The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
Dreams Of a Flcdgling in the
Game Of Poker Are Rudely
Dispelled.
GREENLAW MOURNS A LOSS
Aud the Use of $34 as Bait
Turns Out to Be an I'm
profitable Investment.
Nv DAVID A. CURTIS.

e>yu of many other saloons In many
ot,,er towns along the banks OF the
Mississippi River. 1t contained. now
ever, ample II not luxurious provision
for the comfort Of those who sought II
from time to time for the purpose of
relaxation, social intercourse or indul-
gence in other Of the two forms OF
amusement which were most In vogue
in the community.
For convenience there were two
rooms in the saloon, one or which was
mainly utilized for drinking and the
other for playing cards. 1t was con-
sidered entirely proper to smoke In
either room, the consumption OF to-
bacco being looked upon as prime
necessity rather than pleasure.
In the front room there were shelves
for bottles and glasses. a few lamps.
a small bar. dozen or so OF heavy.
substantial chairs, a place for large
stove, which was used in cold weather
and taken out in warm. strong. we'll
made bungstarter stood in corner
behind the bar. Aside from these ar
ticles there was no other fixture but
a single ornament In the form Of
square box. which might have been de-
Signed for use as a spittoon but was
seldom utilized as such.
The back room was furnished with
the same completeness and simplicity.
There was large round table which
had once been covered with green baize,
"A few chairs, a kerosene lamp. which
hung above the table and again. one
ornament. This was framed motto
hanging on the wall.
When the old man bought II from
it tl,a ,rls
GOD L ! our Home but he had ad-
ded to il in wide lettering the further
Inscription mo shootin aloud on the
premises 1t was somewhat fiyspecked
sand there were few round holes in
IT. OF the size OF a 3S bullet, but II was
still legible.
No necessity ever having arisen for
further equipment, the old man had
never provided any. nor had he ever
been criticised on that account.
His stock in trade was equally un-
pretentious, but it was equal to any
demand that had ever been made upon
ii excepting on one or two occasions
when some stranger with more enthu-
siasm than discernment had called for
exine meaning champagne in bottles.
There WAS a goodly supply Of a fluid
cigars and tobacco. A new deck OF
cards could always be had when called
for and chips were Kept in constant
- eadiness for use. And on the bar
stood always a box of matches and a
large water pitcher from either of
(which "A man could help himself with
out mourning expense. The latter,
however. like the motto and the spit
toon. was generally regarded as more
ornamental than useful.
Having his place thus furnished in
readiness for any requirement that was
likely TO be made the old man haC
made no changes In it since the begin
ming, excepting to replenish his supply
of perishable goods from time to time
\ colored citizen came in At stated in
tervals to clean up the place. but aside
from that the old man was under nc
expense for help, as he attended &c
all his business matters In person
never having been known to absent
himself from the saloon when II wa:
open and never having been known tt
close 1t at any time when 1t was to b,
expected that business could be done.
Having pursued his business thu.
diligently under such satisfactory con
ditions for many years and being. more
over, extremely prudent in his expendi
lures, u was generally supposed tina
he was well to do in money matters
His supply OF the two principal neces
stiles of life was obtained without over
head charges from his stock in trade
and he was notably frugal In luxuries
allowing himself no unnecessary indul
gence in food or clothing. His expendi
lures being therefore kept within mar
incnOna
1.-TWO rooms mentioned being very con
4 siderable, though fuctuating, the sup
position was natural
Yr Nevertheless, 1t was his custom L
complain with great bitterness when
on occasions, he would suffer a loss Il
connection with the poker game in tn
back room, for, though he seldom o
never took IA hand in the game himself
his arrangement with the actual partici
pants was such that he shared in tn
profits which usually accrued to tn
: four who played regularly. and wher
as sometimes occurred. an outside
s. happened to win, the old man, perforc
shared the loss.
1t was therefore without surprise tha
these four gentlemen heard him on
evening indulging vehemently in lamen
tations concerning his pecuniary pros
poets.
~ reckon mo- n likely my gray ha
will he brung In sorrow to the pc
house eventual, as the Good Book says
| he exclaimed wrathfully. 9TH amt bee
I no money took In firm poker to spea
] Of To- nigh bout a week, an now the
IL outsider lowed to come in an q
away with thirty-fo' dollars.
Pears like yo uns amt got no sens
/ q responsibility. 'Taint to be 'xpecte
\ how lin gwine to back no SIGH game ,
that. Pears like I'd heap sight bette
L put what little l got into moggages Al
git interest onto 1t nor to be puttil
U up TO passel O. ongrateful haount
what let's II slip through their fingel
n thataway."
y But this was stretching the limit. H
hearers were Indifferent to his W
braidings, but the use of an epithet al
noyed them.
u "Ongrateful haound comes nigh bel
\ / hghtin' word" said Joe Bassett vii
1 ominous calmness. II reckon yO' all be
ter Token that back. II don't set mol
y TOO well on my stomach"
I'm III. ia a L..