The sun., 1902-01-12
tom WILSON'S LAUGHING BEAR
EPISODE or A STUD POKER GAME
WITH A POWERFUL RAKE-OFF.
Uncle Allison Foote's Vengeance for Money
Lost and the Plan TO Break Up Elder
Ell,ins's Revival Meeting-A Wiling
Beast Over worked and q Hear In Exile.

Beast Over worked and Hear In EAtie
Il was reading in the paper the other
day" said Uncle Hiram Westfall, reni-
niscently. to the crowd at the corner gro
Gerry store, about the officer who laughed
at the Car and the swift humping his career
got from such untimely glee. 1t sort Of
reminded me of Tom Wilson and his IA
nous laughing bear.
tom Wilson was the proprietor OF the
only tavern in the town, and while he dis
pensed a good deal of joy and its producers,
he always was unpopular with the religious
element. That element didn't furnish the
bulk Of his trade, and Tom was bearing up
bravely under its disapproval and making
a good living, when his own greed proved
his downfall
"One day Tom took trip 10 the city to
buy stock of such things as make glad
the heart Of man. While In the city he
strayed into place where some men we're
sitting around a long table covered with
green cloth, playing a game OF some sort
tom took hand, When he got through
he had acquired a goodly stock OF expert
ence and parted with considerable coin
OF the realm. After the game broke up
Tom had a little chat with the man who
was running II.
so that is what they call stud poker,
Ia itY observed Tom. sort of thoughtfully.
Seems 20 be mostly case Of rake on
Seems as II the house had the best of the
game
The man who was running the game
agreed that the house wasn't in the business
as a charitable proposition. When he
heard Toms business he explained the
ntricacies Of II TO him
"And remember this. said the house
man in kindly way, placing his hand on
Toms shoulder, as Tom was leaving tie
place, II you are running the game yourself
the great ruiz. Is this; when In doubt
rake of twice
sTom thanked the man for his kind ad-
| vice, and when he came back TO town
| started up a game OF his own. For a Few
nights everything went well, and 1t began
to look as if there wouldn't be a dollar bill
| in circulation outside of Toms tavern.
sThen one evening Uncle Allison Foote
drifted. into the tavern. Uncle Allison Is a
prominent member Of the church and a
good and pious man. But il gave him
rheumatism Of the fingers every time he
LET 20 Of a dollar.
Seeing the new game he thought it
might be a chance 20 spoil the unrighteous,
as he called Tom Wilson So he took hand.
BY the time the rake of had got in its perfect
work, Uncle Allison had his shoes and shirt,
That was about all he did have. Ana he
was justly indignant man
81 don't mind a little game OF poker,
he said bitterly as he was leaving the tav-
ern, for then l get chance TO deal once
in a while myself But tins game where
the house does all me dealing and in the
intervals between deals uses both hands
and its teeth at raking of. IL an invention
of the evil one. / don't see how an outsider
can beat IT,.
sTom allowed that he hadn't introduced
the game to be beaten When Uncle Allison
suggested that Tom had better return the
money he had lost. Tom jeered at the good
man and said II was up TO him 10 retire a
long way back to the rear. Then Uncle
Allison was mad.
Elder Seth Elkins Ii going to begin
said Uncle Allison in tones OF moral indig-
nation 'Ill bring the goings-on in this
tavern to his attention, Tom Wilson. He
stir up a sentiment against you that will
drive you out Of this place, or at any rate
give you lesson on the evils OF sprlnging
a double-back action rake-oh on worthy
old man
And Uncle Allison strode away. his chin
whiskers fairly bristling with indignation.
-Tom Wilson pretended TO Joke over the
matter, but he was considerably worried
over what Uncle Allison said There was
no denying that Elder Seth Elkins was a
nowerfll exhorter. just then Toms fat
trained bear came swinging around the
corner, an ama1 De grin on his intelligent
countenance Tom frightened up.
That happy smile your amiable
face would put dyspeptic In good humor,
my cherished pet said Tom, sort OF half
talking TO the bear and half to himself.
Now, II you could carry II little farther
and laugh and chucklo Il my belief no one
could sees YOU without laughing himself,
Tar Anlnmn
penei 10 be And II people are laughing
st "A bear IL IL hard 20 stlr then up 10 any
great indignation against the worthy owner
OF that bear
Nov, in tho whole State | don't believe
there was a bear that was the equal OF that
pct of Tom Wilson's for Intelligence aud
learning lie knew how 10 box, could
drink Nhisley straight, and some peopls
said he knew the value OF a poker hand az
well as Tom himself
Tho weather being pleasant and the
crowds Tag tho revival meetings were belhg
held outdoors Tie urAi Afternoon Tom
Wilson aud hts bHar started tuI ih" grounds
where Ilirr Seth Ilhlnr uar holding iurih
When thry got near the plao" loin I"u''d
it out 10 '.u bsaf
10 farh' h. said 10 the .t.ar a. II Il
could understand him Goo fuuh tp tho
meuilug iur myr"lf. having n"iih"f %,
fIr not an ArUldFut Insurance policy. ! u
remain iu ulr ha. hFfJuhd
-lu bic h,au / bHiirFr thu ioaf undrr stood
th. Jlh BE- ~as rhIir.trd tu pat ht"usht
nDd ls.iug sYI = iuIlfuIiaiu is,ar. dtr, .lto
lls viuuIuF sBFs. I thIuh Do" "ulH}'d o.
Anyaus ho hs.i lsnl "'ri O." li'" i''i'al
-fs,,Dliy n tusa kurs aud fosl-sfoi
tho 'f.aI h. aHa tH'is'"IaH '' "aAin ihN
aHIuI iH" .I.HsH aI Ha Hau H""l "uI rH
o. uuH tHHHFlI anything - hlr 'allns
e. tIa trsltal mr..HF Tao h"aI 80 up
o. fa-lie irl a8 ...II lir is'rtYs 'a llIHl