The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-25

such a thing as an honest gambler
that is, a gambler who is willing to
give a man a fair chance-to lose his
money. The gambler wants your
money, and 1t amt much trouble for
him to accommodate his conscience as
to the way he gets It, If he is sharp
er than you are he compliments him
self with the fact that he understands
his business, and every man that has
trade likes to know its details better
than the other man does"
Thus spoke old Limuel to few
friends who were gathered about the
tireside in the Jucklin home. The
wind was bowling and the snow, like
shredded sheets, was flying past the
windows
"But you don't believe that all
gamblers are thieyes?" remarked old
man BrizIntine.
Il said l didn't. But there amt
nothin' that will strain a mans hon
esty more than gamblin' will"
That's been preached on many
time" Brizintine spoke up. But
never gambled in my life, and
And you don't know just how FAR
you are honest" Linn broke in.
Il don't know that ] understand
you"
Didn't think you did, replied Juck-
lin But ! can explain The man
that CANDLES has more temptations to
steal than any other man. When he
has lost everything a strong resent
ment arises against life. 1t is almost
impossible for him to believe that he
has been fairly beaten, and If he is
broad enough to acknowledge this he
then questions Fate for her one
sidedness. He wants to know what
right she's got to discriminate SO
against him.
Unfortunately for man, work was
put on him as curse. The fact is,
It ennobles him, but he accepted 1t as
curse. And when his brother has
committed a crime, not grave enough
to hang him, he says: ] will sen
tence you to work In the clden times
man that worked want respected as
much as the highwayman. They
hanged the robber, it is true, but they
respected him more than they did
the man that handled the hoe. And
the gambler is a sort of social high
wayman. / don't say he is a bad fel-
Ter. In many instances he per
suades himself to believe that
his profession is right He puts up
his money takes chances. and If he
wins he has come by the money as
honestly as If he had dug in the
ground for it--he thinks. And as long
as he wins he may be honest. But
his principles undergo a change when
he begins to lose. Then he can't
help feelin' that he is givin the
other tsller too much show When he
has lost all he must have money in
order to carry on his business. Sup
pose he is employed to collect money
suppose he is in a bank. If he
refrains from takin' money to gam
bic with he is t-desperately
honest, yon might say. And he may
refrain day after day--for years; but
some day he may find himself weak.
This weakness may consist Of an over.
confidence in self-in an overabun-
dance Of hope in a faith that he will
win and can pay back. Right there
he is gone Think you are strong
enough to stand such a temptation as
that, Brother BrizintineY
! would not use any mans money" /"
Brizintine answered. Il surely have
sense enough TO know what is my
own, and knowing what is not my own
I have honesty enough not to take it"
YES" replied Jucklin. and what
you have said is the answer that nine
out Of ten men would make-and hon.
estly. too. But the fact is, you don't
know"
What do you mean TO say I don't
know whether or not I'm honest?"
Il mean just what l say-you don't
know. It is all very well for the un-
tried man to believe himself strong
hut unless he has been severely tried
he does not know
DO you know. Brother Jucklin?''
well, I'll tell you just how far
know. Many years ago was workin
at mill that took in a good deal Of
money Finally they gave ne charge
OF It Along about that time a party
OF us used to meet two or three times
a week to play social game Of poker
It got 10 be SO sociable that It kept
me broke. knew that It was largely
a game Of luck and that the cards
would break even after awhile, and
that may be true, in the long run
but the run is too long. In the course
OF a thousand years they might have
broke even. but as It was, they broke
with just enough promise to hold me
tied in fascination 20 the game.
began to borrow money-and it took
all Of my wages to pay it back. 0ns
night / went over to meet the boys
l didn't have a cent Of my own, anc
wouldn't have gone II hadni
thought that some one would lend me
enough to set into the game. Bul
everyone hemmed and hawed ant
spoke Of the exsFAne iced for money
Of hard times and the iike--the very