The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-08-06


insulting him grossly, and asking one
another If there would be any fun In
killing him.
"Still the man showed no resentment
or emotion of any kind, but, as if he had
been stepping out of the way of team
of horses, he walked ten or twelve feet
over toward the middle of the boat and
stood there with his hands In his pock-
cts, smoking and still looking at the
stars.
"The gang was Disguised, and said
so, plainly. In moment more they
started for him again, but they never
reached him, though he had hardly
stirred from his tracks. One after an
other the whole five went sprawling
on the deck, following one another 80
rapidly that /, who was watching not
80 feet away, could not follow the mo-
tion of the mans fists.
THAT did not end the matter. The
gang was really out for fight, and would
very likely have tackled five others as
readily as they did single man, so,
though they were met so astonishing
ly, they all scrambled up to go at him
again. But the second part of 1t was
even more entertaining than the first.
AS fast as they rose they went down
again. The quiet man was moving
like cat now, and striking like mules
hind leg. In all my experience never
saw such an exhibition of science
against brute force. Each one of the
five must have been knocked down three
or four times before they came to the
conclusion that they had had enough,
and actually crawled away on their
hands and knees, one by one, rather
than get hit again.
"As we came into the slip I walked
over toward the stranger, who was still
smoking his cigar and looking at the
stars, and / saw that it was Dobson.
His only comment on the affair was:
4 should think the ferry company would
compel the deckhands to go armed
"After that met him, as said, in all
sorts of places. He was poking around
little village full of Molly Maguires
the day after 10 of that order were
hanged in Pennsylvania. He was on
the same boat with me on the Missis-
sippi river in the floods of 'S2. He was in
Chicago at the time of the big fire and
again at the exposition.
"His scent for excitement was keen,
and he missed no chance for an adven-
ture, or, at least, it seemed so to me, for
he never seemed to have any other bust
ness excepting to look on. But he was
always cool as possible, and 1 never saw
him look surprised. never admired
his GOODNESS more, however, than l did
when saw him playing poker with two
card sharps on Mississippi steamboat
one night.
II don't think there was any crooked
dealing in the game, though l knew
both men were capable of playing any
tricks. It may have been because there
were too many spectators, or they may
have mistrusted Dobson himself, but
my own impression is that they figured
on getting his money by the simple ex-
pedient of raising him out whenever
there was money enough in the pot to
make 1t worth while.
"At all events, 1t happened twice,
when he had hand that he felt like
backing, that the other two showed un-
usual confidence in their own cards I'M
til after he had laid down his. Then
one of them would give up without
struggle, and the pot would go without
a showdown.
Il felt morally certain that Dobson
saw the trick the first time it was
played, but he said nothing the first or
second time, and, though he was con-
siderable loser, he kept on playing with
out change of countenance.
presently there came jackpot, and
there was about $500 up before it was
opened. Then one of the partners
opened it up for $50 and Dobson and the
other man came in. The opener drew
three cards, Dobson took one and the
other man took two. Number one bet
$50, and Dobson came in. Number Two
saw his chance, vi raised it $50. Num-
Der One, of course, did the same, and
Dobson again made good. This went
on until there was over thousand dol
lars in the pot, and Dobson began to
look little anxious. He had lost near
ly thousand already, and they
thought. as he intended they should,
that he was hoping to get square on this
| hand, but was growing doubtful.
Fifty more said Number One, and
Dobson hesitated little before putting
up the hundred that the double raise
called for.
"I'll have to make it another hun
dred,' said Number Two.
ga hundred more said Number One.
"'Two thousand harder, said Dobson,
with just suspicion of eagerness, and
the faintest flicker Of smile at the
tail of his eye as he pushed 81, 400 on the
! table.
at was hard blow. Either one OF
the men would have played for that
amount, or twice that, readily enough,
| If he had believed the chance good
one, and they both were fairly caught
at their own game, and believed, as
did for the moment that Dobson had
I them both beaten. They both laid
down, though they did it with bad
grace, and Dobson pocketed the money.
''Then, to their disgust, Dobson rose
! from the table. 4 don't think l care
about playing any more he said. indif-
ferently, and they both looked angry
enough to eat him. Only one spoke,
| however.
"'You take good time to quit he
said. with sneer.
"'Well. yes drawled Dobson. Tplay
only for amusement, anyhow. and the
amusement ceases after have learned
the peculiarities Of my opponents play
II expected row then and there,
and l think Dobson did, too, but It
didn't come. His imperturbability stag
gered them, think, and they made no
further protest.
"'What did you hold really?' asked
Dobson. after we had gone on deck for
| last smoke before turning in.
81 didn't FILL said Dobson."-N. Y.
Sun.
l