A FRIENDLY GAME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 3 June 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

A FRIENDLY GAME.

"Say, mister," said a tall,.sunburned man pith a wide-brimmed hat, as he edged his pay into the managing editor's room yesterlay afternoon, " Say, mister, do you know .nythingaboutkeards?" "Why, yes,"reponded, the editor, "I know how to play everlasting' and 'oldmaid' and things of hat kind-why ?" "That's just what I want o ask about, Now in playing old maid uppose the man who holds the age antes, ind passes oil the,draw, whose bet iß.it?" 'That .isn't the way'l-.'play it,'!-said-'the iditor,:: ; ; ", In my game, the player who has a [uee'h after the other cards are played is the ild maid," "Perhaps'its everlasting "that .'m thinking of" mused the stranger, " Suplose iil everlasting you shouldcatch anold naid on the draw and when the rest of the ceards'was played you found you hadn't illed. What then!" "I don't see how ■hat question could arise in that game," said ;he editor; "Maybe you are talking of th'o jame called poker."..*,' Poker I what's that•?" iskedtho stranger, looking up in innocent iiirprise. "That's where they have ages md fulls and that sort of thing," '" j)o you jnowhowto play it, stranger?" asked the all man, drawing out a pack of cards, " Will you show-mo how ?" The editor ran iver the cards' and dealt out tw) hands :apidly. "Now," he explained, "two pairs ieat oiie pair, three'of a kind beat two pairs, i flush-beats three, and four of; a kind beat a lush; What have you got ?" ; The stranger laid down a mixed hand, and, the editor ; ex-plained-that it was worthless, as his ofrn band held a pair. "Lem medeal 'emonce," said the stranger running them off 'clumsily, "Five each," '"Yes," replied the : editor, seeing that he had got hold of a sharper, arid nakingap his mind to teach him' a lesson, "'Five each," "Now' what do' we do'?" isked the 1 sharper.' " [f we were bettingl'd liaye toiintea dollar and you'd : oover it with two. 'Then if I'wanted to come in I'd plank another 'dbllar, and'tlien-" "Hold/on, 1 hold on • 'don't' go s'6 fast. You put' up 'two dollar's at'different times, and I put' up two all at oiice. That's it?" "Yes, and .then we draw," : "Let's try it once for fun, if you don't mind, : " said'the sharper, with unnatural eagerness;', "Allright,"'smiled J the editor and he threw two'dollars on' the'table,' which was promptly covered, l "Ifow' youlsay wc draw, Itow',manydoltakeJ" ""You may take what you like; I don't want anyi" said the editor;" "1 "stand pat," "Then I'll take one ke'ard! 'DowebetnOw?" '• V,?," The stranger .'Bet cautiously, and the editm raised him, and'was seen until there were 15 dollar's' wagered, though there wag no money up, beyohd'.thoante.". "I reckon' I won 1 ) bet any morel" said- the stranger' timidly—"who beats;?" and he laid down 'four aces. " I beat you," said the managing editor, and l(olaid, down a straight flush.' "You'owc me'ls dollars." The'stranger looked at the cards some'time, arid then dashed his fist oil the table. '" You played fair, did ye?"■''"» ] did," replied the editor, 1 Slowly the itrarigei pulled out'a greasy wallet, and laid down a 20-dollar bill. The edi{qr gavp.him th< change, and the niari went out, still riinniiu over the cards, and wondering 'how it hap pene'd., " I thought he was'a sharp and hi was only a'flat," said' the editor, explainint the .circumstance later to .'the cashier, as to handed in'the 20 for change, "Like t< oblige'you, : old boy," said the cashier; "buthat'2o js-a qouhtprfdit.''' Parties havim business with the managing editor for a weel or two will please come armed,

Therei is nothing by which! have through ite profited more than bythe just observations, the good opinions, the service- and gentle encouragement'of amiable and sensible womerv-SirS.Romilly.