The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-23

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and q quarter already in the pot, so he
threw in his chip. and picked up the
/ deck to serve the draw.
Leave them cards on the table till
1 cali for mine" said Jack, with Of
| fensive rudeness- Il don't propose to
/ have no stranger holding the deck in
/ his hands while Im studying my
| draw"
Young Fisher was an even-tempered
man, and prudent enough to dislike the
nation of a quarrel, and possible
fight, under the circumstances. So.
/ though a hot retort came to his lips.
/ he thought twice before speaking and
/ then placed the cards IN front OF him,
| saying:
! Certainly, if you prefer it. 1 thought
! you were ready to draw
Wei. I do prefer it, said Jack, with
ar oath looking straight al Fisher
with an offensive leer.
His purpose was plain, but Fisher
was determined not 10 fight IL he could
avoid it, so he said nothing, but waited.
l Jack. seeing that the other was not
quite going to resent the implied in
/ suit. picked up his own cards and stud
I led them ostentatiously for several
/ seconds. finally calling for three.
The others each took three, and FISH
/ er caught another ten to his pair. max
/ ing a fairlV strong hand. Jack bet
d white chip, the major stayed, and
Smith laid down, so Fisher raised it
g.
4! It was the obvious play, and safe
/ enough against the major, though
/ there was a chance that Jack might
] have caught third TO his openers. As
/ il happened, however, he had caught
/ a second pair 10 the aces he had opened
Q al
enough to raise back he could not lay
/ down.
Accordingly, he called, and Fisher
showed down his three tens. Jack
/ threw down his own hand at the same
/ time, and when Fisher reached for he
| pot he exclaimed:
Hold on therel You drew three
] cards"
I know I did" said Fisher. What
OF it?"
Well" said Jack, pounding on the
! t. bic with his fist, you can't open a
| jack pot on a pair o. tens in no game
/ that l ever heard on. We don't stand
/ for it here"
/ He shouted the words, with every
! appearance Of rage, but Fisher noticed
/ that he did not reach for the pot, as
/ he would have done if he really be-
lieved it had not been won fairly. So
| it was evident enough that his purpose
/ was to fix a quarrel, and Fisher grew
! cooler as the others anger seemed to
crow hotter.
4 did not open on tens" he replied.
| quietly. You opened the pot your
self, and I came in on tens, as 1 had
/ a perfect right to DO
Il say you opened on tens" re-
/ peated Jack. pounding the table again.
/ eTs, said Fisher. fully determined not
to be drawn into a quarrel. but half
/ expecting that the decision would be
/ against him.
None of the other three had spoken
/ hitherto. There is a prejudice against
/ interfering with another mans affairs
at the poker table out west, but when
/ Fisher turned to them they all spoke
| readily enough.
The gentleman is right, Jack" said
/ the major, much as he might have
/ spoken to spoiled child. You opened
| the pot yourself. Now shut up, ana
! don't disturb the game"
But Jack would not shut up He
/ paid no attention to the major but
| continued to rave and rage at Fisher
/ Rising from his chair he reached be-
I hind him as if to draw a pistol. but
not finding one in his pocket he shook
| his flst at Fisher. who sat perfectly
still, being unarmed himself, and
| thinking he had to do with a Inadman.
Damn youl III fix you" exclaimed
/ the now furious stranger, and before
| Fisher could divine what he intended
Going, he turned and rushed out of the
room, slamming the door after him
with a tremendous jar.
Fisher looked around in amazement,
| but pulled in the pot which had lain
! neglected during the scene. He was as
suming a calmness he did not feel, but
| was alert for any signal of alarm from
/ the others
What's the matter with that man p"
! he asked, as cOolly as he could.
"Oh, that's only Jack, said Smith
I in a matter-Of-fact way You mustn't
mind him. He killed a man a day OF
/ two ago, and he's been drinking a good
/ deal ever since He's gone out now TO
get heeled. 1 reckon somebody's took
( his gun away from him without his
knowing il. He's gone out now to get
! heeled. but you needn't be alarmed.
The boys won't let MIN come back.
] And he reached for the cards, and be
gan shutting them uncOncernedly.
! Fisher looked around again. wonder
1 ing, in spite of himself whether he
/ were in a dream. or whether the others
/ we're all stark. staring mad. but they
/ were none of them in the least excit-
! ed He noticed. however. that the
major was reaching for his hip peck
( ct, and he was greatly interested to
| see the old man pull out bulldog
/ derringeT and lay il on the right-hand
| side of his chips. Then he pulled out
another from his other pocket and laid
| that on the left.
-'Tain't very comfortable sitting on
| them. was ali he said, and Fisher did
some more quick thinking.
II suppose you are right" he said,
about what She boys will do, but if
I You gentlemen viii excuse ne for
/ few minutes III step over to the hotel
and get my own gun. I've left II in my
/ satchel."
Why. certainly" they said. as IN
/ cOnCeTnedly as if he had spoken Of GO
/ ing out for a drink. and he arose.
Still thinking as hard as he knew how
what was the best thing for him to
: do, he decided to leave MS chips on
I the table. get his revolver and come
1 back If Jack should really so look
| ing for him he would doubtless find
/ him. and there could be no safer place
than where he was.
According. he did Just that. and in
/ i've minutes was back in the game
seeing tnat the major pistols were
still on the table, he laid his own
/ weapon in front of him and picked up
/ the cards which were presently dealt
/ 70 him as unConCernedly as if shooting
scrapes were daily occurrences with
T him. His bearing seemed TO meet the
I approval of the others and they played
/ on as IT nothing had happened.
Fisher sat facing the door. which he
( had been careful TO leave open when
! he returned, so that he had a fun view
/ Of the saloon in front. and In perhaps
/ ten minutes more he saw that which
| robbed the poker game OF all further
! interest
| Jack. who seemed in his rare To haze