ance. II you are merely playing for
chips. as you call them, see no harm
in it. but tell me. is this game that you
play the one they call draw pokerp II 1t
is, it seems to me it would be an excellent
opportunity FOR me to acquire a knowl-
edge Of it. Only, OF course, l would not
play for money
well. amt tellin' OF you.' answered
old man Greenhut. a little impaiently,
'as how we're on'y playin' f'r chips. o.
oo'se, we all puts up hundred apiece f'r
the chips when we set in. That's part
o. the game. But when we quit. we all
turns in our chips again. an gets the
money for 'em, 30 there you are
THAT seems fair enough said MIR.
Hambuster, with a queer twist in the
corner Of his mouth. -and on those con-
ditions I see no reason why should not
join you. 1 have long desired to learn
what the game OF draw poker really is.
and presume you will be willing to in
struot me as we play
-Sure we will. Won't we. boys?'
said old man Greenhut in friendly fashion,
and the others all said Sure
Thereupon Mr.. Hambuster produced
a good sized wad. and skinning of five
$50 bills no paid for his stack and took
his seat at the table. That he was GER
tainly interested in the game appeared
from the questions he Immediately began
asking. but his ignorance was apparently
great, for the questions were rudimeD-
tary .
He proved to be an apt scholar though,
and seemed to get an insight more readily
than might be expected. Once or twice
he showed his hand to .Wipterbottom.
who sat on his left. and asked his judg-
ment as to how he would best play. but
for the most part he asked only general
questions and relied on his own con-
clusions.
Moreover he showed himself to be a
genial person pow that his impression
in regard to gambling was corrected.
L. haa lx uyhn ha
several small pots in succession.
1T would be vastly different he said
-if we were really playing for money.
but the mere gain or loss Of few-chips
seems really trivial. find the game
itself, however. exceedingly interesting
But how il a man bets heavily on his
hand when he really holds nothing OF
value?"
That's What we call bluff,' said old
man Greephut, 'an' il nobody calls his
bet he takes the pot"
Does he, really2' said the preacher
aThat seems an easy way to get chips
when the cards come as poorly as they
are coming to me just now And ac-
cordingly he showed all his chips forward
after looking at his hand with an express
sion Of disgust.
There was about SIS in his pile. and
Blaisdell, Greenhut and Bassett all called,
none Of them, however. having better
than three Of, a kind
The Rev. Mr.. Hambuster looked some
what surprised.
Il haven't even got pair" he said
as he showed down his hand, "and l
thought I'd try bluff, as you call it,
but see now that my cards are all spades.
That makes rather strong hand, I be-
lieve. Have any Of you anything better?"
They hadn't. and he took the pot.
Now he said, piling up his winnings,
Il think / will leave your party for the
present, as the other members Of my
fold will be expecting me to spend some
time with them. I may say, however,
that find draw poker. played as yoy
play II, for chips. Is a most agreeable
recreation and quite free from those
disastrous results which had supposed
would follow II an outsider vehtured to
play with you. Possibly 1 have over
estimated the damage you are doing to
the community
His eyes twinkled as he said this, but
his tone was serious and even a trife
stern as he pushed his chips over to old
man Greenhut, saying;
"Ill trouble you to redeem these