The Washington critic., 1889-06-10
AN OKLAHOMA GAMBLER.


his crime--three split walnut shells
were conspicuously displayed on an ad-
joining table. "'fhimble.rig," | may
remark in passing, and the socalled
"soap-game' arc the only games to
which the Common Council objects.
All other games are tolerated, appar-
emily. In fact, they enjoy the protection
of the law and are regularly licensed.
Thus game In which any single bet is
limited TO % cents pays license of So
a month. If the limit Is so cents, the
license Is raised TO $40; IL above 90
cents, to $15. ' p.
The Oklahoma City "pen" Is as yet
q tent. Under It's sheltering shade, be-
hind a table, constructed of rough pine
boards, sat the prisonef. He was ~
young scarcely 25 years old-but
ON his pitted face were outlined the
vices and the cxcesses of a lifetime. His
present plight evidently did not trouble
him very much. To him II seemed
rather like huge joke to be guarded
by couple of gawky policemen, fresh
from the plow they had left less than q
month before in the cane brakes of
Arkansas. He was rather good
naturedly inclined, and, when entered,
was engaged in slyly chatting his two
captors. They, in return, looked upon
him with something very akin to ave.
The recital of his adventures In Colo.
rndo, In California, in New Mexico and
elsewhere made him In their eyes an
awful wicked man-and an awful
wicked man Is always so interesting TO-
the average duffer. He didn't know
exactly how 10 size me up ut first, but
presently he must have suspected that
his talk was becominga little too silly,
for he stopped suddenly and called 10
one Of the policemen:
II think I'll write to Ma"
Paper and pencil were put before
supply Of tho former was exhausted.
He called for more. As soon as II was
brought he remarked:
"I'll now write to the girly -girly."
He would have kept this up in,I
definitely had there not arisen just then
confused noise of voices on the out
side of the tent. Amid the din you
could hear threats which left no doubt
as to their intent. The gamblers
check blanched, but he regained his
self possession the minute he saw the
chief of the police enter the tent with a
reinforcement of deputies. Stepping
outside / saw about fifty cowboys.
boomers and others who, as l after
ward ascertained, had been victimized
by the gambler, and who had come
with the intention of "mauling" their
man, if indeed they did not mean
worse
ANY particular business in hand %
/ inquired of the man nearest to me,
with as knowing wink as could sum-
mon.
"Well," replied the fellow, uncon.
cernedly, "the trouble is the cotton.
wood trees down in the bottom are not
quite strong enough. The telegraph
poles might do, and everybody here has
got rope We could have a little fun,
/ think, If they'll let us.
II was with some difficulty that the
gang was induced to depart.
On Monday the trial took place. The
prisoner pleaded his own case, and 1
must confess that excepting that cele-
braied defense of gambling made by
Barry Lyndon in his memoirs / never
read or heard defense more cleverly
put than this was. The City Attorney
was completely ratified, and 1t was evi.;
dent before the trial had proceeded
many minutes that the gambler had
succeeded in gaining the sympathy of
the crowd gathered In the tent. They,
applauded the culprit, and encouraged!
him in every conceivable way to be
insolent to the presiding magistrate.
II was in vain that the latter stamped
with his feet and cried:
"Order, gentlemen, order; you must
preserve order.'
The prisoner argued the simple
minded City Attorney out of his boots,
as 1t were; denying the constitutionality
of the proceedings in toto and declaring
that the judge had no more right to
occupy the seat he did then, than he
(the piisoneD had.
FINED $50 and costs" calmly re-.
marked the Court as the gambler
finished his peroration,
Fifty dollars ?" queried the gambler
with sadness not unmixed with indigna-
ton in his voice. Fifty dollars |?
Fine me $50G. Only $50? Well, well,
has 1t come to this 7"
"What do you mean, sir 2"
"Only $56i" continued the gam.
bier, as # lost in thought or addressing
an imaginary audience, "well, well, II
this isn't the greatest, the softest, the
juciest snap going 4"
And then he delved into his pockets
and produced roll after roll of bills.
Got any change for q $500 bill ~
he remerkcd carelessly.
The little judge reddens with anger
and vexation. He has never seen q
$500 bill in his life.
"The judgment is for $50 and costs,
sir'-with emphasis on the "cost."
What are the costs, any way 2" in
quired the prisoner.
The costs are no more, probably, than
$5, but the little Judge is mad, and he
proposes to make this impudent fellow
feel the full weight of his wrath. So
he says in voice trembling with
emotion while the crowd is scarcely
able TO repress litter;
twenty-five dollars"
Twenty-Five dollars-that makes
altogether $75. Well, now, you're
talking about q decent figure" coolly
says the gambler. And then he puts
down the money, and with ''ta.ta"
walks out of the tent--a free man.
Half an hour afterward he has rugged
up an able-bodied faro game in the
principal street of the town, and the
little judge is facing his prisoner of the
with pile of chips in front
OF him. anxiously watching the turn of
the cards.
Such is the power of the ruling pas
sion in Oklahoma.--LNew York Tri-
bune.