The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-30
David A. Curtis Tells About a
Poker Game That was.
Never Played.
By DAVID A. CURTIS

Never Played.
By DAVID A. CURTIS
Square Hapgood rode gayly into
Arkansas City on his favorite saddle
mule while there was yet little time
TO elapse before the going down OF
the sun. A contented expression sat
on his rugged countenance and size
able wad nestled in his breeches
pocket. The time had come for one OF
his occasional outbreaks. and he was
contemplating with no small satisfac-
ton the prospect Of few hours OF
hilartty with which he was about To
relieve the monotony OF life as he
lived 1t on his plantation few miles
#eway IT. town. LAYING arrenged
his.0r tram wiz due eanet he wa
about to cut loose.
Certain matters Of business demand
cd his attention, and being warned by
previous experience he set about the
Transaction Of these before relaxing
When on other occasions he had be-
gun his round Of pleasure first his
business had suffered, SO this time he
rode past old man Greenlaw's saloon
witAout Stopping. The old man saw
and understood this, but was rot well
satisfG.
Old Man Greenlaw Laments.
"A fool an his wad Is soon parted as
the Good Book says" he grumbled
"Thar goes the squire. hell bent on
wastin' his substance In riotous hard
ware or somepin' To- his home en-
sumption, stead O. gettin the good OF
1t his own self. like he mought II he
was to come in hyar."
II reckon he'll be back hyar, later
on" said Jake Wnterbottom. sooth-
ingly.
20 co'se he will" said the old man
. 9TH a'int no question o. that. But in
the meantime he'll be shuckin' bills.
"It's hard enough To- me to c'mpete
ag'in the bar business what's did up
to the hotl. 'thoughten SEEM money
squandered onto groceries an cloel
an such what'd ought To- to come to
me legitimate in the nachul co'se o
trade"
WELL" said Sam Pearsall. as one
disposed to make The best of things
II reckon he won't spend no mon he's
, pledged to afo' he comes back"
"Prob'ly not" said the old man. "but
tn amt hellova lot o. satisfaction
bout gettin' half of wad when yo'd
ought TO to git tt ALL"
1t was undoubtedly true that the
four friends Of the old man who were
sitting with him when he said this
were in sense the benefclaries of his
business system. That is, they shared
in the profits Of the poker game which
was kept going in the back room
under his careful superintendent
Ordinarily. therefore, they were little
disposed to criticise him for the ex-
ceeding care with which he looked
after the monetary details OF his busl.
ness. seeing that they were, to a Ger.
tain extent. participants in the pros,
pertty that was SO greatly enhanced
by his grasping methods.
Nevertheless, there were times when
they cavilled. Jos Bassett especially
was occasionally outspoken to a de-
gree in his reflections concerning
parsimony. he being possessed of q
gorge which rose promptly on the
slightest occasion and having small
respect for persons.
Joe Bassett's Gorge Rises.
This was one OF the times.
"f yo' all was to own the Nassis-
sippi river" he said with utter con-
tempt, II reckon yo'd begrutch 4 glass
o. water to dyin' man."
Not II he had the price. ] wouldn't
said the old man earnestly. 1t was
evident from his manner that he
s4ha,, oh ha haI hA tote Cot
~, and the others laughed. Bassett
however. was deeply disguised. though
he kept silence when Blaisdell chip.
ped in.
How much d yo' all reckon drink
d be wuth under them circumstants? p
he asked gravely.
WELL" said the old man after con.
sidering the question moment, "that
d d'pend c'nsid.able on how thirsty
the man was an how much of wac
he had. Just nachully, II he was RELY
dyin'. he'd be p'pared TO- to pay lib
5ral, seem he wouldn't have no othel
use To- his money. It'd be a charit,
To- to give it to him at any price, an
they wouldn't be no reason TO no
gittin' g much 8 could.
II wouldn't asst him no mon hi
had. bein's I'd be liable To- to lose {
sale. TIL amt no sense in overreach
in yo'self. Moderation pays best II
the long run. SO I al'ays moderates
] hain't never had the chanst TO tt
sell nothin' to a man when he wa,
akchully dyin'. but If was to I'd wan
to know how much he had afo' II
sot the price,"
IT blieve yo' would" said sBassett
as he spat on the floor. but the others
laughed again.
"By thrift we thrives," said Blais,
dell with mock admiration, and the
old man stared at him. uncompre'
bending.
80 co'se we does" he said indig
nantiy, elf we has nachul talent, n,
stead O. which yo' uns sets 'rount
heehawin' like mess O wild asses o
She wilderness, shown a highly on.
proper respect for money"
"Oh. shucks." said Bassett, and ris
Ing he stretched himself nightly ant
stepped outside.
gT.me Of Patient Waiting.
no more was seen OF him by thos,
who remained in the saloon for con
siderable time, during which the,
waited patiently for Squire Hapgoot
TO appear. Then suddet thought ap
peared to disquiet the old man.