The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30


hut's they pooled their money, each men
keeping put q grub stake and the ommon
fund being divided into three parts. Victor
Hobbs. II was agreed, should not sit in, but
hold himself ready for emergencies.
They found old man Greenhut with the
usual group Of loungers in his saloon, and
were received with the customary punctil-
ious politeness extended TO strangers in
the harrooms Of the river towns.
They understood the etiquette OF such
occasions and invited the crowd to drink
twice before stating their errand. When
thsy did that, old man Greenhut looked at
e don't play often myself be said, as
II doubtfully, but the boys has q game
in the back room now an again, an they
tell mo it's some stiff. You n looks like
you mought be spots. all right, an likely
you amt timi6ed none il the bettin' Is
btgeer'n usual -.
r reckon 'twon't 60 none too high said
Jim Bowers, IL it's table stakes
Yes said the old They tell me
ms sssis ss' a game s .hd' f Rsay @0S snd without
further ado tho game was made up. Joe
Bessett Q TO the back room with the
others, but whom he saw that Hobbs was
not to play he said he reckoned he'd look
on q spell. II was therefore q six handed
game, with Jim Blalsdell sitting next to
Farrar, Jake Wintsrbottom next TO Dare
and Sam Poareal next to Bowers. Each
man bought 500 in chips for a start.
After two or three deals there Eas q
jackpot TO which each player contributed
bottom handled the deck.
Bowers opened under the guns for the
size OF the pot and Pesrsall promptly made
1t $50 TO play. .Farrar looked at, him as II
astonished at his temerity and made 1t
500.
This looked rather strong to BLaisdell
| and Dare and they both folded. Winter
bottom, however, had been Watching Farrar
closely and, boing satisfied that his play
had only az ! dush Of hearts.
1t made q stiff proposition for the opener,
who had only a pair OF aces, but he had
courage as well az suspicion and he made
good. Neither Of the others cared to 60
good and Winterbottom took the deck.
Bowers called for three cards and failed
to better. 30 he showed his openers n
refused to bet. h others drew one card
each and Pearsall pushed his whole stack
into the pot. whereupon Farrar and Winter
bottom threw down their cards.
Peareal grinned aggravatingly as he
pulled in $3.50 in addition to his last bet
and opened his hand on the table. face up.
Il was a busted flush with a pair OF treys.
checked himself.
Il al'ays does that once into a game"
said Pearsall, "just for a advertisement.
1t pays good when 1t goes through. like it
did then. an ON most gently get a call
There was nothing special doing till the
deal got around to Blaisdel. when on
Dare's ante W~interbottom stayed, Bow
ers made II ten to play and PeaTsan swiftly
threw In twenty.
This time they all stayed till il came back
to Bowers, and he with an evil glance at
Pearsall made it $50 more.
It'll cost you more'n that" said Pearsall,
cheerfully, and he raised it $loQ.. At that
the others, excepting Bowers. all laid down,
and Bowers hesitated
BE you skeered Of another busted 1ush?'
asked Pearsal, tauntingly.
Il was studyin' whether to raise you.'
said Bowers. slowly, and then he made
good and called for two cards.
@In take one" said Pearsall, and Bow
ers threw in q white chip before locking at
his cards: Pearsal. on the other hand.
looked at his draw carefully before betting.
Then he pushed 5000 forward.
Il reckon you'd better think twice sfore
c%allin',' he drawled. but Bowers, though
not angry enough TO raise back at a one
card draw, was too angry to lay down.
BE called and showed down three jacks.
but Pearsall showed three kings and took
the money.
Thus far the home talent had decidedly
tho best Of it, but Bowers bought again, with
an Ill grace. and the deal passed TO Dare.
Mention has been made already of Dare's
skill, and also Of Blaisdell's. 1t was said up
and down the river. in those days, that they
were tho slickest two in the valley. But
those who played frequently with Blaisdell
used to say that he could not only do mar
vellous stunt himself with the p~asteboards,
but that he could infallibly detect anything
His friends were instantly prepared for an
outbreak, therefore, when, as he watched
Dare dealing, he leaned back in his chair and
said In g conversational tone. i reckon it's
time the old man fetched his bunggtarter."
Victor Hobbs started n~ervously. II
seemed to him there was something ominous.
II not in the words. In the tone.
Whats the bungstarter forl' he de-
manded.
Veil said biaisdeli, "the old mar is
some P 3Sspa,n s Soo@f h0 'Toen n9i Ssre an ,1 s4%e @;
the rules IL. he amt on hand prompt with
his bunRstarter. Then there amt, most
gently. An ! was thinkin' mebbe Mr.. Dare
might get gay with his gun. / don't just
know how things mostly Ia on the boats
though
swhat do you uns reckon this man thinks
he's talkin' about" demanded Hobbs in
great bewildeTment, but nobody quite knew,
excepting Blaisdell, and they all looked at
him inquiringly; Old map Greenhut was
in the room, b~ungstarter in hand, ten SEQ
onds after the suggestion was made.
well, it's on'y a matter O. house rules
said Blaisdell. Il can't say how It's on the
boat, but here faint reckoned regular for
to lea four aoes oh'n the bottom OF the
deck to your pal
Dare started to his feet and would have
drawn, but Greenhut had his wrist in an iron
grip on the instant, and at the same time
Blaisdell snstohed Bowers's cards from his
hand and threw them on the table. He
had the four aces. sure enough.
nsuoh cases il was the custom in Arkansas
City always TO grapple the nan on your left.
The theory wa that you could hamper his
right hand with your left and have your
men, though taken at this disadvantage,
would nave put up a good fight only that
Greenhut was able TO go from one 70 an
other unhampered, and there was no pro-
longed struggle.