The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27

tho day before with two friends to challenge
FARRELL to . game. He didn't know who
tho two men were, but he had heard them
called Brown and Hunter. They were not
known as professionals and Carter nad
declared that they were not. but were high
rollers who had come from some distance
simply to sit In . big game.
.farrell, he said, had accepted the chai-
lenge, but had proposed lawyer from
st. Louis, named Wharton, for Q fifth player,
and the game had been made up. They
had been playing two or three hours when
I came in, and there had been some indica-
tons that trouble was psSnam 1Ss Indications
were. but he evidently thought he had said
too much, and he would not tell me. As
the prospect Of seeing q disturbance was
attractive to me, however, outside OF the
interest Of Watching big poker, joined
the small crowd Of men who were looking
sThere was very little pretence Of con-
cealment OF the nature OF the house. En-
trance was easy to any one who wanted TO
70 in. and inside the house 1t was no breach
Of etiquette to watch any play that was
aThey were playing no limit, as presently
saw when Wharton went down in his pock-
having all his chips In the pot before the bet;
he won the money, too, on three kings, ana
that gave me an idea Of the size Of the
game, for thousand dollars seemed lot
to bet on aces up.
.Still. It did not seem to me that the mere
size Of the game would account for the ex,
citement, and waited for the row that
felt was coming. hadn't long to wait,
for in a few moments more Carter reached
over suddenly and caught FarTells wrist
as the latter was about to serve the draw
he being the dealer.
AAs he did so, Brown and Hunter each
drew gun and levelled it at Farrell's head
There could be no possibility OF doo ors
than there could be any question that they
had the drop on Farrell.
There were q dozen men in the room
who would have taken Farrell's side IN q
row, and who would have drawn quickly
enough In his defence, but though nearly
all Of them put their hands to their pisto
saw, as Farrell and every one else saw
that the slightest motion in his defence
would have meant his instant death.
aYet Farrell did not even change color
He looked up at Carter as coolly as II he hac
been betting white chip, when the latter
caught you that time You slipped q
card OF the top Of the deck when you
picked it up. I've had you spotted for
crooked dealer for a long time, but
never could catch you before
And now you have caught me, as yos
say, what are you going to do about II!
said Farrell. still as cool as possible. :,
suppose that's what you brought your pail
along !yt for lust that, said Carter; .ans
| they've got the drop on you. Now you
| lust sign a confession that I'll write, and
reckon we'll be quits for that little trit ]
you played on me in st. Louis
What that trick was never knew. bu
Farrell actually smiled as he said:
Ives We'll be quits when sign, but CT
the instant he twisted his hand out o
| Carter's grip and ducked his head.
1.-TWO pie toll shots rang out as he did 30
| but they both went astray, and the mex
| instant these was a fusillade of shots.
had seen all wanted to, and SIS fed fror.
| the room I caught glimpse OF Farrell
with a gun in each hand taking an activ
part in the proceedings.
"There were four or five men killed
| Carter and Brown being among them: ars
Hunter being badly hurt. but Farrell didn'
| get scratch.
4How he could have escaped | neve
understood, any more than could under
stand why three men should have take
| the chances that Carter and his pals did
| but the West was full OF queer doings II
those days. I never saw a man look II
| two guns at the same time and smile a
coolly as Farrell while he was calculat
| ing the chance OF quick dodge. He wa!
a man whose nerve. reckon, couldn'
he shaken"