Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-15

poker; but they assured him that five.
cent ante, 10 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 trifle too
liberal to be 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. tho keen player
with the bad luck having loft 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 q dollar; nc
limit but the roof. any one having O
right to call sight for his pile any
time.
But II a man borrows to raise. he
kins.
Sure" responded Colonel Maxwell
And straight flushes are barred. four
ola kind being the hest hand out. reg
ular old Mississippi style. That's thu
; game for me! Nothing ever like 1t
Let us cut out the jackpots as we'll"
They insisted on the jack pots. bu
the rest of the game was agreed TO
: Frank being willing to play almos
anything. as he was ION velvet" now
, and the result of the previous even
, ing's play had made him very conf
i dent that he could beat that game al
t the time.
! Fortune certainly seemed to smii'
, upon Frank Avery to the exclusion o
: every one else at the table If ne hell
three little ones, they Just toppe,
. some one that had two big pairs. Ever.
j. tImc he got flush he beat straigh
I and every time he filled a straight h.
a got the pot away from three Of q kind
t You had better stay on this boat.
8 remarked the barkeeper confldentially
D when Frank went to get cigar. "YoV
1 can give those fellows cards AM
t spades at playing poker. I've beel
. watching your game" he added witt
. knowing wink. you can't lose
1 Those planter fellows don't care wha
t IT, costs them, they don't. All the
want is to pass the time You Jus
). mind what I'm 4 telling you, youn
: feller," he whispered. leaning over tn
e bar; you don't get chance like your
: more'n twice in a lifetime. Why, II
n give five hundred dollars to take you
( place in that game for the rest of tn
8 trip"
n II must leave the boat In the morn
, ing" remarked Frank. looking away
r II should lose my Job II didn't. tn
firms depending on me to attend to
z they want it,"
y Before the barkeeper could say any
: thing further, Colonel Draper 1oine
J. them Suppose we'll have our littl
i game again tonight" he began bree2
q lily. only three days more"
u Hes going to fly the coop to.mol