The daily Alaskan., 1911-09-14

p. g. He was a man about 55 years old rather tall with dark hair
 sasa .. zs- --.=z-. ~.- y5u Es zs=-- I'll see what I 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 ais daughter to go home and say Co 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 deeced the man who had given up his place out of nearly all the money he possessed. The clergyman steadily won. but in small amounts. til he had increased the pile before him to sev- eraI hundred dollars Then the card sharp gave bis stool pigeons a look and opened the next hand for a 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 a 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 Cyman. This by the rules Of the game compelled the latter to show his hand first. an evident disadvantage to him, playing with a light fingered oppo- nent who might increase his hand aft CT knowing what the clergyman held
 The broad brIm of the parsons cleri- cal felt hat was pulled down over his eyes. and bis cards were held close un- der them. Presently he said mildly:
 "I see four kings in my hand, and nothing will beat four kings except four aces. Since I've got an ace, too. there's DO 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 1t dark
 The speaker seemed to be troubled by an itching at the back of bis neck and put a hand up to scratch. When he withdrew hl- hand he held in it a knife eight inches long, which he held over his opponent The latter retained his nerve, sitting motiOnless.
 You're no parson,' be said. "Who are youT
 q am a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church. My name is James Sykes, formerly a desperado and black leg, but reformed"
 Throwing bis cards on the table, nc told the man for whom he played to scoop in the pot.
 Every one had heard of Jim Sykes, and not a man among the gamblers dared to tackle him. He went home with the man he had befriended and M
 on arrival said:
 You people have forgotten me, but haven't forgotten you Once when a posse was after me to hang me this young lady, then a slip of girl hid me and saved my neck. These funds are a small token of my gratitude"
 He took the girls hand in bis and looked into her eyes with his, which were full of gratitude.
 CT remember she said, "six or seT- en years ago a young man coming to our house and telling me that he was hunted for his life, but be could not possibly be you. He was a frightful looking object. You, on the contrary, are the personifcation of all that is good"
 And what made the change in me? The little girl who saved my life. 1 resolved that her effort should not be in vain. I determined to live for the good instead of the bad I was con- verted by an evangelist and joined the Methodist church. Now 1 am a work CT in the vineyard of the Lord" And before he left he had secured a Ihelpmeet to work with him in his new Held The couple worked exclusively among the toughest classes, for which labor on account of his experience with them the husband was eminently dt- ted. There are a number of these western towns which were once sinks of iniquity that are now reputable places, made so by our hero and hero he.