Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-11


birdlike spashings.
"Cazy, clazys he cried peevishy, rubbing his poor
tired back
In wholesome contrast was Sid Barker whom Bung
approved as Tommy's friend This plump Californian
scorning the bathroom, showered himself mornings
der the garden hose and carried his own baggage up
stairs. But against these tyrannOus Br1tOnS Bung plot
ted vengeance. He even contemplated poisoning the
fried chicken.
It's being stag party, the conversation naturally took
on the complexion of sport Kent and Hathaway lightly
banded the phrases of the world Boosting of conquests
from Monte Carlo to San Mateo-sinister pictures of
dar-bearded men leaning over baccarat tables, of with
cred dowagerS stalking fortunes at auction bridge IN
London drawing rooms
al guess about all we play out here is poker admit
ted Tommy.
aPokah@ drawled Hathaway. "Do you know I've
heard that's rather an amusing game l never saw it
played
modesty.
The first nights play was early and mild enlivened
by the Engshmen's drol mistakes wherein they ut
tered such these:
"What does one call it when one has three knaves
with pair of tens? That's houseful, isn't it?'
Tommy Oliver seldom garnbled; but it pleased him
teach these islanders something they did not already
know. Moreover, night of gaming seemed bllssful
after week of uncomfortable dullness. The game broke
up in the black hours preceding dawn.
NEXT day Tommy came down for coffee at about
~ noon and met the accusing face of Bung.
mist Tommy he said show muchee you lose las
night
@Who told you ost?" grinned Tommy, helping him
self to marmalade.
81 think mebbe So"
"Takc another think, Bung won Seventy-t
"Nelly nice time quit now"
al guess mott I'm teaching those lads how to play.
It'd be nice welshers game to take greer, mans
money and not give him chance to get 1t back.
"Alli', Lii Boss agreed Bung half heartedly. "leb-
be you sabe plenty But I was heap smat polka player
when l small boy like you. And learn one thing;
When takee money from gleen man, that heap good
time quit!'
Il guess you rotten sport in the old days, Bung
zone mo- thing tellee you, persisted Bung ign no,
ing his young masters comment. Judge Oivah tellee
me take care you when he gone. What he say when
he come back find Tommy lose up heap money play
polka ga1ne?"
"When lose the money, then you can begin to
ry" laughed Tommy. Get another hot biscuit
Polka good camel was Bungs parting advice as
he shuffed into the kitchen.
little later Kent and Hathaway struggled in yaw1l-
ing, to their noontide breakfast These gamy young
Brtons were unaunted by their losses of the night be-
fore, and willing, nay eager to resume their lessons IN
the QUAINT American game" They consented to take
a drive in Tommy S runabout during the afternoon
but directly after the early dinner, Sid again dropping
in from Santa Clara the table cleared and the edu
cation of Kent and Hathaway resumed.
TT is perhaps tribute to the perceptve faculties of
our friends across the that these Englishmen,
in their second game at the Oliver ranch, showed al
most startling improvement. They could be credited,
in fact, with fairly comprehensive knowledge OF the
sport, and when about eleven o'clock, Hathaway sug
gested Wouldn't it be ripping to raise the stakes
bt?" it seemed quite natural that the limit should be
elevated from dime to twenty-five cents. At this
stroke of finance the swinging door between the kitchen
and the dining creaked ominously.
The game advanced joculary enough under the new
stimulus Over the intermittent clicking of chips the dia
ogue penduated between English and American terms
"Drop seed, old mani
"My word! Had drawn another knave l should
have held houseful!'
1.-TWO Stenographers for the lame chcken!"
"I' venture twenty-five. Thank yOn."
But when the game began to swing into the jackpot
period the josh sinmered down monosyllables The
TO creaked
eye at the crack could the pile of chips in front of
Tommy divers place fast dwndling into nothing.