Life — December 6, 1883 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VOL, IL. DECEMBER 6TH, 1885. 1 155 BRoapway, ‘New York. Published every Thursday, $5 a year in advance, postage free. Single eoples 10 cents. “ T ‘really appears that I spread myself a little too prema- turely on that Thanksgiving proclamation. I take it all back." —Butler, * . * R. TooTeR WILLIAMS was late at the meeting of the Thomp- son Street Poker Clab, Saturday evening ; but as he had Elder Boss DICKERSON in tow, the secretary remitted the usual fine. It was confidentially learned that the Elder had just re- ceived $17.50 on an extensive kalsomining contract, and was probably good for as much more, and as Mr, WILLIAMS had already played with the deck of cards now upon the table, and Mr. Ruse Jackson had consented for a small percentage not to play, but to sit in a sociable way behind the Elder's chair, the game promised to be one of extraordinary interest. Having been introduced to the Rev. Mr. THANKFUL SMITH, Mr. Gus JouNson, and Professor Brick, the Elder shucked off his ulster, produced a corpulent wallet, purchased $1.79 worth of blues and reds, and opened up the game with an expression of determination and a thumping blind, which made the excitable Mr, JoHNson’s eyes stand out like those of an apoplectic crab. Seven hands were played, and as Mr. JACKSON, who sat behind the Elder, had evidently forgotten the code of signals to the extent that he winked with his right eye when he should have winked with his left, Mr. WILLIAMS was already out ninety-seven cents, and was * correspondingly mad. At last, however, Mr. JACKSON was made aware of his error by a searching kick delivered beneath the table, and a new deck, which had been thoughtfully placed on ice by the Rev. Mr. SMITH before the company assembled, was produced, It was Mr. Jounson’s deal, and the Elder's blind. Everybody came in. The Elder raised the blind 65 cents. The decisive moment had come. “* I rise dat rise a dollah,” said the Rev. THANKFUL SMITH, with the calmness of one who expects to fill a bobtail. “LT sees yo’ dat, and I liff yo’ a dollah mo’,” ventured. Mr. WItuiaMs. “*T calls,” said the Elder, Mr. SmitH also called, and the three proceeded to draw cards. Mr. WILLIAMS wanted two cards; the Rev. Mr. SmitH guessed he'd take one, and the Elder concluded to play what he had, Mr. StH led out with a two dollar stack, Mr. WILLIAMS slowly pulled out a corpulent wallet, fixed a belligerent glare ap- parently on Mr. Sartu, banged the wallet heavily on the middle of the table, and said impressively : **T goes yo’ dat two, an’ six dollahs rise.” “I rise yo’ six,” said the Elder, but without putting up chips. The Rev. Mr. Smit dropped out. the wallet and said : *T goes yo" six mo’."" : The Elder raised one foot, and placed it neatly on top of Mr. WILL1AMs’ wallet, and said: “T rises dat ten,” ‘* Whar’s de money ?" inquired Mr. WILLIAMS, with a polite smile, “« Whar's yo’ money ?” retorted the Elder, as sweetly. Mr. WILLIAMS pointed to the wallet underneath the Elder's heel. ‘*Dat’'s all right, den,” said the Elder: ‘I 'se got jess as much leather on dis yar table as yo’ has.” ‘Whad yo’ mean by dat ?” asked Mr. WILLIAMS. ‘* Put up er shet,” said the Elder. Mr. WiLLtAMs drove his knife through his cards, pinning them to the table, and called out the Rev. Mr. SmiTH for a consulta- tion, The Elder thoughtfully whistled a tune, drew a razor, and seemed to be trying its edge on the surface of his bottom card. Mr. JACKSON watched Mr. WILLIAMS’ hand to see that nothing got away, and Mr. JoHNson kept his eye on the pack. Mr. WILLIAMS returned triumphantly, and counted out thirty dollars, which he had evidently borrowed from Mr. SMITH. ‘*T calls,” he said, The Elder put up his razor, shook $29 out of the wallet, made up a dollar more with mutilated coin, sorne pennies and a postage stamp, and said briefly : “Whad yo’ got?” “Fo! kings,” said Mr, WILLIAMS with a deadly gleam in his eye. ‘* Not good,” said the Elder. ‘* Wha—whad ?” faltered Mr. WILLIAMS. ‘Fo’ aces.” With this the Elder showed four aces swept the pot into his hat and left the room. The five sat dazed. ‘I done guv him three aces an’ two trays, sho,” said Mr. JOHNSON. “*T put dat han’ up mysif,” asseverated Mr. SmitH, bewildered. “*T seed bofe dem trays in he hand,” observed Mr. JACKSON. Mr, WILLIAMS said nothing, but silently examined the Elder's hand. Finally he inquired hoarsely: “Did he hev a razzer?"” ‘*Yezzah,” said Mr. JACKSON ; “he done play with he razzer de whole time yo’ was outen de root Mr. WILLIAMS rose with a withering look, and put on his coat. ‘* Whad’s de madder, Toot?” inquired Mr. SmitH ; How yo" splain hit?” Mr. WILLIAMS pointed to the ace of diamonds, lately in the Elder’s hand. ** Gin any niggah de tray er diamonds an’ a razzer an’ tree aces, and whad kin fo’ kings do? Gwuffum heah. He done played me outen thirty dollahs on er scraped tray. Dad 's what makes me ’spise pokah.” With this, Mr. WILLIAMS left the room. * * * Mr, WILLIAMS pointed to “ce you must really excuse the expression of disdain I wear. I really cannot help it, and after you have set me up on Bedlam's Island I will try and forget your meanness,""—Liberty, comicbooks.com