Deviled Crabs
Pokes, a hod-carrier, has been discharged by Jabs, the contractor, and on his way home he stops at the saloon to drown his sorrows and partakes freely of deviled crabs and beer. When he arrives home his wife seats him before the fire to rest while she prepares supper. Strange sights appear to Pokes. The devil, with Jabs' face, comes out of the fireplace and Pokes signs a bond selling himself to Satan for a rousing good time. His clothes immediately change and money rains on him. Pokes has a great time, but the devil is always at his elbow. Finally, he decides to rid himself of Satan or Jabs, whichever it is, and hides under the haystack, but it immediately catches fire and Pokes wakes with a wild cry to find that he has poked his feet into the blazing fire. His wife puts out the flames and says, "Come to supper, we have nice deviled crabs." Pokes' reply is left to the imagination, but there are a lot of broken dishes in the yard the next morning.
