The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
TEST OF THE JACK POT.
a Gamblers search for Prsor OF n Theory Cor
corning u WomanIy MeAkness.

corning u WomanIy Weakness
Bent. but tall. with sparse whiskers seldom
trimmed, nearly 20 years old, Uncle Uriah
used to sit in the poker game in Omaha, his
long, thin fingers tremblingly placing his chips
and his old eyes glittering as he timorously
skinned his hand. Pathetically like Little
Neil's grandfather he looked sometimes, but he
vas at no desperate shift to obtain n 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 habituatod
in his earlier days in a New Hampshire home.
He never bought more than SIS worth "f chips
at a time. These he would for the most part
ante away waiting for aces or better, and when
he finally did get IL good hand, q bare call repre-
scented the climax of his enterprise.
In those days there was always a game on
Sunday afternoons, and Uncle Uriah. although
u devout Methodist, could be counted upon 20
arrive directly after service, and to sit in until
The time for afternoon Sunday school. The boys
used to joke him at first, and ask him II he had
sneaked his stake out of the contribution box,
but to this question and to all others of similar
levity he opposed a scared seriousness which
showed that his passion for the game was more
II weakness than a vice.
Uncle Uriah lived with his two sistcrs-Abi.
gail, aged G3. and Ann, aged So. In New
Hampshire they had been called 'the girls. but
in Omaha the irreverent, with rude directness.
referred to them as Uncle Uriah's ole maids"
1t did not take the boys In the game long to
discover that Uncle Uriah was in much fear of
Abigail in general and in mortal dread that she
would discover his besetting weakness. He
would always shy at a new player and he fire.
Cuently, held forth to the boys on the impro-
prlety Of talking on the outside about the fea-
lures of the game.
Il sh'd hate to hev the parson know he used
10 say. =! wouldn't keer SO much bout Ann,
ter Abigail know fer the biggest jack pot twas
ever PLAYED on this here tablet"
There was'never any solution to the mystery
of how, Sister, Abigail discovered the o~bliquity
in Uncle Uriah's life. Some oficIous neighbor
may, have told her or in an excess Of caution
definite suspicious. At any rate. on a particu-
lar Sunday afternoon he arrived at the room AT
the tn, regular time, but %ilho1s the Key with
in the game, had been provided. The negro
attendant admitted him and he was soon en-
There was a good jack pot on the table. Uncle
triah was in and was dealing, 1t was his last
say and the Two men ahead OF him had bet $40
each. lie mad drawn one card and the play
was up 10 hin. He had not, however, looked
% IocE his Of d tSS tr MTf% ad ,hS a Esdy 4 !sreed A ii shG I n%ls
with II righteous and terrible rage, strobe into
the room and ny to the table; - .,o o.,o
day. with the church bells ringin' outside and
decent people, tlockin' to His Worship. i eN.
E Went on 10 turning Hnh sG 10 p nGrS, T TTiah hyp" "You bet SeT
get on your duds right now and come home"
81 was comm in n jify.' the old man said.
weak with fear. 81 guess | might as well 20
long with you as with any body else" He rose
and steadied himself by holding the chair.
Soth Coo was the coolest hand in the game.
Even Sister Abigail had not disconnected him.
He reached over ana turned up Uncle Uriuhs
hand. 1t was a flush.
You better straighten this pot out before you
go, Uncle, said Coo. You call. of course. l
suppose a flush IL goodl" Coe asked. turning TO
tho other players. They nodded assent. Coo
stacked up the chips. ''Forty-three dollars
here" he said, pushing them toward Uriah.
The old man started instinctively toward the
pot and then remembered Sister Abigail. lie
stopped and waited trcmblingly for her de-
clsiOn.
1t seemed to the players who turned from the
weak and ttmid old man TO the dominant wo'
man TINT at this crucial test something OF hoI
moral rlgidity. relaxed. She did not sweep the
chips to the floor. She said nothing about Ill
gotten gains. With a visible effort she over
sauhc n slight nervous construction OF the throat
She graspcd her skirts firmly and swept toward
the door.
"UriGh, she said with great dignity, II vii
Eait for you in the hall at the foot Of the stairs.
After Uncle UTiah had obtained his $40 and
departed Seth Coo said in his leisurcly way:
j.. a card to MI II out for him. ] reckoned yor
fellows wouldn't-emind payin' once more fol
positive proof that no matter what kind of
woman she is, she's always in with yer play
when you win the pot"