The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-02

d got three 10.spots, Pete Virgins three jacks
ST Hoskins three kings, an the ole Squire three
aces. They tuck two keaTd5 all round, except
the pedleT who, alter a great deal o trouble
with his keards, finally laid EN- all down, an
took up five fresh ones from the top o the pack.
lie skurcely looked at 'em when he laid EN-
down agin, and said with o silly laugh:
a. Here, I'll make my blind good, ez you fell
lers says an I'll pile you something on top Of
it. ] mont CO well be hung for an ole sheep ez
lamb, an eff I'm gwine to lose my hard earn
ms might ez well lose 'em all to wunst
With that he picked up bout half the bills
IN the newspaper, an lald en- IN the pot,
countin out one SI0-bill after auUJher. Jim
Padget got white round the gills, showed two
o his I0-spOts to 81 under the table, an thrOWed
his keards down, sayin, I've put all my wool
money up. an I'm at the end o my string.
Isl Hoskins got mp an went 0at into the
other room where AIasa WIZ, an showed him
his keards. He come back agin with bank
notes enough to see the pedler, an laid EN-
down. Pete went out to see Mass. too, an got
some money on his silver watch, rife an horse,
an called. The Squire slowly worked an ole
leather wallet from his breast, undone q long
strap round it, and counted out enough greasy
bills to make his standiu' good.
"''Shaw, what's the use o. maxim two bites
at a cherry? said the pedler Here, I'm a.
gwine to put all the rest o. this on; an he tuck
up the balance O. the money IN the nOOscpaper
an piled it on to his stake,
80 But We can't do that said Pete; I've
called We can't bet no more
80 Is that so ? axed the pedlcr, with mouth
an eyes wide open.
Yes, indeed.
90 Don't let that disturb you, young man,
said the Squire in his commanding way. 'IU
bet you all you want to that my handu beat
yOur'n.
"'All right said the pedIer; make up the
difference He seemed to be so dumb that he
could scarcely see.
- IL you've got any more money said 81
/ HOskins, who'd been consulting agi'n with
'Ma5a, III make mother SIGH bet with ye'
80 That ketches me- said the pedler, pUliin'
/ out another bunch o notes Wrapt in a moose
/ paper an fumblin' over 'em with the mussy,
/ unsteady fingers OF a drunken man. / begin
[ to doubt, though, ef he wuz quite ez drunk e.
/ he let on. The rest WuZ so greedy bout gittin'
4 his money that they wuzn't notiein' so sharp.
/ s. wuz the one that called said Pete Wig
4 gins, spreadin his keards out on the table an
reachin' for the pot. I've got three jacks, an
ace an queen
81 Keep your hand off n that money. said '1Iasa
( ThrOckmortOn it's ours-I mean Sis. He's
got three queens an jack and a 10-spOt.'
." Gentlemen should alters wait till all the
hands is showed down, said the Squire, in bis
most pompous way. III issue an execution
for that ere pot, by virtue Of three aces an a
pair O mines"
Sorry to disappint ye, gentlemen, said the
pedler with hard, wicked laugh. He Wuz now
the soberest man in the whole party, an his
eyes danced but 1 never wuzso astonished in
my life ez when l picked up them five keards
an found four on EN- Wuz kings. 1 believe
cordin' to the way you learned me, that beats
all these other hands, an he begin stowiu
away the wealth in piece Of nOOsepaper."
The others looked dumloundered for a mint
an they all made a reach for him. You oWda
cious seoundrel,' shouted the Squire; you've
been sWindlin' US
4" forgot to say that I also hold a couple o
o sure-fre Derringer PISTOLS continued tat
pedler, pullin' out pair O. beauties an cockin
EN-.
80 Gentlemen, bid you good-by; but afore
go l want to mention to you the peasin' lttl
fact that there's nobody quite so easily ketcheC
ez the feller that's layin for suckers. So-long
1 guess I've made ez much out Of this settle
ment ez if I'd staid here six months. I'll hun
new pastures
50 Ez he stepped outen the door the SPUR
looked round and saw Elder Jaggers, who hat
come in unbeknOwnst some time afore. The
the Squire let 60 all holds, an that night h
wuz the drunkest man that had been seen o.
the Crick since Buchanan WIZ elected"