Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-28

closed, me q my vile went TO Memphis.
and We stopped at the WORKMAN house.
The next morning we got our things to-,
gether, and Tempted allinsy papers ont of
my trunk on the floor, and Mary, I'm not
certain his wife's name was Mary but that
will do for the tale) went over them. hunt
lne for something TO make money out OF.
empted my pockets and Mary ,emptied
her'D, and between US We had 81 80. After
huntin' over everything We found that eve
~ man who owed me was either dead or
broke. I hadn't one single paprr on which
l could raise a cent outen. After We got
through the pile I looked at Mary and
Mary looked at me.
Nov what's to be done, Mary ~ says l..
4 don't know. says ehe, "but the Lord
will provide"
You see Mary was one of the best women
in the world. and she had a heap Of faith
in her religion. Il looked at her right
straight for a long time, and at last says:.
"Mary, yon are a good woman, and Pm
going to tell you something. There's to be
q big dinner at tots evening, and Im
Invited. They always play poker at
that house, and you have always
been agin me playing, and l reckon you are
right about it. But things have become
desperate with US. and somehow 1 feel if
you wouldn't be agin me, but would pray
for me, l could make a raise this very
night"
wrong for you 70 d, it, and I'd a heap rath.
er you wouldn't"
"But, Mary, Gays /, Il never was in such
ak before. Here We are with no money
but $3.50, and that won't pay our tavern,
bill. / can't lose no more than that, for I
that ] won't bet on credit iii lose
that I'll come home; and i'll wiz, then.
we'll have something to start on. Well, I
argued and argued with lher, but she would,
not say yes. But at last she says: ;
bedford, I know your mind is set on it,
and IsknoM you are soingsto BET, whether
| am willin' or not, 80 I won't say nothing
more about it."
"But,; somehow, 1 felt whenI started that
she was for me, and l jist knowed how
'twould be-"
"Well, !. went some time before dinner,
and, sure enough, they we're Att. They hid
three tables-one had a quarter ante, one 4
hall, landone $1s60. I wanted my 81 10
Hast as1ong - I could make it, 20 / 81,
down to the quarter table. We bet on until
dinner, and bythat time I had won enough
to do better; and after We had ate. l cal
down testhe $l.6O table. Sometimes I won,
and then again I'd lose on until night about
midnight, and then I had, better luck.
know'd Mary was sitting up and praying;
felt like it, and it made me cool. i Get my
hat down:by myIaide on the floor, and every
time I'd win I'd drop the money in the hat
We played on, and I didn't know nothing
about how much I'd won. I didn't keel
any count, buttI 'knowed I was winning. ]
thought may be I'd won 500 OF may b,
$500, but I didn't know. I set there until
dsy brote, aud then-vs went home. I tool
u hat tpineboth hands aud-nasAed it OF
my head and went home without taking il
of. When I got home there sat Mary il
her gown, and the bed wasn't mashed. ShsG
set up all night waiting for me. She SCENE
tired and anxious, and though she looked
mighty hard at me she didn't say . word
1 walked right up to her, and pulling Of
my hat with both hands Tempted It al
right in the lap of her gown. And then y,
sat down and counted it" e.3tha5
"How much wa there, general p
"Just $500 even" 80
"And that" added the general, Is h.
walked of, give me . START