The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-18
GENTLEMAN DAN POSED AS PREACHER Rev. Abel Strong Played Poker
 in Arkansas City HE TRIED TO PACK A GUN Parson Had a Good Thing and Was About to Rake in the Stakes
 When He Was Called
 By 6lalsdeIl.
HE TRIED TO PACK A GUN

From the New York Sun
 There's been a consid able number O preachers has come to Arkansas City, fust an last,' said old man Greenhut but don't call to mind none on 'em as was more socable an more reasonable like in his ways nor this here Reverend Able Strong, as was just in here"
 Was that the new parson?" asked Jake Winterbottom. in some suprise. There seemed to be reason for astonishment, since the stranger had entered in breezy fashion, and, after exchanging a few words with Greenhut. had invited the house to have one on him. In the course of the ensuing ceremonies he had been introduced to all hands as MT. Strong.
 Tt sure was" said Greenhut, an 'taint no ways surphisin t you all is surprised. 1 were some took back myself when I seen him first, an got talkin with him. l says to him, open an above board, when I met him, t I want no church man, an t l sold liquor fir livin', but he says t his business was to make friends with everybody, even republicans an sinners so l says as how he'd find sinners enough in town, but there hadn't been republican here sheet we tarred an feathered an abilitionist, befo' the war.
 He kind O laughed, an said he reck- oned he wouldn't look f'r none on 'em, then, an we got talkin about the liquor business. an cards. He said he didn't make no objection to good liquor if twas used moderate, an as fir cards, he says the scripters Is full of references to poker playin'."
 Early the next evening Greenhut had word that the new preached was walking down street in the direction of his saloon, and when the Rev. Able Strong arrived he found Greenhut alone behind the bar, and he looked around in some surprise.
 T thought, perhaps. some of your friends might be here to join us in so- ciable drink" he said, pleasantly. "I al- ways take one after my evening meal, but rarely take second. As they are not here," he added, you and l can take one together"
 "Oh, they're here all right" said Green hut, "but they've started little game O cards in the back room. Maybe you'd like to look on.'
 "Nihil humani alienum me puto, said the newcomer q have not played since 1 was. at college, but 1 should enjoy being --NN
 intrusion"
 Old man Greenhut looked little pug zled, but he led the way to the card room, saying to himself This pears to be | most too easy.'
 It proved to be easy, so far as inducing Strong to join the game was concerned, for when 1t was suggested he said, l see no harm in cards, so long as the stakes are moderate and the game is played in a friendly spirit" And thereupon he peeled ten dollar bill from his rool and bought chips.
 I've play table stakes, said Jake Win terbottom, and the newcomer seemed pleased.
 q have found that to be far the best form of the game. he said. Tt is free from the objections that exist to the small limit game, and at the same time preserves the player from the perils of unreasonable bluffing"
 Bassett. An, bein' this is a friendly game, there aint no call for man to buy more frequent n he feels like"
 As they played they found the preacher had to be reminded occasionally of some of the minor rules, and they noticed that he tried two or three times to rifle the cards as they did, but that he did it awkwardly, and then shuffled the deck overland He laughed as he did it, and explained that his hand was out from lack of practice.
 Evidently, however, he had not forgot ten the elementary principles of the game, for he opened their eyes before the game was twentw minutes old. They had not yet warmed up, and there had been no very keen betting as yet It was a jackpot, and 1t was Strong ! deal Bassett opened the pot under the guns for the size of it, having a pair of jacks Wnterbottom dropped and Pear sail put up his s1.25. So did Blaisdell, and Strong, after looking at his cards for a long time, pushed his chips forward. On the draw Bassett took three cards Pearsall one, Blaisdell one. and Strong three. Bassett threw in a white chip, and Pearsall and Blaisdell both dropped. Strong then studied his hand carefully for considerable time, but finally called. As Bassett had not bettered, and, as his highest card aside from his two jacks was