The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16
THREE KINGS IN
l THREE HANDS.
Brownsville Demonstrates a Mans
Right to Play Them as Often as
He Gets Them.

three times n week each way. and occa-
sionally brought some stranger to the town,
though why a stranger should come, I'M
lees nc arrived on boat that would presently
carry him further along on his way was n
thing Brownsville could not readily under
stand.
1t was therefore with mild surprise that
the citizens Of the place saw one Jack Brit
ton jump out of the low box sleigh Moth
Ing was said to him when he alighted. IL
was not Brownsville's way 70 greet new
Corners with enthusiasm.
But such OF the citizens that happened
70 be near lined up expectantly in front Of
SANS bar, when Mr.. Horton. after stamp
Ing his feet few times. and thrashng his
arms across his chest to get his blood in
circulation, entered the barroom and walked
over to the stove to warm his fingers
After he stood there for a few minutes.
and had. presumably, recovered from the
chill of the long ride. he stepped up to tho
bar and called for some whiskey. His
manner was that Of a man who is immersed
In thought, and for the moment he seemed
not to observe that there we're others
present.
Sam produced bottle and glass and set
them on the bar, and Mr.. Britton poured
out drink for grown man. He did not
know II, or II seemed as if he did not. but
the eyes Of the community were fixed upon
him.
That Ia. eyes belonging to some eight or
nine representative citizens of Browns
Vile were so fixed, and for one critical mo-
ment there appeared to be- strong proba-
bility that Mr.. Britton would fail 10 est ablish
himself on any footing which would en-
title him to favorable consideration
In some mysterious way no became
aware OF this without anything being said.
Being. as he was the focus of eight distinct
glares Of surprise. he became aware that
something was wrong. and, pa,ising Ia the
worry act of lifting his glass. he looked slowly
around. and then said heartily enough:
Excuse me, gentlemen. Won't you
Join me2'
They would and they did, and it remained
possible for Mr.. Britton to make a good
impression. The mere fact that he was
unusual would not. Of itself. damn him
hopelessly, but the curious behavior Of a
man who would come near a fatal breach
OF etiquette in apparent unconsciousnes ;
was enough TO raise a doubt, and while
che d oubt remained Brownsville was not
likely to make overtures.
Jim Bixby, the stage driver. had swal-
lowed his liquor and gone outside to attend
60 his horses, and, after an Interchange Of
glances among some of the others in the
room. Larry Hennessy slouched out
Through the door and was lost to sight.
Making his way TO the stable where
Bixby was rubbing his horses down, he
stood for few moments looking on. Pres
emily he said
"Thot mon inside, yonder. Is he a La
Crosse man. / don't know"
BiNby finished with one horse and began
on the other before he answered. Then
he said
Hes on'y been around f'r about a week
Come FIN somewheres East. Been playin'
cards good bit in Russell's place Left
kind o sudden. Didn't hear much about
1t, but they was some kind Of a iniX-up in a
game last night. Didn't have nothin to
say comm over
This marvel Of succinCtnc,s being duly
absorbed by Hennessy and reported TO the
community in much enlarged form. was
sufficient to prepare Brownsville for the
campaign W hich Mr.. Jack Britton entered
upon forthw it'll.
Having once shaken of the preoccupied
and distracted air which he wore when
he arrived In town, he developed into a
jovial, free-handed man Of convvial ten
denotes. though sraring H. his own con-
sumption Of Sans liquor, and was ac-
cepted readily enough a. a noInad whose
occupation was that Of professional
gambler.
II might have been supposed because of
certain previous experiences that Browns
vile would be- reluctant to afford Mr..
Britton an opportunity to exercise his
was like the rest Of the world, and Long
Mike and Mccarthy were both resident
In the place.
Sure. | do be thinkin' that Mccarthy
can play more poker an win less money
than any other mon In Iowa." said Stumpy
when h" came into the tarroom that night
and found gam" in progress, as, ha had,
indeed. shre"dly suspected would be the
case.
Long Mike was also in the game. bu, Long
Mike sometimes won, having remarkable
streaks Of luck, such a. Mccarthy never
seemed to get. And the one-eyed man
was playing too so that there was really
no reason to suppose that the stranger
was the only man al the table who under
stood all the tricks of the game.
Hennessy had bought a stack Of chips,
and even Stumpy, though he was prudent
man usually, vas soon Interested enough
TO ask for a hand. As there vas no objec-
ton, he took the sixth seat
II cost him only s. for a stack. and a. the
game was table stakes there was chance
FOR him either 10 go broke speedily, or to
win considerable money At frat, it seemed
likely that he might do the latter, for the
very first hand he picked up had three
kings
Long Mike was dealing and it was Hen
nessys age, so Stumpy had first say, he
having sat down between Heunessy and
Mccarthy.
-I'll play no said, throwing in his red
ohip with the two whites that Hennessy
had put up for an ante.
Mccarthy played also II was to be ex-
pected that he would, for II was as hard for
him to stay out a. IL was TO win. The one
eyed man came in Brtton raised it and
Long Mike and Henncssy laid down.
Sure III raise that, said Stumpy making
II 81 more,
Mccarthy swore. but even his optimism
was not enough to induce him to see
double raise on two mines, and he threw
down his cards. The one-eyed man and
Britton both made good however, and
they called for cards.
Stumpy took two, which proved to be a
small pair. The onc-eyed man took one.
and Britton stood pat.
Stumpy threw In white chip, being
sure of raise. but the onc-eyed man
dropped, He had not bettered his two pairs.
Britton raised it 81 and Stumpv pushed all
his chips forward. A king full seemed
worth backing, and, whom Rritton called.
he showed them down triumphautly,
-Give me another stack was all that
Britton said as he threw down his cards.
1t may have been part Of his plan To lose
ut first, and in any case the loss was not
heavy enough to daunt him. but he smiled
as cheerfully as If he had won.
Th..E.. a ~ n = -