The wageworker., 1910-05-06
|MyUncle' sStory
By A. B. SEARLE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

What change half a century has
made in methods of travel! In 1850 to
reach New York from Cincinnati. then
the Queen City of the West. one
might so part of the way by steam
boat. another by stagecoach and the
balance by canal. In such convey
ances people were thrown together in
timately. and lifelong friendships were
often made. The passenger canalboat
was the first to pass out of use. and
there are few living who remember it
as method of travel.
1t was In 1916 that one of these pas
senger canalboats was being dragged
along by a horse on the towpath.
There were no staterooms, only berths
something like those on a modern
sleeping car. Between these was the
cabin, where the passengers lounged
during the day and evening. At that
time the professional gambler worked
in the narrow channels Of the period.
He was on the steamboat. but did not
disdain the canalboat. On this canal
boat a portion of the bow had been
curtained off. and in 1t were card ia.
bles. At one of these tables sat pro-
fessional gambler feecing a youngster
of twenty.
That youngster was my uncle, and I
got the story l 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 $4,000.
The next morning was Sunday. A
service was held in the cabin conduct
ed by a 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
that the clergyman attacked gambling,
telling a number Of interesting, many
Of them pathetic, incidents. in which
some foolish person had been robbed
of all he possessed. In these stories
the speaker showed an intimate
knowledge of all forms Of swindling
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 1t 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
terested would ruin him the same as
If be 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 well enough that the
youngster would be after him. assent
ed, and they were soon at play.
OF course my uncle lost steadily.
His last thousand dollars was slowly
melting away when who should walk
in 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. He's a professional
gambler and is playing with marked
cards."
Picking up one Of the cards lying on
the table face down, the speaker, rub
bing his thumb on 1t, 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 vigorous bIuff.
What you got to do with this busi-
ness. anyway? You're a parson and
don't know any more about cards than
a mule You just get out of here or
I'll find a way to put you out"
"How much has he won from you,
boy?" asked the clergyman Of my un-
Gle
"Seven thousand dollars"
"Give me what you have left The
only way I can get your loss back for
you from this man Is to win 1t at his
own game There's honor among
thieves He won't do 1t one way. but
he will another"
My uncle turned over few hundred
dollars he had left. The clergyman sat
down. new pack of cards was
brought out. and at it they went. At
the end Of an hour the clergyman had
recovered $4,000. At the end Of the
second hour he had lost $500. At the
end Of the third hour he had regained
all but $500 Of my uncle's loss. and in
half an hour more he had won every
cent the gambler had taken. He SHOW
ed his winnings over to the boy he had
saved from. ruin.
"There's only one man that can gel
| tho hoftor of me- on anv Oa mo nj