The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-06
.(By DAVID A. CURTIS

SICK, encouragement CAdP IAdL : GU SsHiE
spotted for a player the minute he first
seen him, an the two of 'em got into
a game with some O. the other pas
sengers that panned out firSt-rate-
'Twa' MT RELY a big game, so to speak,
but Pearsall an this here Wilson sort o
understood each other putty well, right
from the jump, an did some torable Jul
dicious play between EN- that cost the
other fellers about four hundred dol
lars. There hadn't been nothin' said.
but Wilson hunted him after the game
broke up, an offered to go halves. him
havin took a hundred or so morc'n Sam
had. O. course it were the square thing
to do, but 'twa'n't everybody that would
ha' done 1t, there bein' no understandin'
nor no agreement aforehand, an just
naturally. Pearsall sort o cottoned to
him some.
when they come to v1cksburg. Pear
look round. an when he got to the
hotel, he found Wilson there. 'Peared
Wilson lived there, but he hadn't said
nothin' an didn't know Sam was goin'
to stop, for Sam didn't know it his own
self. Sort O. got off on the impulse o.
the moment, after the boat stopped.
well, he just loafed round for day
or two, an then Wilson, he hunts him
UP, an says he has a openin'- He put
it up somethin' like this: There's an ole
geezert here that's just arrove in town
that's got more money with him than
is anyways good for his health, an We'll
have to get 1t away from him. He's
uncle O. mine, an can't make no break
at him single-handed, for he's dead sure
to make trout +. him KNOWN that play
for a livin', bu. he's q sport all right an
IL blow it in somehow, an 'twouldn't be
right for us not to get 1t. He's just sold
a store O. his'n down the street, an he's
got eight thousand dollars in bills right
III his pocket
Now gays Wilson, this is what we
Gun do I'll put up the money for you
an me to set in with him in three
handed game You don't put in cent.
II; play till I'm broke, an then I'll set
round, Just lookn'. an pipe off his cards.
When he has one pair I'll hold up one
finger. When he has two pair, two
fingers. three of kind, three fingers.
IF he holds full, I'll double my fist, an
ii it's flush I'll spread open my hand.
Thatll be enough for you an We can
divide after
well, O. course Sam want no tod
dim infant to be took in with no such
story as that If he was to put up his
own money. but Wilson give him hun
dred in his fist, an Sam knowed he was
safe enough against any game with an
ether mans money. so he went along
to the geezer's room an Wilson intro
duced him. Said his name was Bah
cock, or somethin.
..Babcock was sittin' straddle Of a
trunk, countin' out bank bills. an Sam
says the heap were about g. foot high,
an him still pullin' out more. I'm all the
pockets he hadt He spoke pleasant
enough, but KEEP right on oountin out
more money for a spell till Sam looked
to see the floor covered. He told the
same story about sellin' 4 store. an sald
he was goin' down the river to Mardi
Gras, an was goin' to take the boat in
about a hour an a half. So Wilson he
wunk at Sam, an he says. Don't you
think we can have little game for. say
falf an hour? That'll give YOU time
enough an the old man said he was
willin'. to they set in.
o. course Sam were q watchin' OF
him, close, an he see that the old man
want no greenhorn. He fumbled the
cards kind o. clumsy to look at, but he
didn't make no mistakes, 'ceptin' those
he made a purpose. an he were player.
Bet his hand like he knoved how. but
that were all right. for Wilson had said
he were q sport, an Sam didn't see
nothin' he were lookin' for.
sBimeby Wilson be stacked up ag'in
Sam with ! outrageous bluff am Sam
took his wad. Eivtn him about two fifty
to play with, for he'd won some I'm
Bahcock. So Wilson said he was broke
an he ut his pipe m. sot back where he
l ed look ever Bp becEk'as hand. an etaYted