The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07
Though Mrs. Blaisdcll Did Her
Best and the Preacher
Was Amenable.
VICTOR IN A NOTABLE GAME
He Walks Away With a Wad
Won From Old Man Green
laws Friends.
~ DAVID A. CURTIS,

esteemed in ASkane.s City as an ex-
ception to the generality OF her sex,
enjoying as she did the proud distinc-
tlon Of being regarded by old man
Greenlaw himself with profound re-
spect, 1t was conceded on all hands
that she was extremely capable, and the
old man could pay no higher tribute to
any one than he did to her In proclaim
ing that fact with emphasis when
ever he had occasion to refer to her.
II was recognized by all his acqua1nt-
ances that no ordinary combination of
qualities In any woman would he suf-
flcient to overcome his fear and dis
trust OF the female OF his species,
and the admiration he accorded to her
was held TO be undeniable evidence OF
her eminence
IL was, in fact, no ordinary combina-
ton Of characteristics that she pos
sessed. In the first place she was un-
Questionaby and rather violently red
headed. and was likely to become more
so somewhat suddenly when the &C.
casion called for IT, as Jim Blals1ell had
discovered more than once, to his great
discontinue, In the course OF his mar
ried life. And her red headedness was
accounted a factor Of her efficiency.
Moreover she was broad minded to
degree not common among the mar
ried women OF Arkansas City, being
fully alive to the advantages she en-
1oyed by reason of her matrimonial al
lance with the best poker player in
the Mississippi Valley and firm In the
maintenance of the privilege she de-
clared herself entitled to by reason Of
that alliance. In other words she de-
clared herself in on the game at the
very beginning OF theis partnership to
the extent that she shared in all the
profits OF 1t and was not in any way
concerned In or responsible for any
losses that might at any time be In
CURED
q There were other women In Arkansas
City who were equally determined in
asserting their rights as to the first
part OF such an arrangement but not
of sufficient strength OF character to
withstand any proposed infrachon of
the second part. And for that reason
they were less tolerant of the game
and enjoyed less respect from old man
Greenlaw.
1t was therefore no idle within that
had induced the old man to propose "a
his friend Blaisdell that he should ap-
peal to his wife In a situation of pc
Methodist preacher named Rathbun had
been assigned by the conference to the
Arkansas City district and had nsti-
tuted vigorous campaign against the
existing condition OF things as he found
them in the community. Moreover. be-
ing a man OF considerable ability, he
had succeeded in making converts
| among those who were not generally
y considered likely to be impressed by
such teachings as his, and much I'M
easiness had ensued.
Two principal Industries fiourlshed in
Arkansas City at the time, to the prac-
teal exclusion of all others, and with
both OF these old man Greenlaw was
prominently identified. His saloon was
the most flourishlng one in the COM
munity and the game of poker that was
played in his back room was by long
odds the most renowned in that part
Of the country and the most profitable
TO those who played there regularly
against outsiders.
The Rev. Mr.. Rathbun had not de-
clared himself against the liquor traffic
but he had inveighed bitterly against
gambling and had gone so far as to de-
clare that draw poker was no more
than a peculiarly delusive form OF that
vice, statement that old man Green
law resented bitterly as being contrary
To the facts in the case and peculIarly
lnirrlous to the interests NJ tho com
munity. The conversion at camn meet
ing of several citizens. one Pete Kenny
among them. 10 the preachers views
had filed the old man and his friends
with alarm.
II was nj this iuncture that ha had
surgestcd IN Rlaisdall thar no ,nnaal
10 his wife for advice az IN n nIan
procedure and for assIstonco in tho owe.
cution ~ ~ II was rocognt,od Tho,
mania ndlIny IN. nreocber In INV ,osh,
ion would he IN od,,,sod IN, :, ,,,os nao.
essarv IN circumyon, hir, In .or,. MO =,
Otharwiae rr,r ,rnanaaa wy
Accordlnglv tn, nro.en,.s ,,o nan, >,
Nra Riaisdaii ana no,ad ,,.,,s ..,,.,o y
t,on that har ayas arao,,o, - tsa ~
citaI ~ hts stat sn,ant ,,,,th u,ha, saor,a1
raeao,tor 30 49,. h,,. -,
"I reckon Iu hava 70 noo,, ,r,o ,,,, /,
abe said nromntIv .,poars NV a.. -,
IN somebodv 70 learn hin, how bess a,,, nv
roo ,ur uho, n. ondar,oLas IN ston 40 =,
noker bain,t hsen tend,n. rnsstin,
-. 49,. ~. 80 ~. oe''h