The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-04

cash and turned it over to some orphan
asylum, but 1 restrained my hand.
Holdin' down a Job as a Pilgrim and
holdin' down one as robber are two
different things.
AS 1 ambled along and was drawin'
near the Weepin Holler before men
Shuned, citizen come out to bid me
welcome. He was the mayor. He was
man of oily look and unctuous talk,
and he wanted to make me feel to home
at once. appreciated the hospitable
welcome extended, but at the same time
did not forget that jest sech a Teller
once picked my pocket on a Chicago
street car.
When L had assuaged my thirst with
a glass of sassyparilly pop the unctuous
mayor asked me if 1 had ever encOun-
tered the game of poker in any of my
'pilgrimages. I had to answer that I
but had only set on the hay outside the
circle and seen the others play the
game. He seemed disappointed. He had
heard of the game he said. and wanted
to learn it so as to start a spring boom
in Weepin' Hoiier real estate.
A still, small voice whispered to me
to beware, but yet felt that so good
man should be accommodated, and at
last 1 let him prevail upon me to sit
down and show him what I knew Of
the game.
Providence seemed to have me under
its wings. The mayor started off hold
III ldLlQS OI LI1EESs ElLdlSulS anu lQSll-
eS, and raisin' my bets in the most
reckless manner, and but for my bein'
a man of strict integrity, I should have
been cleaned out in no time. As it was,
I was SIS behind the game when got
a straight flush together, and Wa1lOped
him to the tune of $50 may say right
here, without goin' further, that this
money will be sent to the heather OF
Africa as soon as can get around to
it. When the oily and unctuous was
car IA
no longer, he riz up and sweetly said;
''Mebbe that old boss of yours has got
a gait on to him?
"Mebbe he has" I replied.
And mebbe you think he can beat a
critter have got over in my stable?"
After walkin' around and viewin' his
critter, and after comm to the conclu-
shun that it was by bounden duty to
start a home for old women, / re-
piled that had $50 to back my opinion.
That boss race was fixed up and run in
less'n an hour, and it resulted just as
1t might be expected The man VINO
takes Excelsior for his motto is certain
to come out ahead of the man with a
gum-game to play on his feller-mortal.
My boss come in ten yards ahead, and
the stakes was mine. It was hard for
the oily and unctuous man to preserve
his expression, but he tried his best as
he said
s.Mebbe that dog of yours under the
wagon is good for sunthin' beside
gnawin' bones2"
s'NIebbe he isl I replied, feelin' that
Providence would carry my through one
more struggle.
"And mebbe you'd like to put up
20 bones that he can stand up agfn my
cur2''
I walked around and saw his canine
and answered in the affirmative, and
half an hour later had the stakes in
my inside pocket. My dog won the vic
tory without sweatin hair
I had intended to remain in Weepin'
/ Holler for three or four days. and take
tin-types at ten cents a take, but SEEM
a crowd begin to gather, and, SEEM
| that the mayors righteousness had fled
away, I mounted my vehicle and got
out while they was looxin' around for
the tar and feathers. The mayor had
| come out to shear and got shorn. and if
/ I had ever doubted before that virtue
/ was its own reward, I could doubt no
Copyright, 1905. by T. c. Nc
/ Ciure.)