The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-08
LIED PLAY -FOUR
i BUT WOULDN'T FIGHT


-Yipl' said Jake winterbottOm a. he
opened the door OF the best known saloon
in Arkansas City and started unstsadily
toward the bar.
"Yipl" he exclaimed a. with a mighty
IungS he extended his arms far enough
ahead Of him to grasp the edge OF the bar and
atraiGhten up.
"Yipl' no shouted after he had looked
around.
His first exclamation sounded as IL IL
might have seSn q blast from a steam
boat whistle. The second rssembled tho
roar Of heavy artillery. The third was
somewhat louder than the first two would
have been had they been blended with a
tremendous clap OF thunder.
Having uttered the three ne gased on
tho company assembled a. IL trying to see
who and now many there were. Then he
smiled uncertainty and said: -Givesdrink
GivsgenlndriDkl Drinkssll Yipi'
DecorOusly and silently the others in
the saloon lined up beside him. As they
waited for their glasses ne looked across
at the proprietor, and with a sud~dsnigleam
Of recognition exclaimed: @HuIlolmsnl'
At the same time aiming a owe tap at him
Nhat "Vuhu INV VIIV uh'A w NV hSCa
had he not sidestepped in time.
, IA II was the force Of the blow sent Mr..
Winterbottom SPRAYING half way across
the bar with his two hands among the bottles
behind. Graspinx one Of them in each hand
he struck them together violently, causing
q loud noise which seemed 10 please him
greatly and . waste Of good liquor that
seemed to displease the proprietor.
aTAAe 1~-Fk 80 U.b. y ~ AAs1
"Whadongo?" demanded W~interbottom
Indignantly. ~~Bl0wyheadofY.' And he
fumbled angrily at his hip pocket.
Another sidestep, quicker than the first,
and h bunGstarter was poised in the air,
but Jos Bassett said. laughinsly, Don't
hit him. Greenhut. I've got his gun"
And 30 he had.
Winterbottom was confused for a moment,
then indignant, then, recognizing BasSett,
he was FOR some reason greatly amused'
"ThaJoeBas'tP" he said. "'SalIriJo. Do
washOo. Wangobed.'
This last proposition satisfied the COM
pany's sense Of fitness, and Bassett vOlun-
teered to 20 with his old friend. When
they had gone old man Greenhut shook
his head sadly.
Il never reckoned on seein' Jake Winter
bottom 90 on an get drunk with stranRers.'
he said, a. II he felt a personal injury. "Hs
must "a bowed in right smart o. money
up to the hotel. Minds me o. what the
Good Book O about these here second
ratio gin stores. Says: Their wine is q
knocker an their strong drink outrageous
Somepin' mighty strange about lake gOiA'
away I'm his friends to find amusement
with strangers. An that amt sayin'
nothin' about him spendin' his money on
them same ~strangers.'
Il reckon faint altogether thataway,'
said Sam Pearsall. -'Pears Jack Trimble
is up TO tho hotel. an"
aD'ye mean Trimble I'm New Madrid?'
demandedNth old man.
Same man." said Pearsall. Man rs
been telfn' how Z he cd do up any poker
players t ever turned a card in Arkansas
City. Pears he come here thinkin' TO mako
good. an things he hesr'd up to the hotel
kind o give him cold feet, SOS t he was
rock min on takin' the ext boat back.
Then Jake met up with him, might afOre
last. an set out to banter him into stayin'
over fr a game. but Trimble wouldn't rave
It.. Said he Wae jcy1n' hisself tol'abIe with
red liquor an he reckOned he'd set with
that till tn boat come along. so then Jake
he got some het up an called him a cross
roads piker an a tim horn. Told him he
couldn't drink no more'n he cd play poker.
an bet him q hundred he cd drink him under
the table. So they put up a hundred apiece
With the landlord, an they been at il ever
since. A drink every ten minutes. Jake
done collected the stakes an hour ago,
90 ! reckon his jag didn't cost him such a
he'll rOa nm much.'
Been better fr their health IL they'd "a
come here an drinked some good iquor.'
grumbied the old man. "HOwsomever, II
TrimbIe 10 under the table tain likely Z he'll
take the next boat. Mebbe We mcVght git
him TO play sfore he goes. It's agfn rea-
son fr him to fetch money here to play with
an take IL away 'thouten q game"
We'll, said Jim Blaisdell. Il didn't hear
nothin' about this afore. but I'm ready to
make q considerable bet as how Jake nailed
this Teller afore that bet was settled. l
reckon you'll find part o the bargain was 7
he sh,S stay fra game. case o lake winnin'
This proved to be the case. When Bassett
returned. as he did after putting Winter
bottom TO bed. he said: who's this Trim
bic? Jake saws fer to not let somebody
name o. Trimble ret away
They old him, and arrangements we're
Immediately made to keep guard over the
hotel and prevent the escape. In conse-
quence some forty-eight hours later there
was another gathering in the old mans
both present. somewhat pale indeed. but in
full control OF their nerves.
" heer'd you was comin' TO Arkansas
City to show us somepin o. how draw
poker ia played up TO New Madrid" said old
man Greenhut. IN we uns sure is glad.
faint often Z any real good players comes
this way. an the local talent sure does get
some rusty. II you or brighten the boys up
SOME they'd take II fr a great favor."
But Trimble was not inclined to be boast
ful. II sure was comm TO play" he said.
but I reckon mebbe I'll learn more my own
self nor I'll be liable to learn you uns."
At the start Of the game there was no
indication that the play would differ ma.
terially from that to which the local talent
was well accustomed when outsiders came
TO Arkansas City.
They started with a hundred apiece,
table stakes. and made the ante two all
i've. For the first few deals there was no
excitement. Trimble refused to play, and
~ the others did not care 20 waste strength
on one another the pots went without a
call to the first bettor.
Then on Bassett's deal. there being a
Jackpot, Trimbie opened for the size Of 1t
under the gun.
1t looked well to Winterbottom, who had
three sevens. and he raised ic S25. Pearsall
dropped. BlaisdeIl STAYED with two pairs
and a feeling that WinterbOttom might
require support. Bassett laid down and
Trimble hesitated as IL about to raise again.
Finally, however. no made good and waited
For nuaaokf 70 arua kha Aro~