The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
THE NEW POKER RULE
| MADE IN ARKANSAS.
A Visiting GamSIer Surprised at
Brownsville and An Old
Feud Revived.

Mike and Gallagher at odds again. Inc
big man had made no attempt for fully
year and half TO kill his foreman, and men
had thought the feud wns past, yet once
again the smaller man was now seeking
safety while Long Mike ragged like lion in
his quest for his old time foe.
Sure ! do he thinkin' we'll niver have
peace In tn place wdout a firsht class
KILN. 'Tis tn only thing as II shtill tn
atmosh. phere.' said Stumpy.
IL had broken out over "a game OF poker,
but no man knew whether the emouldering
embers OF hatred had blazed up at a chance
word, or whether some fresh spark had
been kindled by the friction of the game
jim Titherton had been greatly astoDished.
Titherton was a gentleman Of more or less
elegant leisure, who spent much OF his time
travelling up and down the Mississippi
River, stopping frequently at the smaller
towns where the boats landed, but very
seldom at any Of the cities. Ashore he
was never known 10 busy himself In any
recognized commercial pursuit, but he
was always ready and willing to play game
Of cards with anybody who was properly
qualified to play.
He had been In Brownsville for two days
and had already begun to look for the ar
rival OF the next boat, finding that Browns
vile was not overanxious to play cards
with strangers when somewhat 10 his
surprise Long Mike invited him TO play.
or itself this was a fact requiring ex-
PLANTATION but the further fact that Long
Mike had started in made IL unnecessary
TO seek any explanation for anything he
might do. There was only one thing GER
tain about Long Mikes actions once he
started in. and that was that he would do
whatever would naturally be least ex-
pected.
When he challenged Mr.. Titherton TO
game OF draw poker. however something
like CONSERVATION was Immediately mani
fest among the other occupants Of the
barroom One evidence of the simplicity
Of life in Brownsville was that Sam had
never found il necessary to adopt a name
for his saloon. 1t did not have to be dis
tingIished from the other barrooms, be-
cause there were no others
In consequence, the main part of the
male population of Brownsville sat in
Sans place evenings and when the lead
ing citizen Of the place. being not too com
pletely in command of al! his faculties
proposed 10 play poker with a stranger
WHO Wd- hlONU 10 nave suspicious dnluAN
as a player, 10 say the least IL waA realized
that a common peril inpended' for Long
Mike WIS not only the chief capitalist and
the sole employer of labor in the place,
but he was also known 10 be entirely reck-
less when he was we'll started and capable
Of playing away his entire earthly pos
sessions. Mr.. Titherton, therefore stood
TO win practically all the money in Browns
vile unless something was done promptly.
1t was true that Long Mike was lucky
II was one Of the traditions of Brownsville
and the story had travelled both up and
down the river that nobody could win
money from Long Mike in a square game
provided that gentleman kept sober enough
10 count his chips But Brownsville realized
that luck alone was not likely to avail much
to the man who played single handed with
Mr. Ttherton.
The obvious expedient. therefore, was
to increase the number Of players in the
game. 1t seemed certain that If 1iiherton
and Long Mike played a two handed game
disaster would befall. but if several others
should sit in there would at least be the
chance Of frustrating any schemes OF
iniqutous play that might he instituted
and there would be the further possibility
OF breaking the game up by force of arms
in case the disaster should become i'm
mincnt.
II was usually Stumpy who spoke first,
and this occasion proved 70 be no eNcep-
ton knowing the uncertain temper of
his boss, he realized the necessity for diplo-
macy and therefore spoke a. ono VINO
might address the entire atmosphere:
@Av il wasn't for Inc bcin' III cr-rack
player in Browns Vile maybe it's me 'ud
be asst for TO take u hand. ! don't know.
Sure. il ID be loke takin a bottle o. mix
from u bahby, Il d DE a sin fr me to
play
for a time Then he laughed contemptu-
since when did we Farm the game,
Sumpyf' lac said. Sure. II was last week
| bmfed We out on pair q deuces.
There's nc'er n man this side o Mem
phis." replied Stumpy. steadily, can bate
me at tn game. barrin' it's Gallagher,
wander, an maybe Ferguson av he have
ITS Gallagher. lie it's said Long Mike,
his face darkening at the mention Of the
name An Ferguson An you. Sure
it's a foine pair the three av yez il. Belize
amy wan o yez 'd.pay betther blindfold.
But there, then, the more o yez oooms IN
the more money therell be In tn game.
Wen play five handed
II took no diagram OF the situation to
explain matters to Gallagher aud Ferguson,
and it is proper TO say that they saw their
duty and did il like men, though it Is certain
that neither Of them had any more relish
for the undertaking than had Stumpy
Their loyalty 10 Long Mike was greatly
stimulated 10y the realization of the peril
10 the common interest involved in his
plaviue single handed against Mr.. Titherton.
and they took their places AT the card table
unhe,it ltngly.
Moreover. they took their places beside
one another and 40 coutryed, without
seeming 10 contrve. that Long Mike should
sit on Titherton's left, leaving the latter
gentleman to say the least with no adj
vantage of position. II would be his say
in each round before Long Mikes 80 that
he could not model his play on the latters.
For, il should be explained, Brownsville's
dislike to playing with strangers came
from no lack of science, or skill or courage.
II arose merely from the fact that manual
deIteritv in the deal was the one thing
which Brownsville could not boast In all
other respects, the Brownsville game Of
poker was well mp To the Mississippi River
standard.
They made the game table stakes and
each man flashed fifty dollars for starter.
They were used 20 a moderate game bat
they all knew that il was liable Ia grow
10 much greater dimensions II Long Nike
should become excited.
For the first few rounds, however, there
was no great excitement. The hands ran
toIerablv well, two fushes and "A full being
IT m u "a