Show PRESCRIBING FOR THE DOCTOR Not a thousand miles from where Christopher Columbus stands dlscov erlng Central park live gentlemen of modest menus meet every Sunday afternoon for a quint little game of draw poker At the last meeting the doctor the seniormember of the quln let had tried to make away with n large lint by standing pat on a hand that was unlit for publication and which was called and beaten by a pair of jacks held by Wllklns whom tho doctor deteste on account of his InqulsltlvenesB The doctor who was rather choleric had left the room In a rage vowing as he had on various other occasions that he was done with tho game forever but a weeks time had smoothed his ruined feelings and ho was now the picture of good humor and composure What added somewhat to his present pres-ent good humor was tho fact that ho held In his pudgy fat hands three nines before the draw and all tho players In on a largo jackpot AVllklns had been pressing the but ton at regular Intervals and also doing do-Ing the rest which gave him a very optimistic view of things In general lie had stood all raises and with a Jack king and queen of hearts was trusting In kind Fortune with a childlike child-like faith that was beautiful to behold to bestow upon him a straight Hush It was the doctors deal and ho nervously tossed the cards to the several sev-eral players as they called for tho number desired Wilklns with a 1 pleasant smile on his face was lost In thought and absentmindedly making ing rings on tho table with tho bottom bot-tom of his glass Mr Wilkins If you will come out of your trance and call for your cards the game will proceed said the doctor doc-tor with growing Impatience and castIng cast-Ing wolfish eyes at the stacks of bluo and yellow checks In the center of tho tableWllklns Wllklns came back to the present with a start Beg pardon Doc ho said Just tear me two off tho roof Any two will do The doctor dealt two cards to him and holding up a queen as a kicker to his three nines dealt one card to himself He squeezed his cards tightly tight-ly to see that none of them got away and slowly skinned them over with considerable misgivings as ho thought of several onecard draws against him To his great satisfaction he found a fourth nine The opener on his left led oft with a modest bet and the others simply made good except Wllklns who had brightened up all at once and seemed lo take considerable Interest In the altuatlon If you people play poker with me you have got to have tho goods Wll klns remarked Doc Just stack up alongside of that If you think well of your hand he said as he dumped a stack of yellows defiantly In front of him and then put a stack of blues on top ot the yellows There was a dangerous gleam In tho doctors eyes as he fingered tho bills that were under his checks Well mine are pretty good cards ho said Ill just bet you 20 harder Mr Man and pushed checks and money Into the pot A sigh of distress went up from tho other players as they dropped their hands reluctantly Into the discard It was up to Wllklns again Doc ho said Ive got you beat but Ill just call you I know youve been loser In this game so Ill let you down easy The doctor glared fiercely over his spectacles at his opponent Nevor you mind about me you play your hand I dont want any of your sympathy sym-pathy Wllklns peeled two tens off his pile of hills and pushed them Into the pot saying meanwhile Now my elderly friend will you kindly let us see what you are sitting behind Im sitting behind four of the biggest big-gest nines In tho deck thats what snapped the doctor Sorry Don said Wllklns as he trained his glass but they wont do 1 have here a royal straight flush of hearts and he counted them down one at a IImeAce king I queen Jack ten As he dropped the last card on the table his face took on a troubled expression Tho card was an eight and not n ten of hearts Tho doctor had been rapidly going Into a state of nervous collapse but on seeing the last card had recovered quickly Ive been playing poker 40 years and thats the first ten I ever saw with only eight spots on It he said sar pastlcally Ho drew In the pot and glanced at his watch Great Scott ho exclaimed I had no Idea It was so lato Here cash these checks I promised my wife I would take her to church tonight and I just have time to get there A protest arose but all to no effect Never broke a promise to my wlfo in my life and too lato to begin now tho doctor said getting Into his coat and movlnc toward the door Spencer had taken no part In the effort to detain tho winner but now ho Inquired If tho doctor did not live In Fiftyseventh street between Eighth and Ninth avenues I do replied the doctor Will you pass Prlngles drug store > on your way home he asked Tho doctor said ho would I hato to impose on your good nature na-ture Doc said Spencer but Ill esteem es-teem It a personal favor If youll drop In there and see If Prlnglo has anything any-thing to euro you of those cold feet N Y Press |