Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-15
III. watterson as q Pirate King.

Like all thoroughbred Kentuckisns the
editor of the Louisville Courier Journal
Henry Watterson, is a great p~oker-player.
One evening some years ago he was in New
York city and went to see the first Ameri-
can production Of Gilbert & Sullivan's
opera, THE Pirates Of Penzancs." Being
an sdmirer of pretty women and pretty
music, the performance caught him, and
he was especially taken with the song, IL
Am a Pirate King" He hummed the cir
between the acts and between cloves until
he had it down ''pat." 1t was on his lips
when he left the theatre after the perform
anca, and the melody welled up from his
broad chest as he dropped into a we'll,
known resort and encountered a number
of professional friends. There was
Ned Harrison, Nat Goodwin, Ned
Thorne and other choice spirits, and
to them Mr.. Watterson Landed the new
opera and chased snatches OF the pirate
King" through his puCkered lips. Soon a
modest game ives suggested, and the Gus.
tOdian of the star-eyed goddess OF reform
willingly consented to take q hand. Luck
was not with him at the start, and the
stack in front of him dwindled percepti-
bly,. He warbled his fayOrite song, bat
the melody brought no substantial solsce.
Then he began to relate "reminiscences OF
the times when ''he was with Grant. "
Meanwhile Billy Barry had dropped in as
an on-looker, and when Wstterson, whom
whom he did not know, mentioned his in
innate acquaintance with the old hero,
Billy stepped on Ned Harrington's foot
and in a stage whisper asked: who's his
slobs?:" He was informed that Ibis slobs''
was all right, and then he appear
ed satisfied. Pretty O there
was a jackpot. The editor picked
up his hand, slid tho squeezsrs past his
good eye, and began to softly whisper the
pirate King" Ned and Nat investigated
and stayed in. Thorne dropped ont
Tony Hart, who was dealing, remained in
with the others. Nat bet 10 and Harrigan
saw him. Then Mr.. Watterson passed his
cards in review before his valuable optic,
musically declared himself a pirate king
and showed up a twenty-dollar stack.
Tony Hart gazed at him searchingly over
his band, saw the twenty and held his
breath. Nat and Harrigan passed out,
while Billy Barry shifted to the other foot
and began to take a deep interest in the
tun. Watterson carefully ''skun" his card
again and called Cor zone paper" Hart
breathed a sigh of relief and wanted two
cards. II was the lstteT's bet, and he
felt his way carefully with n seed" The
man with the melody and the uncertain
vision hoisted him o blue stack. Tony ele-
waited him back. hen the editor agliE
used his good eye as a reviewing stand,
aad the five cards passed by in single file.
Again the air which had charmed the
Louisville editor floated upon the atmos-
phere, ard he shunted two nOre stacks to
the leeward ofthe rake off aperture. Tony
look ut bim sghast, and simply called,
throwing upOn the table, face upward,
three large aces and two fves. WstersOn
adorned the table with four stalwart Jacks
and softly hummed - am u Pirate King"
A Tony witnessed his appropriation of the
pot he responded: "In I'D if l don't
think you are" and Billy Barry tiptoed
softly out OF the ruom.