Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-02-09
TOM HALLS SYSTEM.

u, " Al AAAA I'LL ~ ~ - ~ - -@~~~~
Tom Hail had got religion" There
v,ss NO doubt about 1t. The news was
public property in the pretentious little
Nevada town.
He resigned his position as day shift
behind the bar Of the Golden Palace"
q seat was no longer kept for him at
Donovan's faro tables, and II he drank
at all it must have been but little.
Secretly his private views or. morals
were still rather broad and liberal, and
he saw no particular harm in taking
drink at proper intervals, gambling
when the deal was fair, and otherwise
partaking in a moderate way OF the
various enjoyments provided by the
town In the sage bush.
In short, Tom was more converted to
Miss Dawson than he was to the
church.
= The church on the hill, as was natur-
al, felt proud of it's new member, but
Miss Dawson felt prouder.
One Sunday the pastor announced
that it was very desirable that the
church be provided with new organ.
He proposed that the fund for this pur-
pose be realized in way novel to that
locality at least. The members of the
congregation were individually to
pledge themselves to raise money by
the performance of service, or by the
manufacture or sale of something in
expensive, and afterward the different
accounts OF the various experiences
were to be given, which in itself prom
Used considerable amusement.
Tom Hall went to his rooms and gave
the subject deep and profound consid-
Grafton. The following night he aston
ished the players at Donovan's faro
tables by walking into the place and
dropping into his old seat. He at once
bought $25 worth Of red. white and blue
chips.
The first deal and Tom had lost. At
the end of the second he bought anoth-
er stack Of chips. to which he soon
added third.
Nonchalantly he drew from his pock-
ct a silk handkerchief. The movement
dislodged small, neatly bound book,
which fell to the floor. 1t was Bible,
present from Miss Dawson. He
picked 1t up hurriedly, intending to
replace it In his pocket, when his eye
happened to fall on this verse OF an
open page:
And it was so when the king saw
Esther, the queen, standing In the court
that she obtained favor in his sight;
and the king held out to Esther the
golden sceptre that was in his hand"
Esther, chapter s. verse 2.
Without the slightest hesitation he
gathered together every bet he had up
on the board and placed them upon the
queen. Within three turns he won. He
allowed his winnings to remain on the
card, and again the queen won. Once
more he dared fate. and after a num-
Der Of turns the queen showed in the
box.
While the cards were being shufiied
for the next deal Tom stealthily opened
the little Bible now lying in his lap and
peeped into it. He read
For the children of Israel shall
abide many days without king. "-Ho-
sea, chapter 8, verse 4.
The king was Immediately coppered
for huge stack Of chips
In due course the king lost twice in
succession, and his pile became so for
midable as to engross the attention
Of all.
Tom, however. continued to win
steadily, and now frequently consulted
his Bible without making any effort
to conceal 1t. He had just read from
Ezra, chapter 6. verse 8:
and let the foundations
thereof be strongly laid; the hight
thereof threescore cubits, and the
breadth thereof threescore cubits. 4.
With three rows of great stones"
THAT means the trey, sure" he said
to himself, as he pushed big bet to-
ward the card.
'Is that Hoyle you got there. Tom?"
asked the lookout. unable any longer
to conceal his curiosity.
Nope; a better book than Hoyle."
"You playin' q system out of it,"
That's what" was the unctuous re-
ply.
The game went on. but It was not
long before Toms remarkable run of
luck came to close. This greatly sur
prised him, as he was now firmly con-
WINGED he could not lose when depend
ing upon biblical hints, and not an i'm
portant bet had been made without re-
ferring to the sacred volume.
He chose rather to believe finally
that the dealer in order to save the
house. was practicing some crooked
work. OF this he became convinced
when. upon betting deuce, Jack" on
the turn at the end Of the deal the
cards came out, Jack, deuce"
keep your fingers on top OF that
box!" he cried out. angrily, to the
dealer.
Dye mean to Say" began that
functionary. ....
Il mean to say this" declared Tom,
In a loud voice. as he sprang to his
feet, that you've got to give me a
square deal. have a book here that
says so, and what this book says goes.
whats that? What book Is that?"
Its the Bible-that's what 1t isl"
THE Bibte?" came from the OPEN
mouthed and amazed dealer.
well, Tom Hall. the Bible Is barred
at this layout and this game stops for
tonight. go
The organ that Is used In the little
white church on the hill to-day Is one
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