Had!

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 16 March 1891, Page 3

Had!

♦ " Fare, gentlemen," suggested a conductor in the smoking-car to a party of four catd players Three of them quietly handed up tickets, but . the iourth man near the window became suddenly embaressed. • Fare ! ' again remarked tha brass moun'ed official, rather sternly, The passenger addressed replied with a series of spasmodic wink* and tapped the back of his cards. "Come sir, I'm in a hurry," said the conductor. " I have'nt got any ticket." •« Pay, your fare, then with the usual slight advance." " Boys, will you allow me to take a rake off ? " inquired the delinquent traveller. "Not much," answered the trio. "My moneys all up," said the passenger appea!ingly to the conductor. You will have to ge.t off then," answered tha official," reaching for the bell rope. Ihe man laid his cards face downwards and said io a low tone to one % of the other players : " What do you do?" l Kl raise yon, ' was the reply., „.«« How much ? " " Twenty dollars. 1 ' Themau by the window passed bis hand up to ths conduotor. The latter gave it one glance. Then he released a large fat pocket-book from inside his coat, took out two twenty dollar bills, and handed them to the i delinquent. "I see your 1 twenty better," he said. This com.gjicajed. matters and the original raiser, of 20dol. shifted uneasily in his seat;. Finally he said : " I raise you ljpiaoia." '< Call him," said the handing over an X, "I'm io«a buwyv" 'The delinquent pasuerigflf "did so, and was about to take in thcrmoney on four aces, when the other player showed a straight flush and pocketed all the money, mc uding the conductor's The latter was dazed ; dtihe delinquent passenger meek and abashed. "Now you will have to get off," snapped jthe conductor. u YesVflir : stop the train," he replied. The svhole party. got off. "Know those fellers?" inquired a fat man on the opposite side of the aiale. "No " answered the couductk tor. Slickest quartet of card sharps on J;he road. How much did they do yfiff'^ftr?" But the conductor i.iced himself down toward the door, . which he banged shut without replying to the sardonic inquiry.