The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-06-19

| way to himself, there being small love
lost between him and the elder.
"Of course, as soon as the bear wal
a little used to his new home he want
ed 10 show off his talents In the check
~er-playing line, being justly proud Of
them. But Hal just laughed at the
good bear. The intelligent animal
went around for a few days with a
grieyed and hurt look on his face.
But Hal fed him well and petted him,
and, to make up for the loss Of check
ers, started in to teach the bear
poker. Maybe he was a bad bear at
heart, and maybe it vas just his won
derful intelligence; but 1t took the
bear even less time to learn to play
poker than it had to learn checkers,
and he seemed to enjoy it a good
deal more, too, which makes me think
that at the bottom he was a sort of
Tenderloin bear and not the truly
good creature he appeared at first
acquaintance. Anybody who doubted
the bears ability as a poker player
had only to sit in a game with him
nee He didn't need to sit twice.
Such a bear! such a bear!,' said
Hal jenkins in an admiring way one
evening after the furry gambler had
bluffed him out of a big pot. No ono
would think to look at your innocent.
bland countenance that you possess
the guile you do. If you had only
lived in old Mississippi river steaLa.
boat times lou would have been
worth a fortune to the mar who
owned YOU
And just as the bear was about
developed into the best poker player
in town, Elder Allison returned from
the city.
''Of course there was nothing for
Hal Jenkins to do but to return the
bear to Deacon Stebbins, who turned
him over to the elder. The elder
took his pet home with him, the faith
full animal showing signs OF unfeigned
joy at the return Of his old master.
That evening the elder thought he
would have a game of checkers.
Now we'll have a little game
he remarked complacent like, Just to
see how much you have deterior-
ated during my absence
THE bear trudged over to the
place where he knew a pack of cards
was kept. In the meantime the elder
got OUT the checker board and set the
pieces. The bear shuff1ed the cards
and dealt out poker hands. Each was
busy and did not notice what the
was doing until the good elder
moved n Of his pieces--he always
liked to have the first move. Then
each looked at the other nightly
amazed.
You may think we need the cards
for counters snarled the elder, sort
of impatiently; but We don't. Well
only play two or three games, and
course I'll take them ALL"
But the bear was as surprised as
the elder. He had forgotten all
about checkers. He looked at the
pieces sort of puzzled. Then he no
the n piece the elder had
forward. That seemed to
enlighten him some, though not en-
81 see the one check you have
bet he seemed to be saying to him
self, but why do you scatter the rest
about the board instead of stacking
them up like a Christian
"The bear never was much of a con-
v~ersdtionalist. He took another peep
his cards, Then he gathered up
his checker pieces, slid out one by
piece the elder had put forward
and stacked up ten others alongside
of it. 1t was plain that he was see
ing the elders supposed bet and rails
ing it ten.
The elder looked at this strange
proceeding in Amusement. Then he
noticed the five cards the bear was
and the way the checker-men
were stacked up. His look changed
10 II of holy horror.
Wicked, deprayed bear!' he thun-
1ercd. Is this the way you put in
'our time while | was away? Learn
ng games of chance, after my careful
Efforts to keep you from gambling!
penitence and a short chain, and
lard bumps that will be coming to
'ou until you appreciate that the way
If the transgressor is hard, and that
t is the duty of every good bear to
tick to the game at which his master
win
AT this the elder grabbed a big
tick and began pounding the bear.
1t first the bear seemed hurt, men.