The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-23

poker: DuC they assured him that FIVE
cent ante, to call ten, was all they
played, and that the limit was table
stakes, so that he could not possibly
lose more than he put on the table in
front Of him.
"Of course" added Colonel Draper,
laughing, that is all you can win as
well. All we want is to pass the time
We all play a liberal game
Apparently both Maxwell and ORA.
Per were colonies, as each addressed
the other and the barkeeper addressed
them both by that title. There were
only two other men in the game, one
of whom seemed to be very keen, but
had bad luck. AS for Watkins, his
game fully justified his explanation
that he only played for fun at home;
and as for the two colonies, Frank did
not think much of their skill as poker
players, their game being a trifle toe
liberal to be a winner, he thought
After they had been playing for an
hour or two, he found that the modest
ten dollars that he had placed on the
table for his stake had increased to
about fifty, and he began to have
visions of various extravagances upon
his return to town, among them a dia
mond ring, for Jennie.
The next afternoon, when they as
sembled to resume their game, one OF
the party was missing, the keen player
with the bad luck having left the boat
during the night. No one else being
available, the four sat down to play
and Colonel Draper suggested that in,
stead of table stakes they should play
the regular good old-fashioned river
game; fifty cents, call a dollar; nc
limit but the roof, any one having a
right to call sight for his pile any
time.
But If a man borrows to raise, he
must borrow to CALL" insisted Wat
kins.
Sure" responded Colonel Maxwell
"And straight Pushes are barred, four
of-a-kind being the best hand out, reg
ular old Mississippi style. That's the
game for me! Nothing ever like it!
Let US cut out the jaek-pots as we'll
They insisted on the jack-pots, but
the rest of the game was agreed to
Frank being willing to play almost
anything, as he was ION velvet now
and the result of the previous even
ing's play had made him very conf
dent that he could beat that game al
the time.
Fortune certainly seemed to smile
upon Frank Avery to the exclusion Of
every one else at the table. If he helt
three little ones, they just topped
some one that had two big pairs. Every
time he got flush he beat straight
and every time he filed straight ht
got the pot away from three Of a kind
You had better stay on this boat,
remarked the barkeeper confidentially
when Frank went to get cigar. "Yor
can, give those fellows cards an6
spades at playing poker. I've beer
watching your game" he added with
a knowing wink You can't lose
Those planter fellows don't care what
it costs them, they don't. All they
want is to pass the time. You just
mind what I'm a telling you, young
feller," he whispered, leaning over the
bar; you don't get a chance like yours
more'n twice in a lifetime. Why, 70
give five hundred dollars to take your
place in that game for the rest of the
trip"
II must leave the boat in the morn
ing" remarked Frank, looking away
ct should lose my job if I didn't The
firms depending on me to attend to q
contract that is to be let Friday, and
they want it,
Before the barkeeper could say any
thing further, Colonel Draper Joined
them. Suppose we'll have our little
game again tonight" he began breez
lily. "Only three days more
Hes going to fly the coop to-mor