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

copyrighted, 1902, by Robert howard
Russell.)
A feeling of uneasiness. not mount
ing to panic, but close akin to it, pei
Vaded Arkansas City, when it became
known. as it speedily did, that old
man Greenhut had declared that he
mad thought of selling out his bust
ness. 1t was true thai ne had spoken
IN anger, and that the statement was
conditional but the meIe suggestion
was of the nature Of an upheaval.
Il disremember which one o the de-
scples it WERE he said, when a COM
mittee of citizens called on him next
day to ask him about it. Pears to
me If it were Moses, that aid in his
haste that all men was liars. The gooI
book doesn't make no-m-E-ion O. whv
he was in a hurry. but if led lived in
Arkansas City he cd ha' taken his
time about it, an not mad no mistake
at that.
Beats all. how there's folks IL jump
On the least little word that S said, n
make a hull Act o Legislator outen
it. Tain't no use sayin' l didn't say
It. fr / did. It'd ha' made a Methodist
preacher CuSS CTOSS-"dyS IOT 10 see
that these gaioot that was sent here
by a kind Providence. for to relieve
the necessities of the community. turn
around an do up men that claims to
play Arkansas City poker, the Wa
that Higginbotham, or whatever the
blue biazeS his name is. did 'em up.
Hit were enough to make anybody
think O. seIlin' out, but l don't reckon
the levee's goin' to be moved away
fore the next flood, an similar, I'm
reck'nin' on doin' business right here
for a considerable spell, yet"
There was a sigh of relief from his
hearers when this was said, out 1t was
still plain that the old man was by
40 means in a good temper. and they
looked from one to the other question
ingiy for some moments while he
smoked on in silence.
Al length Jake Winterbottom spoke.
I've drawed to a straight flush, afore
now, without film. but L never lowed
there was no obligation to quit the
game" he said suggestively.
Now, then" said Greenhut, you're
talkin' Democratic politics. 'Tain't
no real disgrace, I reckon to be did UP,
now an again, when the other feller's
got a new trick I'D his elbow, even if
it is mortifyin' to h pride. an a great
moral lesson.
A"The question is whether there is
- ough local pride about Arkansas City
to see to it that none o the foatin'
capital o. the community is go1n' to
be took up the st. Francis by a geezer
that's iaughin' in his sleeve right now
at the most sacredest traditions o the
town. 1 tell you somthin' S got to be
did"
w kind O lowed there might be
another game" said Jim Blaisdell.
We'll" said old man Greenhut.
doubtfully, there has been times when
sary, but my confidence has been
shook. When a zap I'm up the st.
Francis, or I'm ~anywheres else, en-
come to Arkansas City, an git help
less drunk early in tue mornin.' an
sober up enough fore evenin' to hold
out aces FIN n deck to another.
skilful enough to skin some u the best
players in town. it's high time pre-
cautions was took"
Jim Waters I'll be in town tomov-
row." said BlaisdeIl in a casual sort of
way, with an apparent reference to
anything.
You don't said G%reenhur.
Yep. / hear tell he were comm n
week & an I asst II o the brake
men on the Little Rork train to see
f twas so. Pears Mis- Waters has
had some more property left to her,
an Jim is comm down to see about
it"
wen, IL OOlC seem 10 1e1eCC no
credit on Arkansas City" said old nan
Greenhut for to have to get a citizen
o Little Rock to stack up against a
ST. Francis player, but Waters sure
did build up the reputation o. the town
consida'ble while he lived here. He
en- make anybody in this congregation
look foolish when it comes to dealin'
cards"
There was q short silence after this.
The old mans remarks were not al
ways enjoyed by his hearers. Finally
Winterbottom spoke.
That's a torable hard sayln', Green
hut" he remarked. but 1 reckon there
Aain't nobody goin' to fight about it.
NJim Waters has certainly got talents.
If he does live in Little Rock, but all
he knows o poker he Earned right
here in Arkansas City. playin with
the very men your chuckin' o1um at"
Yes. n he en- beat the boots Off
any one on EN-" said Greenhut, drily,
but there amt no use gettin' red
headed. The only thing to do is to
get this here Higgonbotham. If that's
his name, playin' poker again. 'Tain't
likely he's goin' to refuse, seem how
he plays. An Jim Waters had better
take a hand in the yame. You alld
best let me make a dicker with jim"
No one had any improvements to of
fer on this suggestion. and negotiations
were opened with ~Higginbotham imma-
diately.
That gentleman having several hun
dred dollars of Arkansas City money
in his pocket, in addition to the com.
Portable sum with which he came tC
town, was enjoying life with a 1ervol
that seemed to consume a large por-
ton of his possessions, if. indeed, il
should not disable him.
The delegation in search of him con,
sisted of BlaisdelI and Sam Pearsall
EInIsn~ hsro OF tho hrto1 hor fhnI
were Immediately invited to Join The
circle he was entertaining, and &C
copied the invitation readily enough,
though Blaisdel1 did sa~ as If apollo,
giving to himself, that il was a little
early in the day for red liquor.
No great diplomacy was needed il
introducing draw poker as a topic O
conversation, but Hi-gginbotnam show.
ed little enthusiasm.
when I play poker" he said. 'r.
play poker, but when I'm drinkin'
pay strict attention to drink"