The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-05-13
By George Agnew Chamberlain
Copyright, The Bosba- Merrill Company

Tar from the maddening tumuIt of the
streets. The said apartment at the
moment OF his arrival contained five
occupants seated round circular table
OF convenient height and clothed In
pale green, kindest of all shades to the
eye of man. There were no mirrors
on the walls.
Mr.. Randolph's entry was greeted
first with CONSERVATION and then with
shouts.
"Bobbys~you old SCOUT"
"Hery, by great balls of sweat"
Randy, from where the devilY
The speakers arose and pump
handled Mr. Randolph's arm.
Eye gods, man, where you been?
strayed in from fancy dress?"
Never mind the glad rags, fellows"
said Mr.. Randolph. 'T was Just feel
Ing lonely for the sound of chips. Room
for anotherT
THE surest thing! You don't know
these two chaps, do you? Mr.. Seegar,
passed on to US from Frisco, and Mr..
Bowltng-True, our latest new member.
Gentlemen, this is Mr. Randy Ran
dolph Of New Haven and New York,
In disguise but still the best ever"
liable stakes" murmured Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he took his place, apparent
ly at random, but at the left of the
two comparative strangers.
"Of counsel Same old ante. Same
old game. You talk as though you'd
been away for MONTH
For a moment, but flor a moment
only MIR. Randolph was dazed. Was
1t possible that the last three weeks
hadn't been year? He drew out his
sixty-eight dollars and fifty cents nom
chalantly, as though they were merely
the loose change he had on his per-
son, bought fifty in chips, and laid the
small heap of what was left of his
cash on the board. The strain on his
nerves during the next half-hour put
that of the five days wait for bunch
on the Street to the blush. There
came a moment when all zls chips
were gone, and he was forced to see
with a full house for his small pile
of change only.
"Serves you right, Randy" said Mr..
Mein. "For forgetting to pile up the
ready in table-stake game; there are
two and half million walking the
streets"
"Oh, stow~itw murmured Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he counted out his share
amounting to ninety-two dollars and
|, fifty cents. and pushed across the rest
of the fat pot to the next best hand.
He looked up and smiled. Boys" he
remarked frankly, I'm riding bunch
with four legs. Watch me-"
Five spectators did, but got little
excitement of their pains. Mr.. Ran
dolph was playing that most difficult
and uninteresting of poker corollaries
"a tight game. Mr.. Seegar turned i'm
patient as the conviction grew upon
him that he had run up against the
original hard-shell who never drew to
less than a pair of tens, never bluffed,
and could surrender three kings with
out a sigh to @ low straight unseen.
He began to make facetious remarks
in connection with the safety-tirst CAM
paiBn which was then at its height.
Mr.. Randolph nursed his pile
through five long hours up to eighteen
hundred dollars. Then 1t was that
he suddenly met raise of two hun
bred on the part of Mr.. Seegar, tackled
on three hundred more, waited for
that individual to throw in his very
good hand, face up, with the resigned
smile of wise one, and then careless
ly displayed in the same manner, his
own three-flush, so bobtailed that the
attention of the S. P. G. A. should have
been called to the case,
The roar of laughter that went up
from all but Mr.. Seegar was more full
and free than even such occasions
usually produce. Mr. Mein pounded
Mr.. Randolph on the back.
Bobby, old boy" he said, shat was
the eternalest. patientest, and deepest
laid trap I've ever witnessed In life
long pursuit of the only national pas
time |"
The light merely fiickered in Mr..
Randolph's blue eyes, and he returned
to his old job of saving wood. Not
for nothing had he made that grand
stand flourish, and his object had been
gained. A new seriousness, masked In
cold.edged, classic poker. smiles, set
tied upon the table as whole. The
idea that they were, gathered together
merely to while away an idle evening
faded into the background, and, one by
one. like stars coming out at evening
time, supper trays began to make their
appearance. All but Randolph, they
had been toying with poker; now they
began to play it.
That gentleman continued for the
nonee the even tenor of his stride ex-
cept for a Lenten concession 10 his
insides. He ordered placed on stand
at his elbow large jug of Ice water
and platter containing four dozen