Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-08-24
A STEP
BACKWARD
By WILLIS BEACH POTTER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

A young clergyman fresh from Il
theological seminary entered a gam
bling den in Dead Mans Gulch and.
standing in the center of the room.
said in a sonorous voice:
You are invited to attend prayer
meeting in Tompson's wood to COM
mence at o'clock. 1t is now a quar-
ter to 4. trust that every man pres
ent will be there"
Instead of every man showing a will
ingness to go to Tompson's wood ev-
cry man proceeded with what he was
doing. which was principally gambling.
The young clergyman-he might have
been twenty seven or twenty-eight
years old-looked mildly upon this
want of response. not in the least dis
couraged. and was about to leave the
saloon when his attention was attract
ed to a young girl who came in. ap-
preached table where half a dozen
men were playing poker. and, putting
her arms around the neck Of one Of the
players. begged him to leave.
do come home. father" she said.
Mother is sick and your being here
worries her"
after I've played few hands more.
Effie. I've had long run Of bad luck,
which is sure to turn"
The clergyman from the moment the
girl entered was visibly affected by
her presence. Going to the table, he
looked over the game for awhile. then
said to her father. IF you go home
I'll see what l can do to recover your
losses" Every one looked up at the
speaker surprised. especially the man
addressed. He rose. leaving seven or
eight dollars on the table. and. telling
his daughter to go home and say to her
mother that he would be there soon,
stood looking over the game
His fellow gamesters were five stool
pigeons and one card sharp. They had
feeced the man who had given up his
place out Of nearly all the money he
possessed. The clergyman steadily
won. but in small amounts, till he had
increased the pile before him to sew
eral hundred dollars. Then the card
sharp gave his stool pigeons look and
opened the next hand for jack pot
All stayed in for one round. then drop
ped out on the second. and on the third
the betting was left to the card sharp
and the clergyman. who continued to
raise each other till the pot resembled
a miniature mountain.
By this time there were number Of
lockers on. and the excitement Waxed
high A clergyman playing against
Dave Simpson. who was known for
the slickest card sharp at Dead Mans
Gulch. was an interesting sight to see.
When the two men tired OF raising
each other Simpson ''called" the cler-
gyman. This by the rules of the game
compelled the latter to show his hand
first. an evident disadvantage to him.
playing with light fingered oppo-
nent who might increase his hand aft
er knowing what the clergyman held.
The broad brim Of the parsons cleri-
cal felt hat was pulled down over his
eyes. and his cards were held close I'M
der them Presently he said mildly:
Il see four kings in my hand. and
nothing will beat four kings except
four aces. Since I've got an ace. too.
there's no way for you TO beat me ex-
cept by introducing an ace from an
other pack. which would. to say the
least. be irregular I'm going to show
my cards. and if you have that fifth
ace I'd advise you to keep it dark
The speaker seemed TO be troubled
by an itching at the back of his neck
and put hand up to scratch. When
be withdrew his hand be held in it
knife eight inches long. which he held
over his opponent. The latter retained
his nerve. sitting motionless.
You're no parson." he said. who
are you?"
Il am a clergyman Of the Methodist
Episcopal church My name is James
Sykes. formerly desperate and black
leg, but reformed"
Throwing his cards on the table, he
told the man for whom be played to
scoop in the pot
Every one had heard of Jim Sykes.
and not man among the gamblers
dared to tackle him. He went home
with the man be had befriended and