The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-09
DIPLOMACY OF
/ OLD MAN GREENHUT
Presents the Cleaning Out OF the
Crowd BY Means Of the "No
Shooting" Role.

A considerable time before the one eyed
man settled in Brownsville tine regular
travellers on the Mississippi River steam
boats had come to looli forward with more
than ordinary interest TO the settlement OF a
feud that existed between him and one jim
Wharton, a mau of the same kind.
No man, excepting these two, knew the
truth about the beginning of the feud,
Some told a story about a girl in Cape
Girardeau who had encouraged both men
in turn. either from pure d~eviltry, or natural
coouetry, or because Of honest uncertainty
as 70 her own choice. IL is certain h a
both men pursued her and that neither
man won her, 30 possibly that was an eS-
PLANTATION.
Others told Of a game OF poker IN wmch
both men played under circumstances thai
made 1t seem likely that there wasa previous
understanding between the two. Ana they
pointed out that IL jim Wharton and the one
eyed man had really agreed TO play together
on thai occasion it was perfectly natural to
expect one OF them TO kill the other as soon
as a convenient opportunity should present
itself.
The game was played on the old Creole
Belle. a packet that ran between Memphis
and New Orleans before tine war. AS was
usual when high play was looked FOR there
were five players.
Resides the two mentioned. who were
both well known professionals, there were
three who were unmistakable suckers.
Two we're planters and neighbors in Mis-
sissippi, George Matthews and Richard
Gwaltney, and he other was Hamilton
Roberts, a New Orleans cotton factor.
The planters were on their way to the
city for their annua! hurrah and Roberts
was returning from a successful business
trip. All three were therefore liable to
play. and therefore to lose, heavily, and
the two gamblers had a rare chance. II
there was not an understanding between
them it was rather curious.
The game was still young when Matthews
caught three tens on the one eyed mans
deal. 1t was his ante, and all he could do
at first was to sit still! and relish intensely
the sudden surprise he would give 10 the
players who should stay when it came his
20 play. Before that time came, how
ever, his ideas changed.
The ante was two dollars. call five, and
Gwaltney, sitting next, came in. Wharton
raised II ten, which might have been meant
for a coaxer or O drive. but Roberts made
/. ten more, leaving no possibility for doubt
OF his strength.
The one eyed man said nothing, but put
his s25 in the pot, whereupon Matthews
studied a while. Hewould have gone back
one player unhesltatingly, but q double
raise and a slayer after made his three
look small. Reasoning, however.
that any threes were big enough for a second
raise and that two paip would justify
he determined to take a chance,
and making his ante good he put $50 in the
Wharton laid down, promptly enough,
but Gwaltney made Il a hundred, and again
the one eyed man stayed, so Matthews
gave DIP the idea OF orowding the play.
he made good. however, and called for
Two cards, getting a pair Of jacks. Gwalt-
ney stood pat, as he had expected 70 see,
and the one eyed mar o one card.
Matthews's spirits rose again when Gwalt-
ley bet 800 and the one eyed man stayed.
There were only three fulls that would beat
him. and the one eyed mans play did not
fours. He therefore made il 500
more, saying TO his friend;
There lie such n thing as overplaying a
pat hand. ever when you've got II. Dick,
And somehow lain't reckonin' on you havin'
l flush :
But G~waltney was not TO be caught in
hat fashion. He skinned his flush down
again, carefully. 20 assure himself that he
'unl had IL. n then he threw Il in the dis
But the one eyed man laid u five hum
lred bill in the pot, still without speaking.
Again Matthews studied and being u
man figured the chances Of losing
IN II ten full. Also lac remembered that fls
opponent was q professional, and though
,e did not believe the deal was crooked
re knew II wAA possible. So he called and
he one eyed man showed an ace full.
From this time on the play was furious.
h was as II q crowd had seen the shedding