The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-23
TH1 PREACHERS BIG WINNING.
A Minister Who Joined in the Game
for the Good of His Church.
Erom a. Indinnapolis journal.

A Minister Who Joined in the Game
for the Good of His Church.
From the Indianapolis Journal
They tell story of Methodist minister
out in Seattle who was endeavoring 20 raise
money for a new church. After he had
drained the resources of every member of
his church and had passed the subscription
book among all the merchants Of the city,
the thought struck him of seeking donations
among the lower strata of society-the
saloon men and gamblers. After having
secured about s., 900 from the liquor dealers
he proceeded to invade the ranks OF the
card dealers. The first man he struck was
Billy Morgan, keeper Of the most notorious
| joint in Seattle.
"Mr. Morgan, am the Rev. Mr.. Frank
| lin, of the Columbia Avenue Mission
Church" began the plucky little expounder
of tree grace and undying love on the
| Wesleyan doctrine. land have come to
you for a subscription to our new church.
Won't you give me something"
Morgan was, Of course, astonished at be-
| ing approached by a man of the cloth, but
he was good-narured sort OF chap and he
treated the preacher politely. The latter
| INDUCED in few urgent arguments for
donation when the gambler cut him short
with this proposition:
."I'l tell you what I'll do, Mr.. Franklin;
you bear the record of being convert
yourself from our profession-am right"
The minister acknowledged that he once
dealt on the finest layout in San francisco.
"Well," continued Morgan, you haven't
forgotten the difference between king full
and bob-tail flush, and you know enough
vet to grease the board when your ante
comes round Now, I'll make you this bar
gain: You and will play game of old
fashioned draw. FL give you 500 in chips
to start with. For every dollar you win I'll
give you IS bill; if you lose everything
| you don't get cent. Is a it gos'
The good Mr.. Franklin was stumped He
| did want the money so badly and IL he
won it at all it meant $500 for the new Co
| lumbia Avenue church.
Then the question presented itself:
| Would this be gamblings Certainly not;
he would be hazarding nothing, except his
| luck IL he won the church would get $500;
| if he lost the church would not be out a
| cent.
"It's agreed" he said, and Morgan led
| the way TO a neighboring hotel, as it would
never do TO have the minister seen going up
| into his rooms.
The cards and a box of chips were
brought out and spread on the table. Nor
| gan counted out twenty whites, ten reds
and three blues of 81, IS, 80 each. He then
gave himself the same number and the
game began.
BY courtesy the preacher dealt first. aud.
| from the look which Morgan betrayed on
his face, he must have imagined for min
ute he had run up against regular old
| poker shark.
Morgan drew two cards and the good man
one. The latter venrured five whites on the
start.
"That's pretty cheap, and I'll have to
call, smiled Morgan as he SHE'D red into
the pile.
''What have you therep asked Mr..
Franklin.
"Three trays" said the gambler, laying his
hand on the table.
mo good. That last heart gave me a
flush, and the pastor of the Columbia Av-
enue Mission raked in the pot.
81 see you understand the game" loqua-
ciously remarked Billy as he picked up the
cards preparatory to a second deal.
= First game in ten wears, so you must par
don any breach of poker etiquette"
mo fear of your making any breaks"
responded Bill, and the cards went spinning
across the little mahogany table. The min
lister anteed with becoming alacrity aud
gathered up his cards for the survey. This
hand Morgan won. but he only gained
chip by the operation. By mutual consent
the third round was made a jackpot and
both men moved a little closer to the table,
probably to get better action. 1t was Nor
| CAMS deal, aud Mr.. Franklin opened for So
and Morgan stayed. Each man drew two
cards. The minister bet a red chip and
| Morgan threw in blue meaning five bet
| ter Franklin put in another blue, and
Morgan followed with two blues additional.
Here was a jolly squirt right at the start,
and the good preachers hair began to bristle
as he unloosened the two lower buttons of
his vest and cast two blues and red into
! the pot and nervouslY waited to see what
| his opponent would do. Billy now fully re-
allied that the man on the other side OF
the board was hard after that 500, which
meant $500 if he won, and that ne could
gain nothing by betting more. so he called.
The minister excitedly laid down his hand
with the remark:
"Tm afraid you've got me beat; I've got
only two little pair"
mo good, old boy, I'm sorry to say.
There's the prittiest ace full you ever saw"
and Morgan laid down three aces and pair
of kings with his left hand. and had his
right encircled round the stack OF blues
ready to rake them in.
Hold on there" interrupted the pastor,
''my two pair are all trays" and he show
eled in the pot with a nervousness and
CELEBRITY that would do honor to genuine
| amateur.
To make long story short. the presiding
head of the Columbia Avenue Methodist.
Episcopal mission walked out Of the room
an hour later with a roll of fresh. crisp
greenbacks representing $3.50 and a check
| on the National Bank OF Seattle for $3.50,
made payable to James Franklin or order,
and signed William Morgan.
AS the two men parted on the curb below
the minister turned to his benefactor with
| the remark:
"Thank you very much, Mr.. Morgan, for
your contribution and the afternoons
pleasure. This money shall buy our new
pews, and hope 70 see you occupying one
of them some day."
eyes. ought to have a private box for