The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-21
Creenhut's Idea Did Not Work
MONEY FIRST REVENGE LATER" FAILURE IN THE CASE
OF A ONE-EYED PIRATE.

Tit GU 1AAldhS NoAhN ~
sprang a complete surprise.
Walking suddenly and unanhounced
into the little saloon he held out both
hands, with a revolver in each; but as
they took a second hasty look they saw
that he held the weapons reversed, with
the muzzles toward his own body and
the handles ready TO the grasp OF any
who should face him.
Here's my guns he said, without
preface. Anybody can have 'em as
wants EN- till / leave the place /
amt come FIR no fight, an l reckon you
uns amt liable FIR to do up a man I
amt heeled- come FIR game o
poker, bein' as there's some tells how
the play here's the best thing any
where's up an down the river"
This appeal to his fair play touched
even the wrathful Bassett.
They was sayin' as how they
pferred playin' poker with you afore !
took We in hand f'r things you've did.
he said, AN 1 done give my word TO
it. but Lord help you, One Eye, if
you'm caught playin' crooked. There 5
them t says you never play straight,
am there amt nobody round here goin'
to stand on ceremony if you try any
funny work.
Well" said the one-eyed man coolly.
ANNhVAA Nht tlit gum 10 ONtA
work hisself tryin' 10 help nobody
what's caught playin' crooked poker
nowheres in Arkansas, more special in
Arkansas City, but faint FIR nobody
here 10 chuck ojum at me along of a
rippytation FIR crooked play
There's them t says things about
your game, but 1 reckon you uns is
some like me. You amt never been
caught.
IF play crooked an you uns catch
me amt got no kick comm whatever
you do. An if 1 catch you uns I'll keep
my trap shut. seem the odds is ag'in
me. If that suits I'll play. If not I'll
CO."
The iron nerve of the man who could
say this knowing how he was hated
won the respect If not the liking even of
Bassett, and he growled acquiescence
when the motion to play was carried.
Accordingly the one-eyed man treated.
and Winterbottom, Blaisdell, PearsalI
and Bassett all sat down with him for
the struggle.
Each bought hundred in chips and
Pearsall said: Table stakes, 1 reckon, "
but the one-eyed man objected
~ don't let no man tell me how much
L can bet when l feel like it," he said.
so the roof was removed.
In the beginning the play was as
tame as it usually is in a big game.
Winterbottom had the first ante and he
threw in S.
Calls ten" he said briefly. and that
was accepted as the regular stake.
Several small pots were taken in with
out a struggle and two jackpots went
TO the opener. nobody coming in
against him, when on Winterbottorn's
zeal there seemed chance for excite
ment
Bassett had come in on PearsaIrs
ante and the one-eyed man had made il
$40 to play, when Blaisdeu trailed. Win
terDottom dropped and Pearsan made
ii $40 more.
Bassett saw no reason to put up any
more money and the one-eved man
studied his hand with consider HE
care, then looked steadily at BIaisdelI
Tor long time, as if wondering if he
We're liable to get under a crossfire.
Whatever his thought was he decided
10 stay, and Blaisdell not caring to go
further before the draw the bot was
closed
Pearsall then called for two cards. the
one-eyed man for one and BlaisdelI for
two, and One Eye threw in a white chin
without looking at his draw.
1t looked like a dangerous place for a
raise put Blaisdell, looking sharply at
redrsail' found encoura cement enough
10 trall, and Pearsall threw in $50.
Ihen the one-eyed man smiled per-
ceptibly and lifted the card he bod
drawn. After a moments Thought he
covered the $50 and drew from his
pocket five 500 bills. which he counted
carefully, and laid in the pot.
lou IL nave to pay tol'able high for
10 see that there cyard," ne said. quiet
~ ana the other two promptly laid
down. 1t looked like too large bI1ff
Tor the size of the pot and thew reck-
oned 1t a coaxer
But Just as One Eye was rakinp in
the pot after throwing his hand into the
uiscdrd pie Blaisdell reached over and
PICKED I'D the one card that came in
the draw Still holding ii face down.
ward he scrutinized the back of If care
fully, while the one-eyed man xyaS a.
manding angrily to know why he was
monkeying with his cards.
Wen. l wouldn't-not gently said
Bialsdell deliberately, but / reckon
a man don't have to look at the face a,
this un for to know it's a ace Ana
he turned 1t over showing that IL ~
in fact the ace of hearts.
Bassetts left hand went swift and
straight toward the--one-eved mars
ehIOSil ana nothing but a marvello1,sIx-
QUICK dodge saved him from daat5
grip As it was. the sheriff's ftnqars
closed on the lapel Of the others coat
ana as the two rose to their feet tho
one-eyed man wriggied out of the gar
ment and broke for the door
Ihere was need for speed and he had
II; AS the Arkansas City men looked
with amazement at half a dozen packs
OF cards tumbiing out of the coat
sleeves they heard the one-eyed mans
Voice at the outer door.
mere amt no use calm on the Lord
70 heip a man what's caught cheatin' ;,
ne said, Jeeringly, but I take notice
you am caught me yet Remerber 7
WIN mat last post I'd ston and caeb
IN put I'm some in a hurry TO catch that
boat And he was gone.
Ihey chased him through the darl,-
ness but he reached the landing ius+
AFTER the gangplank had been drawn IN
ana with a desperate leap he reached
when they came back to the saloon
Bassett said: i0 Soiooil
fou unsll have to play poker With
Inat pirates dead corpse next time if
l m anywheres round afore the game