The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-03

ANAMH - MNANN ~ .
prowosB none could have Disputed his
courage who had ohan0ed to ace the raw
confidence he displayed as he pressed tor
ward INTO the poker room to sit down with
three on the men he had been defying.
strong as was the luminosity he had pro-
voked, no one OF the three failed TO accord
him the respect due to a brave man.
he soon showed eagerness in the pre-
tminartes, proposing a table stake game,
TO which they all agreed readily enough,
sna nasrlng a thousand dollars when Il
came 20 buying chips.
That's some more'n there IL In my
KICK, said Pearuall. -but I reckon there
wont be no objections to my comm in
with seven hundred"
L sh,d say there wRs.' remarked Horna-
Gay; There don't no gazabo set In with
me thouten he On stack mp even"
On, very we'll. said Sam. and he stepped
outside for a whispered conferences with
Greenhut, returning presently with the
Bassett and winterbottom were already
prepared. and the game began with $4,000
On the table.
They threw around for the deal and II
Tell to W~interbottOm, w~hereupon Baeeett,
in the next seat, anted n dollar.
Was you thinkin' o. playin' fr bird
seedfT asked Hornaday in a one OF deep
disgust.
oh. l reckon you en- push the game rs
a as you like" said Bassett. and the
event proved he was right.
Hornaday came in on the first hand,
and Pearsall stayed. Then Winterbottom
dropped. and Bassett made IL S. more to
draw cards.
That suits me- said HOrnaday, an
boost you SO"
Fifty more.' said Pearsall, and Bassett
dropped.
And a hundred, 3 said Hornaday; putting
.Pearsall gazed at him as one might look
who had a pleasant dream, and without
speaking he pushed in his whole pile.
Hornaday looked at his cards again
doubtfully, then hopefully, then conf
he looked earnestly at Pearsall, and IL
seemed to him that the astute player wa
trying 20 look frightened. Then he threw
his cards down with an oath, and Pearsall
raked in the pot.
On Bassett's deal HOrnaday put up a
a 80 jackpot, and Hornaday's eyes cleaned
as he took che deck and zhuified.
He was considerably surprised, however,
when the other three players, one after
another passed without looking at their
cards, thus leaving 1t to him to open or not
II was certainly an unusual play, and
Mr.. HOrnaday appeared to find IL some
what disconcerting. He looked from one
to another Of his antagonists doubtfully.
lthVL1K OIH CNEuo AdCt uOWus
IL was as II he questioned whether any
insult was intended or whether they were
taking long chances on his opening, with
the hope OF raising him out II ne should
do 40. So eXpressionless we're the three
faces that he decided not to treat it as
an insult, and with a mirthless laugh he
remarked:
Il reckon I'll be in the fashion my own
self. l pass" And he handed the deck
over TO Pearsall.
They ali sweetened, gravely, and waited
for their hands. W~interbotton, having
first say, opened for the size Of the pot.
Bassett stayed. Hornaday stayed. Pear
sail raised IL $50 and WinterbottOm went
back at him with $50 more.
Then Bassett dropped. but Hornaday
stood the double raise, though with no
great show Of confidence. When the
others both raised, however. he swore viO-
lently and pushed his stack in.
-Thatn/ stop your whipsaw, anyhow
he exclaimed, and 1t did.
Pearsa1 dropped and Winterbottom saw
the raise. On the draw he stood pat, where
at Hornaday swOre again. and drew two
cards. He did not better his three kings,
however. and WinterbOttOm, took the pot
with a small straight.
Hornaday seemed about to indulge in ar
outbOurst Of speech. but with a powerful
effort he controlled himself and bought an
other stack OF chips.
IL was W-interbottOm's deal again and
some measure Of satisfaction came to the
Ozark man on the very next Tor he
stayed on Bassett's ante and Pearsall
Immediately raised. The others dropped,
and HOrnadRy reraised.
Pearsall seemed eager and they raised
hack and forth till they had nearly hall
their money in the pot before the draw,
Then Pearsall trailed.
Both stood pat. and a. it was HOrnaday'l
first BET he bet his stack IL looked enough
so AnLH - -. -. Ill - .AnMaANg
az ne had an ace high flush, but HOrnaday
| had a small full and Pearsall was out Of
the game.
He retired gracefully enough and as one
| not without hope. for Hornaday, though
he had won a good pot. was not a winner
and the other two were stanch players
Moreover. when he had left the room jim
Blaisdell presently appeared.
Il heer'd this was to be o handed he
said, "an' bein' as there's a empty seat III
take IL il there's no 'bjections.'
None Was heard. and he sat in, where
upon Hornaday came TO sudden grief. being
wholly unprepared for the strange things
hat often happened on BlaisdeIfB deal,
IL he had had more experience he might
not have been greatly surprised TO have
four tens beaten. but as 1t was he dropped
his whole pile.
THAT there's a crooked deal. y he yelled,
springing 20 his feet. and on h instant
Blaisdell Tired.
To his considerable amazement, for he
! was an excellent shot, his bullet passed
over his enemy's head. Then he laughed
! for he saw the reason.
He would AVE hit his mark all right u
old man Greenhut had not entered and
swung his bungstarter in the nick OF time
Ii had felled Hornaday and he lay insen-
| sible on the floor, while the bullet wa
lodged in the wall. -,
I've lone told you frequent, Jim.' said
| the old man reproachfully. that shOOtin's
aR'in the house rules. Now see what you
come nigh doin'. Bear a hand now an
| git this swashbuckler outside an pouH
water on him."
They all did so, and when he had recov'
cred his senses the old man said:
This here had ought for TO be a lesson Il
you. I done v yOur life Just now. an
you'd ought for to be thankful t ! keeps
bu~ngstarter f'r just such emergencies.
reckon we uns is about through with you
but il there's any more Hornadays up.Stat,'
with money just send EN- along: They'll
find a game here most any time
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