Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-09
.MyUncle' sStory
BY a. B. SEARLE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association
BY a. B. SEARLE

might go part of the way by steam
boat, another by stagecoach and the
balance by canal ~ such convey
ances people were thrown together in
tiulately. and lifelong friendships were
often made. The passenger canalboat
wa6 the first 10 pass out OF use, and
thctc are few living who remember it
rs q method of travel
Itlwas in 1915 that one OF these pas
sengcr canalDoats was being dragged
along by n horse on the towpath
Thdre were no staterooms. only berths
something Ike those on q modern
sleeping car. Between these was The
cabin, where the passengers lounged
dufing the day and evening. At that
time the professional gambler worked
In the marrow channels Of the period.
Hes wasson the Steamboat. but did not
disfiain the canalboat On this canal
boat a.portion OF the bow had been
cuetained off, and in it were card ia
bles. Ar one of these tables sat a pro-
fcssionaI gambler fleeing a youngster
Of twenty.
That youngster was my uncle, and 1
got the STORY 1 am about to tell from
him
He had, been deputed to carry some
$4,000 from Pittsburg to Harrisburg.
How the gambler knew that he had
the money with him he did not learn.
My uncle played with the sharper till
he had lost all the money that had
been given him for his expenses, then
began to play with his trust fund. He
quit-at- II o'clock at night, having lost
half of the $1,000.
The next morning was Sunday. A
service was held IN the cabin conduct
ed by clergyman slightly past mid
die age. My uncle was much impress
ed with his appearance and the fervor
with which he spoke His accent was
that OF the southerner. My uncle said
tlalt The clergyman attacked gambling,
telling a number Of interesting, many
Of them pathetic, incidents, I'm which
some foolish person had been robbed
Of all he possessed. In these stories
the speaker showed an intimate
knowledge Of all forms Of swlndling
at cards. He was looking straight at
my uncle while he talked and seemed
to be speaking to him personally.
Then my uncle remembered that while
playing with the gambler he had seen
the clergyman standing among those
overlooking the game
Notwithstanding that it was Sunday
my uncle was eager to renew the play.
hoping to win back what he had lost.
He argued that to lose any part of
the fund with which he had been in
tercsted would ruin him the same rs
If he lost the whole. Therefore Sun
day afternoon he proposed to the gam
bier that they go to their curtained
space for more play. The gambler,
who knew we'll enough that the
youngster would be after him, assent
ed, and they were soon at play.
or course my uncle lost steadily.
His last thousand dollars was slowly
melting away when who should walk
I'm but the clergyman. He stood look
ing at the game for awhile, then said
to my uncle boy. you can't play
with this man. Hes a professional
gambler and is playing with marked
cards"
Picking up one Of the cards lying on
the table face down, the speaker, rub
bling his thumb on It, said, "The king
Of clubs" Then, turning It over, his
prophecy proved correct. In the same
way he told the value Of other cards.
They were all provided with minute
points that could be felt. but not easily
seen. Then. turning to the gambler.
he said, GIVE the boy the money you
have won from him"
The gambler put up n vigorous bmf.
What YOU got 70 do with this bust
ness anyway? You're n parson and
don't know any more about cards than
a mule You just get out Of here or
III find way TO put you out"
4 How much has he won from you.
boyT asked the clergyman Of my IN
/ Gle.
Seven thousand dollars"
Give me what YOU have left The
only way can get your loss back for
you from this man Is to win II at his
own game There's honor among
thieves lie won't do It one way. but
he VIII another"
Ny uncle turned over few hundred
dollars be had left The clergyman sat
down. new pack Of cards was
brought out, and ut It they went. At
the end OF an hour the clergyman had
recovered 5000 At the end Of the
second hour he had lost $500 At the
end Of the third hour ne had regained
an but $500 Of my unclc's loss. and fin
half an hour more be had won every
cent the gambler bad taken. lie shov.
cd his winnings over to tho boy ne had
saved from ruin
There's only one man that can get
the better Of me on any game Of
cards. said the gambler. "aud ]
haven't seen him FOR eighteen years"
Warren PhilHpsW
"Ycs"
That's my name"
The gambler looked at him in aston.
/ l5hmcnt.
I