The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-28
THE EVENING STORY
The Rev. William Barney.

At a table made of rough boards
fixed between two trees. on seats of
the same construction, sat a party of
miners at the national game. poker.
The coolest man at the table was
sleek looking person of about forty.
and the most agitated was a young
fellow scarcely twenty-one. with light
hair and blue eyes. He had been los
ing heavily, nearly all his losses pass
ing into the pile of the sleek man.
ministerial looking man approach
ed the table and invited the players to
stop their unholy game and join in re-
ligious exercises he was to conduct in
a grove up on the hillside. The gam
blers paid no attention to the invita-
ton, and the parson, making virtue
OF necessity, stood looking on at the
game.
A woman-she was not more than
nineteen-came hurrying toward the
table, leaned anxiousIy over the blue
eyed fellow and whispered something
In his ear. His reply brought tears to
her eyes. From this time she watched
his little pile of chips dwindle and the
pile before the sleek man grow.
sonny" said the parson. you amt
up to that. Let me work the rest o.
your pile for you
Every one at the table looked aston
ished. The youngster glanced up at
the speaker and was about to proceed
in the management of his own affairs
when the woman took a hand in the
argument and persuaded him to intrust
them to the parson. The SURPRISE at
the turn affairs had taken was not I'M
mixed with contempt at the idea Of q
parson attempting to buck against reg
ulars at the game. Without noticing it
he took seat behind the young mans
chips, representing some ten or twelve
dollars, and began to play.
1t was noticeable that all the large
tTGW H.
dealt. At such times the parson kept
out. He would bet occasionally, and
the pile before him slowly increased.
The sleek man watched him for time,
then made up his mind that he would
make an easy prey.
1t was the sleek mans turn to deal.
There was a jack pot to be opened, and
it was opened with a big bet. Both
the parson and the sleek man came in.
When the parson looked at his hand he
started. Everybody knew ttlat he had
remarkable hand or was preparing
for bluff. The sleek man knew what
cards he held, for he had given him
those he wanted him to have. The par
son before betting laid his hand face
down on the table and said:
Gents, this yere game is not for one
o. my persuasion. wants v to under
stand that 1 plays for this boy and his
wife, who can't afford to lose. l got
hand that ought to help him out-that
is, if none O. you have got a bigger one.
Suppose we take off the limit
After this voluntary information
every one passed out except the sleek
man, who made no objection to rails
ing the limit. and the pile in the center
of the table grew rapidly. Something
seemed to be wrong with the button
| that held the parsons back right hand
suspender, for he was absentmindediy
hitching at 1t. When he and his op-
ponent were tired of raising each other
| the sleek man called" Throwing his
hand on the table face up, the parson
called -Four Jacks" at the same time
| taking his right hand away from toy
ing with his suspender button and with
| it a six shooter, which he thrust under
the nose of the sleek man. Fixing his
steel gray eye on his opponent, he con-
tinued: ~
''It amt usual for two hands of four
of a kind to happen in the same game,
and it would be very unusual for two
in the four highest hands that can be
held to fall in the same deal. If you
! got four aces or kings or queens 1
wouldn't recommend you to turn your
cards over, for If you got one of them
three hands 1 shall consider it my duty
in maintainin' a fair game to shoot.
AS the parson spoke he drew the pile
on the table toward him and told the
young woman to gather 1T in. She
|craped it into her apron and made off
with it as fast as she could run.
| 81 don't play cards and bullets at
/
especially when 1 hain't been given
no time to draw. But I'll go up on the
hill with you, and if you'll play a fair
game with guns we'll settle it that-a-
way. I didn't reckon on a parson
playin' the two games at oncet. Who
air v anyway"
''I was Bill Barney before I saw the
error of my ways and got converted.
Now I'm the Rev. William Barney, at
your service"
A scarcely perceptible shudder pass
ed over the sleek man. every well, -
he said; It'll fight you on the hill. and
| I'll be there tomorrow morning at the
rise o. the SUM-
With that he rose from his seat and
walked away, the parson keeping an
eye on him till he was out of sight.
Every one present knew that he had
gone for good. Bill Barney before his
the territory to tackle, and no one had
ever tackled him successfully.
After the sleek mans departure the
! parson turned to the man whose
money he had saved and said:
young Teller, don't make a fool of
| yourself again with card sharpers. but
give your money to your wife to keep.
Now come up to the meetin' and re-
turn thanks for the kindness the Lord
has sent you. Come. gents.''
Although the invitation was given
simply as such, every one present
obeyed it as an order. One man of a
curious mind Jagged behind and turn
ed over the sleek mans cards. He had
held four queens.
The Rev William Barney remained
a week at the camp, holding meetings
every day. The sleek man did not
appear. EUNICE W1NSOR.