The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23

failed Then he said, Il reckon you'd
better see Billy Ginter. They say he was
with your brother when he died, and he
can tell you more about it n anybody else
can. You just go an lie down, now, an
Ill get Billy over here
Lie down Mr.. Harry Waters would not,
but he consented to sit in a big chair in the
landlords private room while that worthy
went after Ginter. Afterward he told
some of his friends that about the hardest
days work he ever did was to persuade
Ginter that the only thing he could do if
he wanted to play fair. was TO face the
| little hunchback and tell him what he knew.
you can kind o smooth it over, an
make him think It want SO bad,' he said,
and finally Ginter consented, with the in
tention of telling as little as possible.
But, said the latter when he was talking
IL over, az everybody did talk il over II
few days afterward, when set down
| with that poor little Teller, an looked into
| them big black eyes O. his, just couldn't
lie, an 1 told him the whole story
One thing, however. he would not say,
| nor did Harry Waters seem to care whether
You say my brother accused this man
OF cheating and pulled his gun and rushed
Yes" said Ginter.
And you had been looking on at the
game?"
Yes"
We'll, did the man cheatp"
But this was the one thing Ginter would
rot say, though Waters asked him twice
| over
We'll. never mind" said the little hunch-
back. finally, IF my brother said he did
he did, Jim never said thing in his life
that wasn't So"
And the interview closed, Waters ask
ing only one more question, as this man
Henderson round here YETI"
oh, yes" said Ginter. Hes over to
my place every night"
Il suppose he always goes armed, !"
observed Waters tentatively, and Girter
stared
II thought for a minute the poor little
shrimp was thinkin' o. gon' gunnin for
Bud, he said, "but seen how foolish d at
was, soon as ! thought of it, 80 | just said
i reckon he does an l come away"
Certainly nobody could have thought
that Mr., Harry Waters was going cunning
for anybody that night when he hobbled
painfully into Billy Ginters place, lean
ing on stick. Judging from his appear
ance. 1t would have been too great an effort
for him to carry a revolver, to say nothing
OF the work of drawing and firing. His voice
was al steady as ever, though, and his man
ner was perfectly cain when he greeted
was in the room,
Yes, there he is" said Ginter. indicat-
ing him with his forefinger Henderson
was sitting alone, for it was early. and bust
ness had not begun, so the hunchback
walked over to him while everybody else
in the room looked on with eager cur osity.
Are you Bud Henderson," he asked
yes, said the gambler
Il am Harry Waters Did you kill my
brother Jm?"
Henderson gasped, and for moment
found il hard to speak. He felt the gaze
OF the bystanders, however, and presently
answered, Yes, shot him in fair fight ="
Never mind about that You killed
him?"
yes, said the gambler sullenly.
Have you got your gun with your
Yes, but amt going to fight you
Il didn't ask you to. I'm not such
fool. Is II the same one you killed my
brother WITH"
Now look here What do you mean
Answer me" and the thin little voice
rang out with curious tone of command.
as II the same one?"
We'll, yes, it is. What of it,"
"Oh, nothing in particular only I'm
rather glad it is the same one. Now III
dollars against that gun and play you a
freeze-out for it, And II win it Tlluse it.
Il won't do anything of the
Then YOU re a coward Mr.. Bud Hender-
son. II was a man that was able to meet
YOU In a fair fight, I'd kill you on sight,
but this is the only way see, and il you're
half man you'll give me a chance"
Henderson looked around wildly. He
certainly was not a coward, but the prop
osition seemed 80 prepoSterouS that il
was little wonder that he was staggered
To his dismav, however he saw in the faces
around him that horrible as it seemed to
him, the others evidently approved of the
suggestion.
While he still hesitated, Ginter spoke
There couldn't be no fairer way to settle
II" he said. And Henderson realized that
if he should refuse he would lose caste
forever
"I'll do it," was all he said And in
and chips between them. A little to one
side of The centre of the table lay the gun
and ten 500 bills.
An | ask for said the hunchback. as
he picked up the cards, sis fair play"
And you can bet your life you'll get it,"
exclaimed Ginter The others said nothing,
but there was no sign of dissent.
Each man had hundred chips and they
anted one calls two: For half a dozen
deals there was nothing of importance
to tell, Then on jackpot, Waters opened
and Henderson came in. II was his deal
Waters drew two cards ard Henderson
took three.
After the draw Waters said: Al refuse to
bet opened on three kings" And he
showed them
Henderson said nothing, but Waters
after waiting a moment to see if he would
speak, said: you don't seem to be sur
prised. Now, ! want TO say that that's
the last time. When man deals himself
card off the bottom of the deck I take
It for granted it's an ace, and don't back
three kings"
What the" began Henderson, but
the other Interrupted
DO you want me to show your hand?
Here it is. | haven't shuffled yet" And
then, as Henderson made no reply, he CON
tinued:
II don't wonder Jim caught you. He
played as well as I do. But don't try it
again"
The big man shook with rage, "Nou
miserable little whepl" he exclaimed, and
would have gone on, but Ginter Interrupted
Better keep quiet, Bud" he said, He's
got you dead to rights, and your only
chance is to win out" And from some
ominous growing in the room Henderson
evidently concluded he was right, for he
said no more, and put up his ante,
Inc frerZe-out uG rot last much longer
full against a flush took hai' of Hender-
sons chips, and lac hacked IN, straight
more, when, after he had gone down to
twenty CHIPS he tried to carrva bluff through.
II was not badly done, either, for Waters
lad opened pot for five chips and he raised
II five before the draw Then Waters took
three cards and hel a chip, and Henderson
took two and raised il all he had.
lie had done il on n pair of kings, ace
next, ald Waters showed down two pairs,
so he struggle was over.