The sun., 1907-11-17
'AH. I. DON'T KNOW"
~ SAID MR. PEPPER.
Then Arkansas City Poker Was
Vindieated-But BIaiSdslTs
River Trip Ended.


low down. no count. sIabsided shrimp
he shouted, -Fo' two bits I'D knock yo'
wuthless head plumb Oifen yO' shoulders
an feed u TO the furnace f'r pine knot.
lt's fat enough TO burn good" And he
danced up and down. brandishing & his arms
Wildly aloFt.
"Oh. don't know. said Mr.. Owen Pep
per, fishing around In his trousers pockets.
and bringing out a silver quarter. There q
your two bits, cap'n. If you think it's wuth
that much. and he held out the coin with a
good natured smile entirely out of keeping
with the gravity Of the situation.
The Belle Of the Bayous was just ap-
preaching the Arkansas City landing. and
Vapt. Wilkins had had much TO try him
since his boat had left Vicksburg.
For one thing, there was a notable falling
OF from the number of passengers he
usually carried, and he was unable to ex-
plain this to himself in any way excepting
that ne had lately relaxed the severity Of
his rule against poker playing on the boat
peing a lover Of the game himself, he had
believed that the popular prejudice against
poker on the boats came from the crooked
play that had been prevalent.
When therefore he discovered as he be-
lieved he did some few months previously
. man OF high principle and great skill at
cards In the person OF MIR. Jim Blaisdeil
Of Arkansas City he felt himself safe in
allowing the game on his boat provided
Rlaisdell sat in TO see that it was straight.
SO far as he could see his theory was cor
rect, hut the passenger traffic Of his boat
had certainly fallen on. Altogether Capt
Wilkins was far from being equally dis
pcsed when he stepped into the saloon a
bt;le after midnight and found a game Of
poker in progress with Mr. Owen Pepper
highly interested spectator.
Mr.. Pepper seldom played. though he
enjoyed the game greatly. He frankly
said that he could afford it only at long
intervals
II was game for full grown men that
Capt. Wilkins found. Tall stacks Of chips
stood in front Of each of the six players and
beside the stacks were piles and rolls Of
hank bills with considerable showing Of
gold coin. Altogether the money in sight
was not far short Of $4,000 and they we're
playing table stakes
Jim BIaisdell was one Of the players
and the pile in front of him indicated that
he was doing rather more than holding his
own. vet if he had barely done that he would
have brought no discredt on the Arkansas
City game. OF which he was a notable ex-
poneDt. for he had some formidable an
taeonists.
Roy Gilchrist. who sat on his left. was
Mississippi planter who was noted for
reckless and lucky play. His almost un-
limited command of money and his prodi-
gal uss OF il on occasions made him a force
ful player. even II his judgment was not
always reliable.
p,Icl Mathewa uaa ano,har .ur.L
buckler at play. He was at all times liable
to bet his pile. hut enough was known OF
his methods To MAKE II almost certain that
he believed in his hand when he backed it,
Martin and Miller were Of the ordinary
variety Of river gamblers Cool resource
ful and bold they were ready at any stage
of the game Tor any trick they could play
with a chance OF safety and were always
prepared for an appeal to arms should one
be made.
The sixth man at the table was the one
eyed man whose name no one knew but
Who was known from La Crosse 20 New
Orleans as the peer OF any player on the
river. Tradition said he had lost his other
eye at the card table, but whether his own
crooked play or the other mans had led
10 the ARRAY no one pretended to saw In
deed, no one had ever charged him with
unfair play. All they said was that he was
unueually successful.
IL was truly a noteworthy party and il
was no ordinary game they played jim
Blaiedell recognized that from the beginning
and though he felt himself a worthy match
Tor any or all the other players he realized
the necessity for extra caution
As none OF the others had PLAYED in the
Arkansas City game they knew nothing OF
him excepting by reputation. What thew
had heard vaguely Of his marvellous skill
IN handling cards they were disposed 20 re-
gard "a exsggerstion. Mr.. Owen Pepper
might, perhaps, have told them things, but
he was not playing and he was too we'll
versed in the etiquette Of the game to volun-
teer any remarks.
when GiIchrist had dealt. and when. there
fore. no suspicion could attach to the deal.
Martin had put up the ante. which was a
dollar. later on. as the play got higher,
thew made IL five call ten.
BlaisClell, sitting next looked at two OF his
cards only and put UP his two dollars, so
they sized him up as coming in on a pair,
probably not less than jacks
The one eyed man said nothing, but put
IN a red chip. standing for S. He never
spoke unceremoniously. but they Judged
from his play that he was willing TO force
the others out, 40 thew reckOned he had
either aces or two small pairs.
Mathews. who sat next, was by no nneana
willing to give way to such hand as that
and he put up his red chip without raisin9.
so il was impossible for any one TO Judge
of what he held.
Miller glanced AZ his pal before PLAYING.
Dut " tneTe was an interchange OF siRnaIA
no one detected it. He trailed brin xine the
play back to the dealer
That player was usually dashinx in his
methods. but this time there was a notice.
able hesitation before he PLAYED. Thev
could not decide whether he was irving to
make certain of having a straight or whether
he was considering the wisdom OF a raise
Whichever il was no decided 20 throw in
two reds and did so.
Martin looked well satisfied and raised in
hie turn. making il four reds
Then and not till then. did Blaiadan look
at all his cards. Without q change of az
precision he made IL two blues. or asa In All
tn play. whereupOn the one eyed man threw
his hand in the discard. Mathewg seemed
~ be still willing 20 let the others plav his
hand. Pnd ne 5inpiy iIade good
Miller also trBiled; whether because NJ
confidence IN his own hand or because he
wsnted 10 stand bv in case Martin needed
hNlp. il was impossible 10 Judge
Agqin GiIchrist hesitated and therebv
p'Izzled the other PLAYERS considerable.
Finally however. hs threw in six blues
rruking raise Of 800.
Martin stsvAd. Blaisdell made n An
other 500. Mathews dropped and the
other three made good.
On the draw Martin stood pat BlsisdeII