The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-24

one verse t says Draw to your hand
That proves how sacred poker is. An
| there's Others"
II hear there's three or four o. the
leadin chuch members, two on 'em be-
in deacons," said Jack Winterbottom,
what set into game up to the hotel
a spell ago, an dropped more'n was good
| for EN-. They've done 'pinted their selves
members O. this yer Law an Order conf
mittee an they're p'posin' for to hold
| hands with the preacher cleanin' up
Arkansas City Pears like they're some
sore, count o. losin'."
THAT must "a been that game with the
two strangers | was mentionin'," declared
Greenhut, greatly excited Serves them
deacons right. What's they want for to
| butt In for, when the strangersd "a
found their way here Z they'd ben let
alone? Stead o. ben' trimmed proper,
| like they would "a ben, they've gone off
down the river chucklin' an maxim fun
o. the way Arkansas City draw poker is
| played
| There were Il few moments silence. Old
man Greenhut seemed too excited to say
more and the others waited. Then the
door opened and Rev. Peleg Whitaker
entered the room followed by Johnson,
the hotel keeper and Deacons Calkins and
Underwood. With them was hfth man,
at the sight of whom Old Man Greenhut
seemed much surprised. 1t was George
Miller, a man of reputed wealth, who had
recently bought the largest store in town,
but who had hitherto devoted himself
strictly TO his own business.
The preacher wasted no time "Mr,
Greenhut" he said severely, I'VE have
called as Law and Order committee to
order you to obey the laws. Your place is
known far and wide for drunkenness and
i,,.o house.
notify you, therefore, that any further
disorder here will lead to your punish-
ment and to the demolition of your sa-
LOOM
Old Man Grenhut gasped and turned
pale. Then he glanced at the bunstarter.
and Joe Bassett moved nearer and held
himself in readiness.
Then the old man recovered himself and
said: "Parson, | haint never yet struck
a woman or a child or preacher but
no man can't say no such things to me.
There amt no drunkenness here. / dom
never low a man to stay in the house
arter he gets drunk. An there amt
never no brawls, nor there won't be while
I have enough stren'th to swing bung-
starter An as for gamblin', there hain't
never been none in the house. I'm sot
agin it,"
idle words" replied the preacher, ut
is known from one end of the Missis-
slppi to the other that the game of draw
poker Is the main attraction to your
place"
"Oh, we'll" said the old man, 'f you
speaks o. draw power, that's different.
Its knowed everywhere t draw poker's
the only attraction they is in Arkansas
City. These here gentlemen settin' round
the stove sets here an gathers in all the
fioatn' capital t comes to town an
spends it in town, what they don't give
their women folks to spend. an that
mostly goes to the preachers. Draw
poker is beneficient provision o Provi-
dence for the preservation o Arkansas
City, but what's that got to do with
gamblin
II will not parley with YOU" said Mr..
Whitaker Everybody knows that draw
poker is gambling
well, then. everybody d better turn
over on tother side an learn few
things that's RELY So" retorted old man
Greenhut Draw poker is highly
scientifical an educational institution, an
has great moral influence in the way o.
p'vidin the means o. runnin Arkansas
City on a respectable basis. II the four
gentlemen t come in with you'll set into
a game with Winterbottom an Bassett
an Pearsall you an I'll look on, an
I'll prove it to you
The reverend gentleman appeared to be
Ter. who had listened intently, said:
THAT may be good idea, Dominic
III sit in for a small game if the others
| will an mebbe you'd learn something
| looking on.
After some persuasion the preacher con-
! scented to this most unexpected turn. say
ing that he felt it duty to learn all
he could, and the others sat in willingly
! enough after the two deacons had bor-
/ rowed $50 apiece from Miller for their
| chips in a table stake game.
| Deacon Callxins dealt first, and Bassett
anted white chip. or SO cents. johnson
and Miller passed, but Winterbottom put
| i'm a dollar and Underwood trailed. Then
| Pearsall and Calklns dropped and Bassett
| raised it Il dollar
| That gate Wnterbottom his chance, and
| he raised a dollar. Underwood studied a
while but finally put up his 50, and the
others both raised. Again Underwood put
| up SO to make good, after still longer
| study. and again the others both raised.
| With a gesture of Impotence. Under
wood threw down his cards, and Bassett
looked over his hand again. II reckon
must "a made a mistake he said grave
| w. and he too threw down. whereupon
| Winterbottom scooped the pot.
"Now, you en- see fr yourself parson,
| ~ tbat air't gamblin" said old man