When Jem loses his pants in the Radley's fence in Chapter Six of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill comes to the rescue with a quick explanation. Jem had approached the Radley's back porch in hopes of getting a peek at Boo, but a shadow frightened him and all three kids ran for safety. While crawling through the fence, Jem became entangled and abandoned his pants. When the kids joined the group of neighbors who had gathered after hearing Mr. Radley's warning shotgun blast, Miss Stephanie and Atticus noticed that Jem was in his underwear. It was Dill who interrupted to explain that Jem had lost them "playin' strip poker up yonder by the fishpool." To Miss Rachel, Dill's aunt, this was probably worse than the truth.
"Gamblin' by my fishpool? I'll strip-poker you, sir!"
As Scout pointed out, "Matches were dangerous, but cards were fatal."
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