The sun., 1907-12-01
TIM BLAISDELL
y GOT ms LESSON
A FAN Contrivcd by Arkansas City
for the Player Who Was
BoastfuI Of His Poker.

For a long time nothing had disturbed
the harm Ony that made for efficiency and
success In the poker game that vas played
ON occasions in the back room Of old man
0reenhut's saloon in Arkansas City. The
group OF players that had gathered to-
gether by a slow process OF acoretiOn and
by natural selection was composed Of men
who had a realizing sense Of the Importance
Of union and who moreover had great re-
spect for one another's talents.
knights of tho green table, they held them-
selves. like the nights OF the Round Table.
each the peer OF the next, and the question
Of precedence or OF preference had vexed
them not at all.
While the word harmony is used to de-
scribe the moro or less amicable agreement
which certainly existed among these wor-
thies, II would be inaccurate to insist that
there were never any differences OF opinion
among them. IL might happen, and in fact
10 did happen from time to time when no
outsidcrs were present. that there were
differences Of opinion. strong words and
even threats Of violence, with bandying OF
uncomplimentary epithets.
There had not. however. been any shoot
ing at one another. which OF itself proves
the harmony. For any one OF the group
would promptly have shot at an Outsider
who should venture to use his tongue aa
they used theirs to one another.
Possibly the house rule against shooting
and the proprietor g energetic enforcement
OF rules with bungstarter had tendency
to preserve this harmony when It might
otherwise have been strained, but a com-
mon interest in the poker game was after
all the main reason for it.
II was therefore a thing worth noting
when there began 20 appear certain slgnifl-
cant symptoms OF discomfort with the
existing order Of things. when slurs and
unhapdsome criticisms were put about
with a veneer OF hypoCritical politeness
and assumed mirth instead OF being alung
straight from the shoulder.
Jake WinterbottOm was by no means
blind to the condition. and personally he
deplored it greatly. but though he pOndersd
the matter long he could see no remedy.
The boys is plumb sore on Jim BIais-
dell.' he remarked to old man Greenhut
as they sat alone one night. -LOoks TO
me like as IL there's liable TO be a gen1
bust up If somepin' amt did right soon.
Pears like it'd be pity for TO have the
best game ON the river broke up but
can't see how it's gon' to be holp.'
We'll" said Greenhut. the Good Book
aays, The old order o. things changes.
maxim way f'r new. an the Lord works
out his plans in many ways fr fear O. one
good thing gettin' corrupt There's a
heap o. sense in that. an more n likely
IL this here poker game was TO last too long
it'd be a trap and snare to some.
But that's a long ways on, Jake.
reckon we en- manage TO make it last out
our time. 'Tain't likely we'll be corrupted
none. What r they sore on Jim foF3"
well. there amt no question but Jim's
done changed consid able. Whether it's due
TO gettin' married or whether it's travel
. lin on the Belle o. the Bayous or what
1 don't p'tend to say, but he puts on more
airs n a gamecock. an the boys won't
atAnd for it much longer. He wears a
clean Rhirt every day an he smokes cigars
stead OF a pipe. an he makes his nigger
black his boots stead o. greasip' EN-"
AN that amt nothin'." said Greenhut
aagely. Likely his wife makes him do that.
She's red headed. y know. But that'n all
wear on in time.
There's cOnaid' able human natur', Jake.
about q woman bein' boss fr spell R'ter
ahe kits married, more special IL she's red
headed. Later on Jim'll brace up, "a re-
cover. more % likely.
Hes consid'a able of a man. even il he
was fool enough TO get married. Do the
fsllers find any other fault with him fuy's
you've saw2'
We'll. IT'S some hard to say. said Winter
bottom. 30 course them things l spoke
OF Ia all on tn outside, 30 TO speak. an
they're what the boys is picxin' at mostly.
Pears like there was p'vailin' sentiment
amongst 'em, though. 40 how he puts a
disp'port' nate estimate on hisself.
Pears TO think he's the on'y reel first
v.na To- haS NNNaf bulls
that don't worry me none. but some o. the
Younger men don't like IL. Even Joe Bas-
sett is gettin' reckless. an you know what
Joe is II he breaks loose"
That's tolable serious. said old man
GreeHhut. "A man I sets hisself up f'r a
better poker player n his neighbor is liable
for TO suffer consid' able modification
'th0uten he makes good. Pears like il
mought be some sensible for TO cut his
comb, after all.
AS IL in response to a call Jim BlaisdeII
himself opened the door at the moment,
and after inviting his two old cronies to
drink. he said:
-0reenhM. I want a business under
as well settle Il now
-sTe." sald the old man. What's
satin' you, Jimp'
Il reckon IN have to have a rakeor
on the game over an above the reg'lar
p'centage we all gifts it I'm goin' to set
why. how's that, Jim?" lsIsed the old
man. ~Ain't the boys tolable well salts
fed with the old arrangement
Il can't say about that said Blaisdell
Il amt speakin' f'r the boys. 1 mean am
tired o. doin' the heft o. the work, an winnin
the most o the money, an sharin' alike
with them that plays second fiddle.
"H'm," said the old man. $50 that's the
way you feel about It..
And WinterbOttom, who listened in
silence. was expecting an Outburst. To
his great surprise, however, Greenhut
quietly continued:
= "Well. Jim, reckon you're right, like
you al'ays Is. II you bs the best player
in the crowd you sure ought W have the
biggest rakeon. The only question is,
be Won the best?"
well, l sh'd say there want no doubt
o. that said BlaisdeH boGstf,Illy. Has
any one on 'eni been of on the boats an
come hack with g. 2,001 in a month";"
NO, they hain't," said Creenhut. They
amt none on 'en Ire't hands 10 travel
WEaa.Na -.