The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12

strangers entered. Perhaps because old
man Greenhut and his friends had been
talking about him, they instantly recog-
nized one Of these strangers, though be
had dofed his clerical attire, cut of his long
hair, and shaved of hia beard. No one
showed his recognition. however, and they
all bowed gravely when Adams introduced
himself and his friend George Maddox.
They put themselves on the proper foot
ing by inviting all hands to the bar, and
after a drink or two inquired whether they
had been rightly Informed that a game OF
draw poker could sometimes be found in
the house.
Oldham Greenhut controlled himself with
an effort, and he replied, pleasantly enough:
I b1ieve the boys does play, sometimes
in the Darkroom, when somebody urges EN-,
but there amt no penny ante game goln'
on. They don't none on EN- set in, 'thouten
it's worth WHILE
"Well,' said Adams, who did the talking,
Il don't rightly know what you ms calls
worth while. Me an Maddox II set In
with q couple o. hundred apiece, into a
table stakes game, Z that's reckoned i'm
portant money!
3That's just "a the boys says said old
man Greenhut. And the question being
thus referred to the house, 1t appeared
that Joe Bassett, Jake winterbottom and
Jim Blaisdell thought well Of the PROPOSE
ton. Pearsall also appeared willing to
play, but when be privately approached
old man 0reenhut to negotiate the loan Of
q stake, the old mar discouragedhim.
"Pears like its goin' to be well to have
somebody loodn' on, 7 amt playin'. SAM
said he, AN I'd heap ruther have you in
the room, as to stay there myself. I'll
be there suddent enough, when any things
diddin', but I don't hardly feel like / cd
keep my hands of'n that preacher chap II
was TO stand behind him"
II was so decided, and the pseudo clergy
man and his pal sat down to play with three
Of the most redoubtable poker experts Of
the Southwest. Maddox, as the Arkansas
City players did not know, was no less
skilled In the illegitimate Use OF cards than
Adams himself. He was from tie North.
and had taken Adams for a pal after seeing
him deal three or four times In q gam
ON one Of the boats.
Pesrsall. however. had played on the
boats himself, and having the eyes of a
hawk, was not likely to overlook any peuuli-
aritl . In the game. He took a chair a
little back from the table, behind Blaisdell,
who sat between Adams and Maddox,
and though he seemed to be an idle locker
on, he was "a busy as any Of the players.
Each Of the Ave took two hundred In
chips. according to Adams's suggestion,
90 that there was q thousand dollars in
the game at the start.
Blaisdell dealt first and Adams anted
q dollar. Bassett came In, but Winter
bottom dropped. Then Maddox made it
Is TO play, and Blaisdell made IL $40. Adams
made good and Bassett studied his and
again. His two pairs were small, even
to his optimistio eyes. but r, put up his
money, and Maddox made II $40 more.
Blaisdell sat like q craven image till II
came his turn again. Then without. a
word or a change Of expression he pushed
his whole stack into the pot. II was a
puzEltng play. and Undoubtedly looked
like q bluff, but even at that none. Of the
others felt strong enough 10 call and the
deal passed 10 Adams.
Pearsall was probably Watching the |
dealer as closely as he could be watched, |
but an observer would have said he was
more attention 10 Maddox. That
player called for two cards after the pot
had been made up, Adams. Winterbottom
and himself having each put up sIS as a
Of some reraising,
On the instant, as he was pulling the
draw toward him to lift 1t from the table,
was q pistol shot almost directly
behind him, and as was inevitable he gave
n sudden start and looked around. All
that he saw was q much confused Pearsall,
down TO pick up the revolver
had fallan from his nockaf re 81