The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-27

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 a liberal game"
Apparently both Maxwell and Ora
per we're 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 colonels, Frank did
not think much of their skill as poker
players their game being trife too
liberal to be winner be thought.
After they had been playing for an
hour or two, ne found chat 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 dia-
mond ring, for Jennie.
The next afternoon, when they as
semhled TO resume their game, one OF
the party was missing. the keen player
with the bad luck having left the boat
duriag 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 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
r "And straight flushes are barred, four
} of-a.kind being the best hand out, reg
ular old Mississippi style. That's the
I game for me! Nothing ever like III
. Let us cut out the jack-pots as we'll"
They insisted on the jack-pots, bu
!, the rest of the game was agreed to
!. Frank being willing to play almos
4 anything, as he was ION velvet" now
e and the result OF the previous even
e ing's play had made him very conf
\ dent that he could beat that game al
I the time.
s Fortune certainly seemed TO smil
G upon Frank Avery to the exclusion o
|. every one else at the table. If he hell
three little ones, they just toppel
- some one that had two big pairs. Ever
:. time he got flush he beat a straigh
n and every time he filled straight h
n got the pot away from three OF a KIND
I you had better stay on this boat,
g remarked the barkeeper confdentially
o when Frank went TO get a cigar. "Yo
h can give those fellows cards an
Il spades at playing poker I've bee
/. watching your game" he added Wit
n a knowing wink. you can't lost
d Those planter fellows don't care wha
L Il costs them, they don't. All the
want is to pass the time. You jus
r, mind what I'm a telling you, youn
/ feller," he whispered, leaning over tn
g bar; "you don't get a chance like your
P more'n twice in a lifetime. Why /
n give five hundred dollars to take you
Il place in that game for the rest OF tn
s. trip"
n 81 must leave the boat In the morI
e ing" remarked Frank, looking awal
r II should lose my Job II | didn't. Th
firms depending on me to attend to
q contract that Is to be let Friday, an
q they want IT,"
v Before the barkeeper could say an!
/. thing further. Colonel Draper joine
n- them suppose Wen have our littl
p game again tonight" he began bree
y ily. only three days more
al "HA's SoinS to av 'ha coop to-mo