The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-03
cid Man Greenhut expounds his IA
IOrite game to a clergyman who
consents to play freeze-out.

consents to play freeze-out.
Some surprising results.
copyrighted, 1903. by Robert Howard
RusselL)
Arkansas City is not a place where
undue excitement is to be looked for
under any ordinary circumstances.
The citizens of that famous old river
settlement are so well used to startling
occurrences that they retain equanim-
ity when Il stranger WOuld expect
them to be ablaze with perturbation.
The annual prospect of destruction by
food is in itself a training, and the
annual miracle of survival when the
floods abate, confirms them in an
apathetic habit of mind, characteristic
Of most persons who are habituated
TO peril.
\ certain tranquil pOise of manner
- noticeable also in the community
c en- when disturbances arise from a
difference of opinion between two cit
izens and resort is had to the custom
AIRY arbitrament of arms. 4 fusillade
of pistol shots will indeed attract at
tentiOn, but il will cause no panic, nor
even excite surprise in Arkansas City.
IL vas therefore more than usually
notable that a Methodist preacher
Who came there without flourish OF
trUnpets and began his work in mat
ter-Of-faCt fashion, though earnestly
enough, shOuId have aroused an inter
est in church affairs that set every
body talking about him before he had
been in town two months.
Even in Old Man Greenhut's saloon,
where CrFrfTlEI II4trarG yy-ara 1nt nfrnn
discussed, there arose. one day. a live
iy controversy over one of the rever-
end gentleman's utteranCes in relation
TO a certain custom of the
fly.
My old woman said Jake Winter
bottom, tells me that this here gospel
sharp that's been kickin' up such a
eanOOjum with the MethOdists lately.
has took TO preachin' ag'in g%anblin'.
Says it's the cuss of the town, an he
calls cards the devils picter-books.
Il heer'd some talk O. that. last
night" said Sam Pearsall, AN we uns
was alioWin' up to the house. that
mebbe he want altogether right in
his head. Pears he hOllers a good
deal mOre'n any preacher they've yer
lad afore. an last Sunday he bust
right out cryin' in the pulpit when he
was telIin' about some woman t died
an went to hell. 'Peared like it wa'n'
nc KIN o ms n, either.
My jedgment is, t they amt none
on EN- right in the head" said Joe
Bassett, glOOmily. They set 'rOun an
kalk with the women folks till they
get sort o shaky like. an then they
breaches about things that they don't
nobody understand, till they amt fit
for nothin' but duckin' i'll Il boss
Sond."
Pears to me" sail Old Man Green
hut. who had been listening with
strong disapproval to the CONVERSE
ton. that you uns had all ought for
to have more sense. This here talk
bou preachers is mex thing to bias
phemiOus. l amt sayin' but what
preachers is folks an just naturally
they makes mistakes Once in a while,
same as other folks does, but this idee
o duckin' 'em in boss ponds is wuss'n
in1del talk. an / don't want to hear
NO more of it. 4 man Whatn talk dis
respectful about ministers o the COS
pei. amt got no proper notion o things
Now this here gentleman is sent by
the good Lord to rebuke the cOmmun-
fly fr its evil doin's. an it's all right
fr him 10 give you the devil for
gamhIin'. I've heer'd hit Jim Waters
has set up a faro layout Over to the
hotel. an has been a'skinnin' some on
ye tolable close, an serves you right
A man thatT gamble had ought for
10 be preached at"
The Did mans eyes flashed as ne
spoke, and the others were properly
abashed. No one ventured to argue
with him. but after an awkward pause
Of Il or two, WinterbOttOm
said. in 4 grOvelling way. This here
gentleman says it's gamblin' to play
draw poker"
whats that" demanded Greenhut
and Winterbottom repeated his words
After a few seconds the old man
nose from his seat and went behind
the bar. Opening Il fresh box he took
from it q long. black cigar and lighted
It carefully. Then. resuming his seat
BY the window. he nut his feet On the
sill and smoked for q while, in silence
saws the babes an sucklin's talk boss
sense occasionally. but l don't call to
mind no mention o. fools bein' gifted
that n Stands to reason they
wouldn't be fools. nor Methodist
preachers If they did. l amt no hand
respectful o the church.. but these
acre MethOdists goes too far. and
some on 'em had ought for to be rode
en- = rail. More especially the kin
that sets up for preachers an brings
tUre religion into disrepute.
AS fur as gamblin' goes. this here
Jjut you're all tellin' about is right
N',NSAA" IL - DNNAA .'N TX Il
samblin' myself. but when he talks
aSin draw poker he's. putin hisself
NJ f- a wiser man nor them that he
isn't fiji to wash the mud off n their
hoss's heels for EN-. Pears to me it's
about time for steps to be took fog to
clean out
st this the door opened and
= tall spare man dressed IN rusty
black entered the room. He wore a
white neCktie. somewhat frayed at the
edges. and . tall hat, of the variety
known along the river as plug" and
these two peCuliarities seemed to in
aicate his clerical calling. For the
rest, he walked like 4 loose-jointed
man. and his eye was keen.
q am Informed" he said, after he
had closed the door carefully. that
this place is conducted by . certain,
Er. Greenhut. who is well-EnOwn III
the community
AS the remark was addressed to the
company generally, no II answered
for 4 moment or so, but as the silence
presently became awkward, Jake
NiEterbOttOm said, 4 reckon you WIS