The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-16

through life, but at the same time re-
member that 10 per cen profit is on
sidered a reasonable fgger the world
over"
Jest before reaching the enterprising
burg. with the desollte name | came
across Il human hyena lying Oh his face
on the grass, and as / halted my outlir
and asked why he sorrered be sat up
and wiped the tears from his eyes and
answered that 4 man Of innocent look
who hailed from Missouri had come
along and proposed a game of poker
for the Quitting of the heather of
Africa with red flannels for the winter.
The hyela had been worrying for two
weeks for fear the heather wouldn't
be supplied. and it was with gayety in
his soul and thankfulneSs in his heart
that he sat down to play. Finding the
other man an amateur at the noble
game. he went in to win a hundred
bolts Of flannel right off the reel. He
a o aces to do it on; but, alas,
when the showdown tOOk place he
found himself scooped Oh a straight
ASSAs - x civ oNL " q i =
and hence his sorrer and his tears. I
was about to read him a moral lecture
on the sin of poker and other games Of
chance when he appealed to me to get
down and give him a show. He felt
that Providence might be on his side if
he tried it again, and his heart was
heavy for those heathcns who would
V to shiver through 3 hard winter if
nothing was done. Under the circum-
stances and always having felt to pity
the heathenS of all countries. including,
America. when it could be done with
out too heavy a financial investment, I
descended from ny wagon. and we
were soon engaged in the ~intricacies Of
the game.
| 0 % had aus to believe that the
sOrrering man had a way of palming
the cards. and when ! was sure that he
had cheated me four or five times |
hardened my heart and escorted to the
practices Of my ungodly days. In my
youth q lightning rod man had taught
me a few tricks with cards to assist me
on life'S journey. and ! now brought
them to bear. | dealt the sorrering crit
ter 4 flush and myself a full house, and
it warmed the cookies Of my heart TO
see the smile that came to his face. He
opened the pot, and l raised him. He
raised back, and we had So in it when
we both stood pat. Notwithstanding
what he had said about being cleaned
out be produced 4 wad of the needful
and detied me until we had $50 up.
Then l called him and raked in the pot,
at the same time explaining that 90 per
cent of the money would be sent to the
heather Of Boston and that all the win
ter fannelS should be medicated.
| was going on to express my great
qualification that | had been chosen as
the humble instrument to bring this
flannel occasion about when the old
hyena precipitated himself Upon me.
and | had to fight for my life. The
struggle was long and fierce, but |
finally got in Il on the point of his
chin. and he slumbered. While he was
thus occupied l took my departure.
wiping my bleeding nose on Il tuft of
grass as I went. AS | looked back over
ny shoulder when / was half a mile
away and saw that he was still lying
where he fell it occurred to me to say
TO myself:
THE world is made up of those who
have no guile, but at the same time
every mothers son of them will bear
watching"
On proceeding into the town I was
welcomed by the mayor in person. He
informed me that this was nos his
usual habit, as he was a .critter shat
felt his dignity; but, seeing that it was