The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-23
Joe Bassett's Discomfort
Removed by a Shooting
and a Lively oker Game

as II considerably wrought, up, though
he was not notioeably excited. The others
OF the group that had rushed outside came
struggling back after them.
The Squire had just shot niger that
was gittin' away with one q his best HOSES,
said Joe, casually, after the Squire had
ordered refreshments for the party, and
the conversation became general.
No further reference was made TO the
horse thief. After two OF three rounds Of
drinks, however, the Squire said
I reckon maybe this yere little ride
o. mine done come at good time. done
been sp'ilin' for some sort OF amusement
for a week OF mo. Feared like there want
nothin' dom up my way, an was comm
down hyere q lookin' for a game, or some
PIN on'y couldn't seem TO get started.
Pears like 1t were providential," agreed
old man Greenhut. Joe here was just
lovin that things was geitin too al;
fired dull round town, an l was telLln'
him somepin' d happen soon. II you're
RELY lookin' f'r game reckon the boys
ON get you goin'
1t appeared that the Squire was really
looking for game but had very little money
with him, having left home without stop
ping for his wad. This trouble was easily
remedied, however, as Greenhut stood
ready to cash his check for any amount.
He took a hundred 10 start with and the
game began forthwith.
IL was a table stakes game and Joe Bas-
sett, Sam Pearsall, Jake Winterbottom
and Billy Bodine each dug up a hundred,
so there was every prospect OF suiiiclert
amusement TO suit even Bassett,
The yeaning for excitement, however,
was not enough TO lead anybody TO force
the play, for they were all good gamesters,
too skilled In poker TO play foolishly, and
for half an hour there was Little doing,
The cards ran small and the luck was evenly
divided, so that no one lost or won any
considerable amount
Then. like lightning out Of a clear sky,
came a remarkable deal. II was Pearsalls,
and he swore afterward that he had made
no attempt to set UP the cards. Whether
Il was true or not, his friends believed
him, for he was never known to lie I'M
necessarily. 1t certainly looked like the
result OF manipulation.
Each one Of the four TO whom he dealt
got a ten high straight, pat, and Sam himself
got the two, three, four and five Of dia-
monds, giving him, Of course, the chance
Of a straight. a flush or a straight flush,
with the odds Of only 3 to 1 against
lettering his hand.
1t was a jackpot, and the Squire opened
II for the size of it, which was S.
Winterbottom trailed, not wanting to
keep anybody out, but Bassett, sitting
next made it ten to play and Billy Bodine
hoisted It ten.
That made IS dollars in the pot, and
$40 to draw cards. Pearsall looked at
his cards longingly, and almost yielded
to the temptation, but he knew the
odds too we'll and remembered that
II he filed a straight merely, the hand
would be worth no more than q call against
two Others strong enough 70 raise on be-
fore the draw. and he hesitated. Then he
looked at the Squire and read In his eyes
an eagerness that indicated an intention
TO raise back, and he folded.
Sure enough the Squire raised II ten
more and Winterbottom, still confident IN
his hand but being a cautious player, trsiled
again. Joe Bassett, who was never unduly
cautious, showed his entire pile into the
pot. and the others followed suit. As they
were all about even, they did not bother
about any side betting, but called on Sam
to serve the draw.
When each man stood pat there was
naturally, much surprise, but when the
showdown came and the pot had TO be
divided among the four there was q storm
Of excited comment most unusual among
seasoned gamblers.
Then Sam showed his hand, and by way
! OF a post-mortem turned over the next
| card in the deck. II was the queen OF
| diamonds, so that IL be had stayed, playing
| against odds, he would have taken the pot;
| This, however, was declared childish, and
| the game went on.
At least II would have gone on II Squire
| Hapgood had not made an unfortunate
remark. II was his next deal, and be
shufied the deck in silence, passing it over
! TO Pearsal for the cut and beginning slowly
| 10 serve out the cards, as " thinking hard
about some unpleasant thing. Presently
he broke the silence, saying deliberately:
L mought as we'll say right now that
! I don't stand for no such dealin' again.
Maybe twas all right but If there's any
more on II twon't be right
Mr.. Pearsall was habitually a man Of
! peace, but he was no coward. Squire
Hapgood had not quite concluded his re-
mark when he discovered that his nose
was in Mr.. Pearsalls fingers and was In
/ some danger Of dislocation. Thereupon
there were several attempts at gun play
in the party.
Greenhut came into the back room just
on the moment, however and seized
the Squire from behind, just as Billy Bodn'
pulled Pearsall suddenly backward, away
from his victim and Winterbottom grabbed
Bassett's gun.
Don't We. do II, joe he cried earnestly
Its Sans fight an there's no call for you
TO butt in
sPut up your gunsl" shouted Greenhut,
There's no shootin' allowed in the house.
Il makes too much muss, an it's resky N
the bystanders. There's plenty G. room
outside II you want to shoot
Just how il would have ended is not certain.
but at the moment the Coroner entered
one Jim Peters-and announced that he
! disliked TO interrupt a social game, but
II would be his duty 10 0pprehend gentle
man present who was understood to have
/ shot a Niger. IL was a mere formally.
doubtless, but one that must be observed
While this matter was being ATTENDED
to those peacefully inclined were able 70
persuade Pearsall and the Squire TO eN,
change apologies and hostility was drowned
In old man Greenhut's best liquor.
As the old man put up his shutters thar
| night he ohuokled softly, saying
| i reckon Bassett amt 80 hell bent on
leaving Arkansas City as he was.