Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-13
pected, an then Bolles laid down an


pected, an then BolleS lalQ GOWN an
Pearson did the same.
1T were the biggest pot they had,
an Bolles must ha' felt pretty sore; but
he didn't say nothin' an don't reckon
he suspicioned anything, for he didn't
know, what I did, that Pearson an
Hardy was pals. cd see that he was
puzzled at Pearson's play, as would
ha' been myself II hadn't been lookin'
for It; but he dug up some more money
an the game went on.
"Then I says to myself that the next
time it come Hardy's age, Pearson
would make the same play that Har-
dy had, an If they caught any one Of
the other three they'd work 1t the same
way. If they did, knowed I'd seen
enough, an all I had to do was to re-
port to the old man.
"Sho' enough, that was what hap
pened. an they caught the Judge on a
double raise for about SIS; but still no
body but me seen anything wrong
about it. When I told the cap'n about
it, though, which did inside O. three
minutes, he seen it quick enough, an
he come into the saloon like a gale O.
wind. Marchin' up to the table like a
reg'lar army officer, he says, very quiet.
but stern, like:
This game stops right here
"They all looked up, mighty sur
prised, an Judge Ross, he were a
white-haired old gentleman, he spoke
up sort O. sharp.
"'What do you mean?' he says.
Can't a party O. gentlemen amuse
themselves with a game o. cards on
your boat?
"'They certainly can,' says the cap'n
very polite. haven't the slightest
objection judge, to your playin' all you
like with Mr.. Cartwright an Mr..
Bolles; but amt goin' to have no pro-
fessionals usin' my boat for gamblin'
house to swindle my passengers
Them days, that kind O. tayk meant
fight, an I had my hand in my hip
pocket all the time. I wasn't goin' to
draw first; but knowed my little book
we'll enough to stand by the cap'n If
anybody else drawed. But them two
fellows was good grit. Hardy spoke
first, an spoke as quiet as the cap'n
had.
"'Since you mention three gentlemen
by name he says, you must intend to
I've, 6a nj frx,n nd
will have to answer. I am no brawler,
sir, but you will not refuse to meet me
on the field of honor
"'And you will have to meet me also,
SIR said Pearson, just as quiet as Har-
dy.
IT kept my hand on the butt Of my
gun, for want certain, even then; but
what there'd be some shootin' right
there: but the cap'n, he says, just as
cool as they:
"'If I was to do what I'd ought to,
I'd set you both ashore right here; but
I'd rather enjoy the privilege Of shoot
in at you, so I'll meet you both when
we get to Vicksburg. I'm goin' to lie
over there for three or four hours an
therell be time enough. But In the
meantime you're on my boat an I'm
in command Of her. I order you both
to your rooms, and you'll stay there
till we reach Vicksburg. An If you
make any trouble Ill put you both in
irons
"Well, there want no more to be
said. They both began to bluster lit
tie; but the cap'n he called in the mate
an give him his orders, an the two
had to go to their rooms, an what's
more they had to stay there.
IT didn't see what happened in Vicks-
burg, for the old man wouldn't let me
leave the boat. He fired Beasley at the
first landing an put me in charge OF
the bar. But I know the two gamblers
left the boat when we got there an
heard after that the cap'n killed one
of 'em an wounded the other. He got
shot himself in the second duel; but
want hurt enough to lay him up, an
he took the boat on down the river just
as II nothin' had happened. Things
was very different, them days, from
what they is now"