St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-27
THE PREACHERS WINNING.
He Joined in the Game for the
Good of His Church.

He Joined in the Game for the
Good of His Church.
They tell story of a Methodist min
lister out in Seattle who was endeayor-
ing to 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 dOna-
tons among the lower strata OF society
the saloon men and gamblers, says the
indianapolis journal. After having Sc
cured about $500 from the liquor dealers
he proceeded to invade the ranks of he
card dealers. The first man he struck
was Billy Morgan, keeper of the most
notorious joint in Seattle.
MIR. Morgan, | am the Rev. Mr..
Franklin, Of the Columbia Avenue
Mission church." began the plucky
little expounder of free grace and indy
ing love on the Wesleyan doctrine, ''and
| have come to you for subscription to
our new church. Won't you give me
something's
Morgan was, of course, astoniShed at
being approached by man of the cloth,
but he was good-natured sort OF chap,
and he treated the preacher politely.
The latter INDUCED in few urgent
arguments for a donation, when the
gambler cut him short with this PROPOSE
ton:
''I'Il tell you what I'll do, Mr.. Frank
lin; you bear the record OF being con-
vert 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
a king full and bob-tail flush, and you
know enough yet to grease the board
when your ante comes round. Now,
Ill make you this bargain: You and L
I'll give you 500 in chips to start with.
For every dollar you win PIl give you
S. bill; if you lose everything you don't
get a cent. Is it go?" The good Mr..
Franklin was stumped. He did want
the money so badly, and if he won it all
it meant $500 for the new Columbian
Avenue church. Then the question
presented itself. Would this be gam
bling? Certainly not; he would be haz
arding nothing, except his luck. Ii he
won the church would get $500; if he
lost the church would not be out cent.
Its agreed" he said, and Morgan led
the way to neighboring hotel, as it
would never do to have the minister
seen going up into his rooms. The cards
and box of chips were brought out and
spread on the table. Morgan counted
out twenty whites, ten reds, and three
blues to the minister, of the respective
values of 81, S. and $40 each. He then
gave himself the same number and the
game began.
BY courtesy the preacher dealt first,
and, from the look which Morgan be-
trayed on his face, he must have mag
ined for a minute he had run up against
regular poker shark.
Morgan drew two cards and the good
man one. The latter veEtured five
whites on the start.
THAT'S pretty cheap, and Phi have to
call,' smiled Morgan as he SHE'D red
into the pile.
"What have you there?" asked Mr..
Franklin.
Three treys," said the gambler, lay
ing his hand on the table.
mo good. That last heart gave me a
fush," and the pastor of the Columbia
Avenue mission raked in the pot.
II see you understand the game"
loquaciously remarked Billy as he
picked up the cards preparatory to a
second deal.