The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-03
THEY TOOK THE STRANGER IN
BX DAVID A. CURTIS.

tone O the community an l wouldn't
stand on contributin' Jour bits, or
mebhe a dollar fr this here melodeon.
but I'M what l hear there's been
strange doctrines preached here lately,
an | amt one to give money fr the
support O. no basphemious heresies
like I've heer'd tell on"
"You surprise me-" said Mr.. Bost>
WICK. Il was not aware that any of
my utterances in the pulpit were to be
ranked as heretical. and l certainly
hope they ave not been blasphemous.
I WOuId be-
Well that's what l call EN-" in
terrupted the old man impatiently.
Amy man whatH ak about draw
poker like you've been reported to
talk displays a most surprisin' ig-
n%Orance, an hadn't ought for to be
upheld"
II certainly have" said the clergy
man, preached against gambling in
every form, but had not supposed
that that could be called
II amt a-saying' no such thing"
exclaimed the old man. who was plain
ly getting excited. I'm talkin' about
draw pOker-not gamblin'!"
Now you surprise me still more"
said the clergyman. Il had always
understood that draw poker was a
most PERI icious game of chance, on
which large sums of money changed
hands"
That's it, said Greenhut with vast
contempt. Just as the Good Book
says. Fools j mp in where angels
dasn't go?" Folks that calls draw
poker 4 game O. chance is Just plain
drivellin' IN had ought for to be
wrapped Up in %swaddlin' clo'es, stead
O. walkin' round in plug hats"
Mr.. Bostwick looked beU ildered.
But if draw poker isn't a game Of
chance" he asked. what is ito"
Hits n O. the ways appointed by
4 all-wise an beneficient Providence.
for to make q man of a man.. Hits
= mejunI o moral dedication what's
u~neQualled in all civilization. A man
that learns to play draw poker like
it had ought for to be played. learns
how TO keep his eye skint. an stand ur
for hisself an trust in the Lord n
make the most outer his opDortuni-
ties. an teaches him what the truth
amt to be spoke at all times, an that
ain't no milk for babes. It's good, raw
meat for strong men,"
The Rev. Fir. Bostwick's face was a
curious study by the time this speech
was finished. The different emotions
1t expressed were too varied for re-
cital, but surprise seemed dominant
still when he aid Il was certainly
not prepared to hear this, Mr.. Green
hut. When l was a student I learned
something of the game, though not. l
fear, in the right way. We used to
play for beans. But if draw poker is
what you say it is, I would certainly
wish to know more about it. My mind
IS always open to conviction"
We'll. If you'll Just set in with the
boys, for a little freeze out, for say
ten dollars a corner" said Old Man
Greenhut, whose excitement was not
abated. you'll see for yourself what
sort of a institution draw poker RELY
is. An 1 DON mind putin up two
dollars an a half for your melodeon if
you're man enough to take the kind O.
teachin' you need"
1t was a surprising proposition, and
MIR. Bostwick hesitated, as we'll he
might. Finally, however, he said: 81
have a little money with me that be-
longs to the church funds, and, of
course, l could not think of gambling
with It, but if What you say is correct
this would not be gambling. And be-
sides. l understand that you will sub
scribe the amount you mentioned, if
"Oh yes! thatu be all right" said
the old man promptly enough, though
he was evidently not prepared to heal
the other take him up as he did.
Mr.. BOStWick thereupon drew from
his pocket a small purse wrapped UP
in i cotton handkerchief and tied with
a long string. Carefully untying it,
he counted out ten o~ne-dollar bills and
handed them Over as his purchase
money for chips. The old man got out
his chips n cards and gave an equal
quota to the clergyman, and to Bas-
sett. Pearsall and Winterbottom. APP
parently also, he collected ten dollars
apiece from the other players, but a
close observer might have seen that
there was some sleight of hand in the
payment for Pearsall and Winterbot-
toms chips. And in a few moments
the four were handling the cards, but
not. however, until Mr.. Bostwick a
put into his purse the two dollars and
Il half that Old Ian Greenhut gave
him according to the agreement.
The first few deals were uneventful.
nothing better han two pairs being
shown. but the Rev. Mr.. Bostwick
won q small pot on a pair of aces
against BaSsett'S kings and Winter
bottoms two tens. so hat he was a
little more than ever when there was
I Jackpot made on mis- deal. He did
not seem to understand the jackpot
very we'll. but put his O n up readi-
ly enough when told that it was COM
pulsory.
After the cards were served, Win
terbOttom. having first say opened It
on a small straight. Bassett dropped.
nut t6drSdil came III ana MT. BOSl-
wick looked at his cards long and
dOubtfulIy. At length he said: LAS l
remember the rules three aces is a
better hand h two pairs. sn't it?"
They assured him that 1t was and
he came in. though he fingered the
chips q little as if he were doubtful
about doing If
In the draw Winterbottonl stood
pat, Z Pearsall drew one. Mr..
Bostwich seemed again puzzled, and
said 70 W~interbottom. Il suppose if
you don't want any cards you can
probably beat three aces" No one
made any answer and he studied
awhile but finally took two cards.
WinterbOttom bet three dollars. and
Pearsall raised it three, not really
needing the Kick he got under the
table to tell him what TO do. This
made it necessary. of course for Mr..
BostWlck TO put UP six dollars more
for a show. and he did it. though not
with much hope it seemed.
Winterbottom showed his whole pile
in and Pearsall dropped, but Mr.. Bost-
u-icl- C011a1 When no SIpua6 down