The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-04
Mssou|a Man Decides Not 10
Swear OFF
SPOUSE HAD REFORMATION SCHEME
INVITES A FEW FRIENDS TO THE
HOUSE TO PLAY
SOLO.

I'm not going to swear off a thing
this year." said a we'll known either
of Missoula last night. mot that il
wouldn't be a good thing for me tc
cut out a few things, but my wife
has evolved a new system by which
che is going to reform me.
This reformation scheme which lit
tie wiley has Matched is clever, all
right, and I'm not saying that it won't
ultimately win. 1t has the outward
appearance of a good thing, and fell
for it fine for the first two or three
weeks.
1.-THE first mixing that 1 had that my
wife harbored notions of reforming was
When she began asking me questions.
Where do the best solo players
hang OUT? she fires at me innocent
like.
just now l replied.
"'What kind of layout have they
got there?' she asks.
! Nothing SWELL I says, just comfy,
with two or three solo tables, nickel
in the slot machine and a few bottles.
We'll, if you found a place where
| the society was just as cOngenial, and
Where the players We're just as clever
and where you could get all the trim
mings, you would just as lief play
/ CHI
throws at me.
"'Sure; it doesn't make any differ
ence where one plays so long as one
gets a run for his money
We'll, it was two night later as l
was reaching for my ovsrcoat to go
down when wiley comes smuggling and
says:
1--we gone into business, and if you
can throw any custom my way, I'd
like it,
you've done what? howled, hard
ly believing that l understood correct
ly.
leone into business is the right eX-
PRESTON says my WHEY, calmly and
steadily. I've invited a couple of
your friends over for the night to play
solo. Thought you might want to stay
and meet them
She then led me into one of our
spare rooms and the sight that met my
gaze fairly took my breath away. There
was the sideboard all fixed up with
glasses and pretty well stocked. There
was a slot machine with the prevailing
scale of prices pasted on the front.
There was also a card table with
box of checks and a solo deck all laid
out.
whats the idea, kitten?' l asked,
Gone into the saloon business?
"'Oh, no. she answered, this Is
| club room. l have a box or two or
good cigars, plenty of nickels for you
to play the slot machine. and there'll
be a couple of the boys here within
fewminutes to play solo. I'm run
ming the place and when you're stuck
for game you come up to the coun-
| ter and settle just like any place else.
You needn't play here unless you
want to, but l thought that after you
had tried it once or twice you might
spend your evenings at home, more
especially when you can get all the
accommodations here that you can
anywhere else
well, my boy, stayed at home and
played solo until midnight and got
orth of oor Had a little
bad luck. you know. At the end of
every game my wife came around and
handed US the checks and We settled.
Her receipts for the evening were
$3.50, and she said that she made fair
profit. Since that evening l have
played frequently and have had better
luck Owing to having some influence
with my wife, / was able to open a
small account with her, always sign
ing a tab for the cigars l got. When
pocket l play the slot machine and try
to win. She is ahead of me so far,
and 1 am trying to get square. Also
she has learned to play solo somewhere
and when there is nobody about she
sits down and beats me to a finish
playing with dummy hand.
Il don't think 1 have anything to
swear off this year. I am staying at
home every night, and I am getting
a good run for my money. I don't
know how much my wife has made off
me, but l have no kick coming"
NEW STORY OF De RAGLAN