The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-04-07

Eyes, Mr.. Randolph. TIL see to it,
Mr.. Randolph. George, Mr.. Randolph's
/ letters"
"Never mind the letters,' counter
manded the oft-named one, and pro-
ceeded to thread his way to certain
small room strategically placed well
within the depths of the ediflce and
far from the maddening turnult 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.
! Bobby, you old SCOUT"
"Herv, by great balls Of sweat"
! "Randy. from where the devil"
! The speakers arose and pump
handled Mr.. Randolph's arm.
j eye gods, man, where you been:
! Strayed in from a fancy dress"
"Never mind the glad rags, fellows"
said Mr.. Randolph. "I was just feel
ing lonely for the sound of chips. Room
for another?"
"The surest thing! You don't know
these two chaps, do you? Mr.. Seegar,
passed on to us from Frisco, and Mr..
Bowling-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 course! Same old ante. Same
old game. You talk as though you'd
been away for a month
For a moment, but for moment
only, Mr.. Randolph was dazed. Was
it possible that the last three weeks
hadn't been year? He drew out his
sixty-eight dollars and fifty cents non
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 bis
nerves during the next half-hour put
that of the five days wait for hunch
on the Street to the blush. There
came a moment when all his 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 a table-stake game; there are
two and a half million walking the
Streets"
"Oh, stow it!" 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 hunch
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 corollarles
"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 facetjOus remarks
In connection with the safety-frst CAM
paign which was then at its height.
Mr.. Randolph nursed his pile
through five long hours up to eighteen
hundred dollars. Then it was that
he suddenly met g raise Of two hum
dred 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
OWH IuIGc-uuSll, ~ UODloAASu IAo@s sAAN
attention of the S. P. G. A. should nave
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, that 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 flickered 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