The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-28

Hood times, but L don { seem to call
| to mind none of 'em as has a better
But as for poker. there's them that
might teach you how TO play"
OH! I don't know" said H~igginboth-
am, with airy confidence. Il amt
lookin' for 'em in his town. But any
how. this amt my BOXER day. as 1
lessons tomorrow if ! feel like it."
And he ordered another round of drinks
This was sat -iactorY ~ Tar as it
went, and it was in fact, all that the
committee desired for the time being.
So with minds at ease, they gave
themselves unreservedly to the pur-
suit of the pleasure at hand, with the
result that it was o reasonably
certain that Higginbotham could re-
main in Arkansas City for some time
to come. Fol he was in no condition
to travel.
Old man Greenhut. as IL proved had
a somewhat more difficult task. In
due time Jim Waters arrived, and as
a matter of curse called in at Green
huts place. When the subject Of
draw poker was mentioned, however,
he gave utterance to some surprising
sentiments, by no means to be looked
for from a gentleman of his ability and
standing.
Il amt saying nothin' again poker"
he observed in a somewhat lordly
fashion, "ceptin' that it's clumsy, an
more or less duber3ome. There's
chances in poker, o course an if a
mar is got reel talents, IN knows
how to play artistic he en- most al
ways win sometimes. But there's al
a a chance t the other teller may
know more'n he does, n then where
are you? This here zap your tellin'
about, now. FIN what you say l sh'd
Just about size him I'D FIR as good a
player as anybody in town. n if he
is, what's the use O. playin poker with
him?"
Old man Greenhut stared. For
a moment he seemed at a loss to know
what to say, but presently he gaSped
a little, and asked: What would you
do, then, if you didn't pay poker?"
Play faro" replied Waters prompt
ly. Just look at it reasonably. What
do you want to play cards wph a man
for? It's to get his money, amt it?
Of course it is. Well, what's the use
Of a game that he en- maybe play as
we'll as you can, when you have to
give him the chanst D hanlin' the
deck. When it comes his deal he's 1t,
an your the sucker. amt you?
Course o are. But in faro o deal
all the time and he's the sucker"
Twice and thrice the old man strove
to speak, but though he opened his
mouth, and made as If to utter words,
no words would CONS. Then lie lighted
a fresh cigar, and going to his favo-
rite seat by the window, put his feet
on the sill and smoked for a long time
in silence.
II must be gettin' DID," he said.
after a time. Il can't seem to listen
to such s~editionary speeches., 'thout
bein' ovecome. Pears like. the last
day was a comm. like the good hook
tells on. when the golden bowl goes
OnPa foo frnn11ant 70 tho o1otap, opy
gets smashed, an the spirit of ire
ligion stalks abroad. When a ravin'
infidel can stan UP an defy heaven,
an institoot wicked comparisons
atween faro and the greatest meju1n
o moral eddication as is known to
humanity. pears to me it was nigh
time for me to cash in. Such talk is
blasphemious."
There amt nothin' to be said agin
faro, as I n on, 'ceotin' it's gamlin,
an I amt never had nothin' to do
with gamblin. Them that CANDLES
just nachully has their Twin to make,
an l amt a sayin' nothin' agin EN-,
fr every man has to make a Twin
an if he makes the most o what tai
ents the Lord has gave him. an amt
shif'less, nobody hain't pot no call for
to find fault. If you en- do better al
faro, Jim Waters. n you can at poker
that's your business. n tain none o
mine.
But there amt no man goin' to in
troduce no sinful game in my place
You can't do it, nor no other man
can't. 'Slong as 1 run it, it 8 goin' tc
be run moral. an co1din to law
There's laws agin' faro, an more'n tina,
/ don't understand it like I do poker
an I amt got no layout. anyhow. So
it You amt prepared to set in with
this H~igginbotham, man to man. an
do him out his money legal and
proper, at draw poker, it viii have tc
be did without you. II yod are. I'll
stand in with You. an 20 you halves
but YOU amt a goin' to rope M
stranger into a brace o'faro in my
place. understand that. "Tain't right
an / won't have it,"
No one had ever seen the old mar
so greatly aroused before, and jim
Waters was much abashed. He QuaileC
visibly at the others ~virtuous indig
nation. but he was also finn in his con
victions. and he answered heSitatingly
but still in logged fashion.
Hits no use talkin' G~recnhut." ht
said. Hits agin my principles Il
play poker with any man If 1 thinl
he plays as we'll as I do. II you wan
him skint at faro. I'm in, but I'm wha
You tell, he's too strong FIR any Of u!
at poker"
We'll. there amt no call to tall
coarse about t." SAID Greenhut. still
angry. 81 don't want no man skint il
my place 'thouten he stands a show T.
win. same's he does to lose. So /
you're really blind to our own inter
ests, an think you can't deal card
: no beter'n he can, we'll have to &c
Rl"isdell an Bassett to set in al
/ 80 the double cross On him. I reck
on I en- raise money enough. if In
put to it, for them to raise him Out
4. if ne has got a bigger wad n an.
stranger had ought for I carry"
, This change in the original pIal
made some slight delay, aid il was W
days before the old man was able t
stake his favorite players sufficient,
. and 70 give them. their instructions
Fortunately Higginbocham retaine,
his interest in his purs4 ir of the bottl
during the interval, and by the tim
: he was disposed to play poke again
all was in readiness.
1t was a numerous game. Men ma
achieved temporary success in Arkan
sas City before. and lad beea ulti
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