True, no one had seen either Pete or Ropey Smith, but Lang said that they were upstairs playing poker, a favorite relaxation from the strain of their intellectual life.

The two men gave sighs of resignation, and cast carefully concealed glances at each other, speculating on the possibility of a cigar and a glass, and maybe a good story or two, or possibly even a game of poker after the evening meal.

Death and poker level all Americans.

Three-handed poker is a miserable game, and it seldom lasts long.

After poker there is only one other always available amusement for men, and that is business.

''Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help myself.

He had played enough poker to know how brutal it was.

It made him think of a game of poker, in a way, for he never knew what the next instant would place in his hands while the cards of chance were shuffled and dealt.

" La Fleur turned around; her impulse was to seize a poker and rush at the cat.

The coal bursts into crackling fits of merriment, as we thrust the poker between the iron ribs of the grate.

We paid quite freely for our brief monopoly of the railroad to the superintendent, engineer, stoker, poker, switch-tender, brakeman, baggage-master, and every other official in one.

he has thrown the poker at the mirror again, I do believe," said another voice in the hall, and I recognized the housekeeper.

After the tea-things were cleared away, she would sit awhile by the stove, imagining all sorts of excitements in the combustion within; but she could not keep still long without letting a clatter of shovel and tongs, or some vigorous blows of the poker, show what a glorious drum

ye won't take it, won't ye?Here, Poker!" Poker sprang forward, wagging the stump of his tail, and turned his head to one side, as if to say, "Well, what's up?

ye won't take it, won't ye?Here, Poker!" Poker sprang forward, wagging the stump of his tail, and turned his head to one side, as if to say, "Well, what's up?

" Poker took it at once, and a single snap caused it to vanish.

" "Down, Poker!

The few remaining dogs, among whom were Dumps and Poker, were also embarked; and the crew hastily leaping in pushed off.

CHAPTER XXV. Escape to UpernavikLetter from homeMeetuck's grandmotherDumps and Poker again.

" "Wot's come o' Dumps and Poker?" inquired Buzzby, as they reached the boat.

"Have you seen Dumps or Poker anywhere?" inquired Fred.

Meetuck nodded, and pointed to a corner, where, comfortably rolled up on a mound of dry moss, lay Dumps; Poker, as usual, making use of him as a pillow.

All this and a great deal more was told on that celebrated nightsometimes by one, sometimes by another, and sometimes, to the confusion of the audience, by two or three at once, and, not unfrequently, to the still greater confusion of story-tellers and audience alike, the whole proceedings were interrupted by the outrageous yells and turmoil of the two indomitable young Buzzbys, as they romped in reckless joviality with Dumps and Poker.

It will be observed that he does not say "poker"; which might come more naturally to the mind of a more common or Christian wife-beater.

But then a poker is a part of domesticity; and might be used by the wife as well as the husband.