Mr. Clarke played the King ...

Mr. Clarke played the King all evening as though under constant fear that someone else was about to play the Ace.
 Eugene Field

Quotes from the same author

Father calls me William, sister calls me Will, Mother calls me Willie, but the fellows call me Bill!.
 Eugene Field
He is so mean, he won't let his little baby have more than one measle at a time.
 Eugene Field
A mighty good sausage stuffer was spoiled when the man became a poet.
 Eugene Field
What smells so? Has somebody been burning a Rag, or is there a Dead Mule in the Back yard? No, the Man is Smoking a Five-Cent Cigar.
 Eugene Field