The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-10
TEST OF THE JACK POT.
Gamblers Search for Proof Of Thcor
Concerning a Womanly Weakness.

Concerning NOlnaniy " cdhhcS>-
Bent. but tall, with sparse whiskers
seldom trimmed, nearly 70 years old, Tn
Gle Uriah used to sit in the poker game
in Omaha, his long, thin fingers trem-
blingly placing his chips and his old eyes
gittering as no timorously skinned his
hand. Pathetically like Little Nell's
o grandfather he looked sometimes, but he
was at no desperate shift 70 obtain a
stake, for he was the possessor OF a
competence, and he brought into the
game the saving grace Of the parsimony
TO which he had been habituated In his
earlier days in a New Hampshire home.
He never bought more than $ worth oil
chips at a time These he would for tho
most part ante away waiting for aces or
better, and when he finally did get good
hand. a bare call represented the climax
OF his enterprise.
In those days there was always game
on Sunday afternoons, and Uncle Uriah'
although a devout Methodist, could be
counted upon to arrive directly after SER
vice. and TO sit in until time for after
noon Sunday school The boys used 20
Joke him al first. and ask him II he had
sneaked his stake out OF the contribution
box. but 70 this question and 10 all others
OF similar hevity he opposed scared Sc
robustness which showed that his passion
for the game was more a weakness than
a vice.
Uncle Urlah lived with his two sisters
Abigail, aged SO. and Ann, aged 30. In
New Hampshire they had been called
"the girls" but in Omaha the irreverent'
with rude dlrectness. referred TO them as
Uncle Uriah's old maids
Il did not take the boys tn the game
long 20 discover that Uncle uriah was
In much fear Of Abigail IN general ana
in mortal dread that she would discover
bis besettlng weakness. He would always
shy at a new player and he frequently
held forth to the boys on the Improperly
OF talking on the outside about the iea-
lures OF the game.
Il sh'd hate 70 hev the parson KNOW
he used to say. II wouldn't keer so much
bout Ann. cause she's easy skeered' but
[ wouldn't hev Sister Abigail know FER
the biggest jack pot twas ever played
on this here table,.
There was never any solution TO the
mystery of how Sister Abigail discovered
the obliquty in Uncle Uriach's life. some
oficlous neighbor may have told her. or
in an excess OF caution Uncle Urian hlm-
self may have aroused her definite sus-
piclons. At any rate, on a particular Sun
day afternoon he arrived az the room AT
the regular time. but without the key
with which he, in common with other
participants of the game, had been pro-
vided. The negro attendant admitted
him and he was soon engrossed in the
play.
There was a good jack pot on the table.
Uncle Uriah was In and was dealing II
was his last say and the two men ahead
OF him had bet SO each. He had drawn
one card and the play was up 10 him.
He had not, however, looked at his draw
when the key turned in the snap OF the
lock Of the front door and Sister Abigail,
pale with a righteous and terrible rage.
strobe into the room and up 70 the table.
"Gambling!" she cried. And on the
Lords day. with tho church bells rin!ns'
outside and decent people fockin' 20 His
worship. expected TO hn3~you here. you
hypocrite." she went on. turning 10 Uncle
Uriah. you better get on your duds right
now and come home
IT was comm IN a jlhy,' the old man
said, weak with fear. II guess ! might
as well 90 long with YOU "a with any
body else" He rose and steadied himself
by holding the chair
Seth Coo was the coolest hand In the
game. Even Sister Abigail had not dis
concerted him. He reached over and
turned up Uncle Urlah's hand. 1t was a
flush.
you better straighten this pot out
before you GO Uncle said Coe You
call. OF course. / suppose a flush Is good2'
Coe asked. turning 10 the other players.
They nodded assent. COe stacked UP the
chips. "Forty-three dollars here" he
said pushing them toward Uriah.
The old man started instlnctively to-
ward the pot and then remembered Sister
Abigail. He stopped and waited trembling
ly for her decision.
Il seemed to the players who turned
from the weak ard timld OLD man to the
dominant woman that az this crucial test
something Of her moral rigldity relaxed.
She did not sweep the chips TO the noor
She said nothing about ill-gotten gains
With visible effort she oyercame a
slight nervous contraction OF the throat
She grasped her skirts hrmly ana swcp'
toward the door.
"Uriah." she said with great hsnity'
IT will wait for you IN the han az the
foot OF the stairs"
After Uncle Uriah had obtained his s3
and departed Seth coe said In his loisure-
ly way:
THE old man didn't have q flushs I