The sun., 1907-11-17


pushed hts whole stack forward, making
a bet OF some $500 more than MillerS. II
was too strong for Martin and he laid down.
though not till after he h0d looked at Miller
and caught a glance from him.
Blaisdell said nothing; His hand went
in the discard as promptly an II he were in
the habit OF having fOurs beaten. Miller.
however. was still full OF confidence.
@Pm sorry l can't raise you no.fuTther
under the rules, pard. he said, - he called
with nearly all he had in frOnt/of him, and
he showed down four Jacks.
mo good said Gilchrist i"I caught the
nine spot" And he showed a straight
flush In diamonds. nine high.
IL was then that the ante was raised. No
such party Of PLAYERS as this could be- eX-
pected to play dollar ante after a hand like
that. and when Rlaisdell put up a red chip
on Martins deal there was no comment.
No one came in and the jackpot that was
formed contained 500. IL was, OF course.
Blaisdsl's deal, and Mr.. owen Pepper. with
a vivid recollection of what he had seen
more than once before, had some expecta-
tion Of fireworks and torchlights, with a
possibility Of bombs and brass bands when
the six hands should be lifted.
One thing that seemed to Indicate Mr..
Blaisdell's possession Of the artistic temrer-
ament was the fact that although startling
things sometimes occurred when ne dealt.
the cards. il could not be- said that thew
occurred with suspicious frequency. II
happened this time that Mathews took
the rot without a contest, and the deal
quietly passed on.
The one eyed man. as vas said. had never
been detected in crooked play, and he wss
not detected this time Nevertheleks when
he made an ace high flush for himself
drawing one card against three kings and
a small straight. and when he scoOped n
fat pot on the hand there were those at
the table who wished they had been able
90 khs. sNc Ia
more distinctly.
Mathews was above suspicion. and Miller
appeared to be too conscious Of the scrutiny
that was directed toward his work to be
capable OF any very meritorious perform
ance. SO these deals passed without
special incident, and il wac too much to
expect Gilchrist to do anv dazzling stunt
immediately succeeding his last
When Martin dealt next therefore. there
h6d been a considerable lull following the
last strenuous contest. and whatever ex-
element had been felt had been measurably
toned down. Mr.. Pepper. having no pc
cuniary interest. had perhaps been less
excited than the Others. and being there
fore better qualified to Judge the proba-
bilities than they were determined in his
own mind that there would soon be some
thing doing.
Again BIaisdell nut up IS blind. and the
one eyed man. silent aH ever, stFaddled
the blind. Martin served the cards with
suspicious exactitude. but though they
watched they could see nothing out of the
way. and each man was fully prepared
20 back hiR hand.
Mathews came In for the $50. and Miller.
who had declared more money in the game,
STAYED az a matter of course. Then Gil
christ made II $50. but If he wanted 20
drive the others out he was disappointed
Martin came in. Blaisdell made il 500,
and the one eyed man made il $3.50. Mathews
dropped and the others all made good
On the draw Blaisdell called for two
cards. The one eyed man stood pat. Miller
took one. Gilchrist stood pat and Martin
The one eyed man threw in a chip. Miller
trailed. Gilchrist bet Sl0O Martin made
It $500 and Blaisdell pushed his stack for
ward.
The only player to see him was Martin.
who showed down four queens. but Blas-
dell showed four kings and reached for the
pot.
Hold on. there said Miller, before
Martin could sDeak. Il discarded that
king Of clubs. You must have picked it up
out OF the discard pile"
And at that moment Capt. Wilkins en-
tered the saloon.
Trained as he was 10 lightning quiokness
he knocked Blaisdell's gun upward AT
the instant 1t was discharged Then reach
ing across the table he seized Miller, who
was no less ready for a shooting ARRAY and
who was levelling his own gun. Then
came the outbreak for which all the pre-
pairing him.
Denouncing the party one and an in |
such choice and vigorous obiurRation as |
il seldom heard on the MiaaissipDi River |
he declared the game at an end and swors |
there should never be another on his boat. !
He spoke with the authority rightfIlIy |
belonging to the captain of Mississippi |
River packet. and none OF those who listened |
was inclined to answer until he spoke |
directly to Miller. whose last words ne |
had only imperfectly heard
As for you" he said IL know Of you. |
play by putting Il on to another. n did |
what 9 right Id throw you overheard
don't know
1t was small wonder the captain turned on |
him in dire wrath. but when he produced |
his two bits and offered It TO the captain |
the effect was almost magical. Angry as |
they all we're they began laughing az him |
and he got his chance 20 speak. |
seen u all, Capn," he said earnestly. !
an en- speak up f'r friend even il |
amt into the game. "Blaisdelrs cards Is |
all right. an this man Miller is talkin' to |
cover up his pal. Martin slipped up on
Blaisdelrs hand. but he dealt himself that |
Fourth queen Oifen the bottom"
just then there was another struggle.
Martin was trying to shoot and the captain |
seized him. Gilchrist and Mathews went
70 ms assistance and Blaisdell and Pepper |
threw themselves on Miller.
When the two were overpowered Baia-
dell said, "Cap'n. me an Pepper is going
asho right here 10 Arkansas City reckon
you can't do no better n To put these here !
Two yaps asho' here too. I reckon the boys
u see they don't come to no harm. va
oe pity to waste EN- on the fishes'
And 1t was done accordingly.