The sun., 1903-08-30

an drawed three cards. an when he locke,
at 'em no bet ten dollars, an the little Selle
folded his three kings without a word.
when seen that, says to myself tha
he must sure know more about the cards !
he had any business to know. There WASH
an three kings was mighty strong hanC
against q three-card dl aw, with De Barr,
dealin', 'thouten he kuowed, some way o.
another. Z he was beat. An how he knew
beat me, but felt cocksure he did know
An I'm that time on watched the game
closer'n ever.
"The more l watched the more | wal
puzzled. Feared Like the little feller wal
layin' back, somehow. De Barry was play
fast, but it didn't seem to trouble him none
an he pulled out bill after bill I'm his wallet
till he must ha' had seven or eight hundred
in the game. Green was losin' too, but moi
so much, an the little feller want far frcm
even. knowed, though, that there was
five or six times that he cd ha' won fir
Green an De Barry both, when he wouldn't
play, so seen he was after somethin' else
but he didn't pear TO be no ways anxious
to make play against the others an
couldn't make it out. noways.
:. bime by, though, | seen great white
light, an l knowed there was goin' to be
somethin' doin' right quick. II happened
that Harper set on Hooper's right, an o
course, cut the cards when Hooper dealt
I'd got so watched pretty close on Hooper, q
deal, expectin' to see somethin' out O.
try anything queer. just naturally that d
ha' been too plain. Onoet in a while, though,
I'd see him look at Denton. an i lnowed
well enough 1t were signal.
Whether the little feller seen that or not
I dor't know. Likely he did. for ne had
a monstrous sharp eye. But anyway
when 1t come Hoopers deal this time the
look. passed. an knowed Denton'd be
lookin' for a big hand. Moren that. he'd
be lookin' for Somebody to stay against
him, an d play his cards as hard as seemed
wise.
1t were jackpot, an Green, sittn'
next to the dealer, passed Denton, comm
next, opened 1t for ten dollars. an De Bi rry
stayed. Then Harper put up his ten an
Hooper raised it. l was satisfied that
that was just his boost, to give Denton
prised to see Denton hist it twenty more
after Green had laid down. That give
De Barrya chance. He hadn't raised it
first off, for fear O. drivin' the others out
but havin' pat full he come back with
another twenty. Harper stayed an Hooper
dropped as I'd looked for him to do, an
Denton h'isted it fifty, De Barry made
it fifty more, an once more Harper trailed.
Denton looked at him like he was con-
sid'able surprised, but he didn't say uthin'
for while He studied his cards like he
was monstrous doubtful, an finally he
says:
Well, 1 reckon that's about enough
before the draw an he jist makes good.
When Hooper picked up the deck TO
serve the deal, Denton did lot more study
IN, like he was doubtful whether to bluff
or draw. an finally he says:
reckon I'll play these o. course,
De Barry stood pat, havn' a full Of sevens
as | said, an Harper he said he guessed
he was satisfied with what he had.
Denton bet a white chip, an De Barry
raised it hundred, an Harper trailed
again. was gettin' monstrous curious
about his play, but says to myself that
he was likely layin' back. an wouldn't
make no play as long az Denton an De.
for Denton made it another hundred an
Do Barry come back with five hundred
more. an still Harper trailed. He seen
FIN Denton's face that he wasn't through
They hadn't had no such pot as this
afore, for there hadn't been over two hun
dred in the middle of the table on no other
deal, an | fancied Denton looked kind o.
staggered He studied a long time afore
he spoke. but bime by he pulled out his
wallet an laid three five-hundred dollar
bills on the table.
L raise YOU a thousand he said, and
i was up to De Barry TO do some studyin'
He thought for a while and at last he said. :.
i call and he put up the money.
Then they all looked at Harper, and he
smiled queer little smile, an he says:
I'd like to play this hand little harder, but
I haven't got the cash with me If You will
take my check, I'll
But Denton spoke up polite enough,
but very firm. L don't want 10 quest ion
your check. but this is a cash game an
for iust minute Harper looked bothered.
But De Barry spoke up quick.
" I'll cash your check, George he said.
How mich do You want?'
Well said Harper YOU might give me
six thousand an | thought Denton d fall
of his chair
de Bcry counted out the money an Har-
per raised il five thousand dollars. seen
Denton look at Harper for Just an instant,
an then he said, very slow, IN have to call
you for all I've got, That's about two
thousand and he counted out his pile.
shown.
~Denton had four tens an Harper had
four kings an an ace.
Then Denton looked al Harper an
broke out: What the He WAS furious,
but he cholsei himself before he said any
more, an we all looked at Harper.
He was dumfounded, an seen right
away FIN his face that he hadn't been
lookin' for no such hands His face was
a give away to he others, too, for De Barry
an Green first looked mad an then they
begin to laugh Harper he'd been smilin'
ever since he scooped the pot, an when the
others laughed he said
" I guess this has gone on long enough.
/ saw you had stacked the cards, so run in
another deck on you. don't want your
money. but I'm going to hold out what you
won from my friends, You want 10 do
your work better when you stack up
a gainst somebody that knows the game
And he showed part of his winnings back to
Denton.
Il reckon Harper would ha let il go at that
but Denton was mad clear through. You
dirty little whelp" he yelled. reachin' for
his gun. You say yourself you are cheat
an you--.'
by this time his gun was out, but he might
as well ha kept it in his pocket, for De Barry
had him by one arm an Green had him by
he other an they was laughin' at him
more'n ever. He looked at Harper, an
cursed an hollered little, but Harper
shook his head. He seen that Harper had
his hand on his hip, an the prospect of a
fight didn't seem no wav good to him.
Ar after it were all settled them three
drinked champagne and laughed
Ill night long"
Sentenced to a Bath.