BECKERWOOD
Aw, Y’all go ahead and play.
                              (to tush Hawg)
Deal! 
                              (Tush Hawg begins to deal for draw
                              poker.  The game gets tense.  Sack
                              daddy is first man at TUSH’s left—­he
                              throws back three cards and is dealt
                              three more)

Sack daddy
My luck sure is rotten!  My gal must be cheatin’ on me.  I ain’t had a
pair since John Henry had a hammer!

Black baby
                              (Drawing three new cards)
You might be fooling the rest with the cryin’ you’re doin’ but I’m
squattin’ for you!  You’re cryin’ worse than cryin’ Emma!

Too-Sweet
                              (Studying his three new cards)
                              (Sings)
When yo’ cards gets lucky, oh Partner, you oughter be in a rollin’ game.
[Handwritten:  get you foot offa my chair etc]

Aunt Dilsey
                              (Enters through portieres—­stands and
                              looks disapprovingly)
You all oughter be ashamed of yourself, gamblin’ and carryin’ on like
this!

Black baby
Aw, this ain’t no harm, Aunt Dilsey!  You go on back to bed and git your
night’s rest.

Aunt Dilsey
No harm!  I know all about these no-harm sins!  If you don’t stop this
card playin’, all of you all goin’ to die and go to Hell. 
                              (Shakes warning finger—­exits through
                              portieres—­while she is talking the
                              men have been hiding cards out of
                              their hands and pulling aces out of
                              sleeves and vest pockets and
                              shoes—­it is done quickly, one does
                              not see the other do it)

Nunkie
                              (Shoving a chip forward)
A dollar!

Sack daddy
Raise you two!

Black baby I don’t like to strain with nobody but it’s goin’ to cost you five.  Come on, you shag-nags!  This hand I got is enough to pull a country man into town. [Handwritten:  Last sentence crossed through in pencil.]

Too-Sweet
You all act like you’re spuddin’!  Bet some money!  Put your money where
your mouth is [Handwritten:  els my fist where yo mouf is.]

Tush Hawg
Twenty-five dollars to keep my company!  Dog-gone, I’m spreadin’ my
knots!

Sack daddy
And I bet you a fat man I’ll take your money—­I call you. 
                              (Turns up his cards—­he has four aces
                              and king)