Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1899 — HAD A HUNCH [ARTICLE]

HAD A HUNCH

And the Graft era Didn’t Try to Detain the Farmer. A middle-aged Maryland farmer who picked the right ones to the tune of nearly SBOO at the Rockville Fair races got into Washington on the night following the wind-up of the fair. He was hunting for joyance, and three cheerful workers got hold of him and* nudged him Into a four-handed poker game. The farmer didn’t know much about the game, but be won steadily 'for the first hour. Then the cheerful workers went at biro in a bunch, and they took his winnings and his own bundle off hlifi «o fast that It made him sneeze. One of them got a “squee-Jlb,” which he explained as being a hand that couldn’t be shown, and raked down $135 of the Maryland man’s money. Another got a lallapaloosa, consisting' of three clubs and a pair of spades, and took SBS of the farmer’s < money. The Maryland man only had three queens. Another of the merry grafters caught four diamonds and the ace of clubs on top,, which, beirig a “klfty-nltch,” beat any hand In the deck, as was explained to the man who ha'd won out on the fair, and the “klfty-nltch” topped his kingfall and cost him S9O more. The Maryland farmer began to look pretty solemn when he was more than S3OO in the hole. Then It came to a jackpot. All hads stayed until the pressure became too great, and when two of the grafters dropped out there was ipore than $350 In the center of the table. The farmer stood pat, and be came back at the grafter, who plugged at him every time with $25 raises. When there was more than SOOO in the middle of the table the farmey pasted the amount of the grafter's last raise into the center of the table and called. The grafter laid down four jacks. “No good,” said the farmer, throwing bis hand face down in the middle of the tfible and raking in the pot. “Hold on, there,” exclaimed the grafter. “What are yon trying to do, anyhow? I've got four jacks. What you got?” . i “I’ve got a hunch,” said the farmer, sweeping the stakes, which consisted Of bills, and not chips, into hisr~%cket, and he backed out of the room. yae*happened to be about six feet three, and built proportionately, and the cheerful workers didn’t attempt to detain him.— Washington Fost.