The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
DOCK TAUGHT
ID POKER FAILED,
Theory Couidn't Meet the Condi
tons Of a Gun and a Missing
Jack.

Il hear there's another - them Yahoos
has come TO town that has wrote a book
on the science o. draw poker, sald old man
Greenhut % he lighted a fresh cigar. Il
amt heerd his name yet but pears to
me like you crack poker players had best
for 10 haul In yer horns q bit, leastways
while he's in town Pears like he mo {
do some on ye outen yer hard earned
winnlns.'
'Oh, don't know said Jake Winter
bottom. Pears like en- call 10 mind a
time some years ago, when there were
zap come here twas goin' to trim us up
some, bein as how he'd read book on
poker an lnowed how TO play scientihc.
Sort o. comes to me how there were some
! little trimmin' done, but there was cal
kilations invent wrong, an that there zap
were heap wiser an some poorer when
he left town
IF man don't know nothin' about draw
poker, he can't write no book about Il. II
he does know enough about II 20 write a
! book, he amt goin' 10 write II, Ans he's
got to do Is to play it
Maybe a book Il a good thing f'r them
as is give over to readin sAid Joe Bassett.
Il amt sayin' nothin' agin' eddycation
llA ain I ApcN NOIiNHhIb III Niib RbOu blu
hon emade poker that's been played here
for some years Pears to me you oil il
gettin' In a blue funk a-thinkin' about a
man you never seen, just cause he's wrote
book vote we send up to the hotel an
asst him down here f'r q socisble game, just
friendly like an no hard feelins,
This proposition Was 80 surprising that
for some moments there was no reply.
Then Jim Bodine remarked that he for one
would not object TO taking hand in the
game II one should be started. There's
on'y two things about.a game O. poker,
he said. Either you win, OF you lose.
If you win, it's all right. An II you
lose, you learn somepin'. Now, I'm what
l heat there's a right smart show o. learn
Ia heap I'm this yere guy
but il this fellers fggered things so's't
he knows when to bet an when 10 stay out,
urged Greenhut, 1T looks to me like
well, there's other things in poker. be-
side cards," said Bassett, darby. 1--WE
saw games afore now that stopped sudden.
A man may know when to stay out, 'thouten
any idee o. when he's liable to be put out"
Old Man Greenhut looked steadily and ad-
mirngly at the Sheriff for a few moments
before replying. Then he said, Il dunno
but what you've got sense, alter all, Joe.
l was just putin it up to you all t this yere
man likely has science TO feed TO the fish.
Bein' as he's a No'themer. though faint
noways likely t he's none too handy In
case Of a argument. 'Slong's you're p'pared
to argy the question in case he puts too
much scien &c into the game, don't see no
reason TO be skeeTed o. his play
Only one more question was asked. Jake
Winterbottom inquired in quite a casual
manner IL the stranger was known TO be
possessed Of any considerable amount Of
money. faint no good botherin' with
no outsider he said. -'thouten there's
some little winnin's TO be had
He was told that rumor credited the
stranger with having a large sum. He
cleared up eleven hundred on the boat
between here and Memphis said Green
hut. AN he showed quite q wad when he
set into the game
Further discussion seemed useless, and
Sam Pearsall and Jim Bodine departed
for the hotel forthwith As a result Of
inquiries made Of the hotel people, before
seeking an interview with the stranger,
the two ambassadors learned that the
man they sought was known Rs Capt. Larned
and was understood 10 be from Delaware
There vas no doubt about his being poker
player Of reputation. and the story Of his
having written a book about the game
was duly confirmed by a steamboat man
who had seen a copy Of II in Cairo. More
over, this worthy had been informed by a
gambler who claimed 10 have read the
book that 1t was a right peart piece o.
work full % hggers an oonsid able infor-
nation about percentage, with a heap o.
boss sense about when TO lay down II the
chances was poor
This was by no means reassuring, but
Bodine and Pearsall were not men to turn
back and they proceeded to the barr DOM,
where they found the Captain.
He proved 20 be q tall man, we'll set up
and dignihed in appearance with q tlnge
Of gray in his hair and his long mustaohe
He was about TO lift his glass in a social
drink with the bartender as they entered
the room, but seeing them he paused and
said, oourteously, Gentlemen, will you
join usl'
Only one answer was possible, and In
the next few minutes a conversation had
been started on general topics and had
veered around TO card playing Capt
Iarned seemed in no way surprised to learn
that draw poker was a favorite pastime
with some OF the citizens Of Arkansas City
and agreed 10 the suggestion that perhaps
he might like 10 set in FOR SPELL
Looks 70 me like this we're was too al
mighty smooth whispered Bodine to his
friend as they left the hotel for Greenhut's
place Pears like faint natural TO look f'r
anythin' like this 10 happen 'thouten there
bein' some trouble, Mebbe it'll come at the
wrong time"
To this suggestion Pearsall had little
10 say. III Il comes he said savagely,
Il reckon theren be them a. II be looldn
for II when II does
II was soon evident that the trouble was
not to come in the preliminaries. The
stranger agreed 10 everything without de-
muir, and seemed little more than willing
10 Join in game. As no one else demurred
he and Bassstt wintsrbottom, Rodine and
Pearsall were soon seated at a poker table
In Greenhut's back room.
On the table we're two decks Of cards
and in front Of each man hundred dollars,
worth Of chips. The game was 10 be table
stakes, and the home talent was prepared