Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1912-02-12
Ole
Poker Lesson
By r. +. FOSTER.
Copyright, 1910, by the Pearson
Publishing Coz

| cline their invitation to join a game OF
poker; but 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 liberal game"
Apparently both Maxwell and ORA
per were colonels, 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 trife too
! liberal 10 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 dollar; no
| limit but the roof. any one having
| right TO call a sight for his pile any
! time.
But if a man borrows 10 raise. he
must borrow 10 CALL insisted Wat
| kins.
Sure" responded Colonel Maxwell.
And straight fushes 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 jack-pots as we'll
They insisted on the jack-pots, but
| the rest OF the game was agreed 10.
| Frank being willing to play almost
| anything as he was "on velvet" now,
| and the result of the previous even
| ings play had made him very conf
! dent that he could beat that game all
| the time.
Fortune certainly seemed to smile
I upon Frank Avery to the exclusion OF
every one else at the table. If he held
| 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 a straight he
got the pot away from three of kind.
You had better stay on this boat"
remarked the barkeeper contidentially.
when Frank went TO get cigar. You
can give those fellows cards and
spades at playing poker. I've been
watching your game" he added with
a knowing wink. You cant 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 telling you, young
Teller" he whispered, leaning over the
bar; you don't get chance like yours
more'n twice in a lifetime. Why. I'd
give five hundred dollars to take your
place in that game for the rest Of the
trip"
Il must leave the boat in the morn
ing remarked Frank. looking away.
Il should lose my job IL didn't. The
| firms depending on me TO attend to
contract that is to be let Friday, and
| they want it,
Before the barkeeper could say any
fffU n1
| them. Suppose well have our little
game again tonight" he began breez-
lily. only three days more
Hes going to fly the coop to-mor-
row morning. he says" remarked the
barkeeper, setting out the whiskey.
Going to leave u.s." exclaimed
| Colonel Draper why. my dear fell
low. you must finish the trip with us.
You can't break up the game that
way. Come down to my place and stay
a week if you like"
Frank explained the urgent nature
| of the business upon which he was en-
gagged. only to have it lightly pooh
poohed by the Colonel and also by
Maxwell. who joined them just then.
Hang the contract" was Maxwell's
| immediate comment. ut must be
some picayune job in that town. Put
| in any old bid high enough to make
no mistake about getting it. Your
firm doesn't expect 10 get everything
| it bids on. does it? You must not
break up our little game that way, you
know. That VIII never do"
1t spite OF all the two colonies could
say. and in spite of all the knowing
winks with which the barkeeper pune
tured his advice, Frank was firm In
his determination TO 20 ashore next
morning. Opposed to the repeated ar
| gument of his tempters that the firm
would never know" was his recollec-
ton of Jennie's parting words: Think
OF me as if | were standing beside
you. and you cannot lose"
When the four sat down to play
their last game together that evening.
nothing was said to Watkins about
Franks determination to leave them
next day.
Same old thing. | suppose?' he de-
| manded as the cards were shufied.
That's right" answered Colonel
| Draper. -Four of kind is high, and
call a sight for your pile if you want
| IN. hut if YOU borrow TO raise, you