The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-19
TIM BLAISDELL
j DID HIS BEST
Bot Good Dealing Did Not Count
Against a Royal Flush and Twenty
Repeating Rifles.

HNNaAAl Ah oeNhN ~ 80 @@N
to a logged endurance.
Even the rain, though, could not drown
out the interest that attached 10 the arrival
Of a river boat, since In food time the only
communication Arkansas City had with
The outside world was by means Of the big
sdewheelers that tied up at the levee at
Infreauent intervals. II was natural enough
therefore that almost everybody In town
should be looking on when the Belle Of the
Bayous made a landing and prepared TO
discharge freight.
Before the freight, three passengers
came ashore. One was q husky looking
countryman, who seemed unused 70 travel,
and inquired ~difldently Of the first man
he met where the tavern was. Being In
formed, he made his way to 1t, engaged a
room. took a drink and sat down TO wait for
the call TO supper.
After him came a frail cripple, carried like
A child by a stalwart darky. They also
went to the tavern, and the cripple an
nounced that he would stay for a few days
70 rest. his servant, Of course, staying with
him. His name he said, was Ernest Waters,
and he was on his way to the North TO seek
medical aid.
When supper was over bis servant car
ried him Of to bed, but the big o~ountryman
who rave his name as Hank Benton, sat
smoking in the barroom for IN hour or 80,
then went out, saying he reckoned he'd
look round town a bit.
Making his way cautiously through tho
rain. he presently found himself in old man
Greenhut's saloon. where, besides the pro-
prietor. there we're three men sitting around
the stove, while two others sat In . little
back room playing cards.
stepping 10 the bar, he called for q drink
and asked the house 10 join him. Having
thus established bis footing, he said:
.C'n YOU uns tell me Z G%reenhut's saloon
Ia hereaboutsl'
Thee was a moments hush; then the
old nan himself said, 4 JCrkon faint fur
fm here. Why"
Well, I've heer'd a heaE rIout IT, said
Jenton, IAN bein' az I'm some interested
In draw poker, l kind O. thought Id call
while | was nigh hand
Looking him over carefully, old man
Greenhut decided that he was not likely
to play for large money, 80 he said, rather
indiherently, well, I'm Greenhut an this
yere's my place. There amt much poker
played here, but Jake Winterbottom an
the postmaster g in yonder playin' a little
freeze out. Mebbe II you was vishful TO
play you cd set in, an p'raps the boys d
make up a regular game
at11...t. 49, y aatl naAN1n GaNnaaflu
"but there's a galoot up TO the tavern as
ia got more money n g good fr one man
10 carry. Plays poker, too, damn him.
He won more n half o my wad onto the boat,
bein g he's too good fr me, What ! want
to know is, do I stand in with tn houss II
! steer him in?'
Il don't see as you do said Greenhut,
rather more loudly than he was In the habit
Of talking. IF the gent 10 anyways sot
on poker, like you intimate, ! reckon he'll
get here his own self. There amt no call
Ter TO give you arakeoh I can sse.'
We'll. | don't know said Benton, sui
lenly and plainly annoyed at the outspoken
word. They do say Z strangers into this
part O. the country don't al'ays keer about
playin' with strangers, count o the stories
is told"
What stories is themH' demanded Joe
Bassett peremptorly, as he stood up to
the bar.
-Looka here, Stranger said old man
Greenhut, who was highly indignant by
this time, your tongue pears 10 be con-
sid'able too long fr your teeth
sam Pearsall and Jim Blais1ell had come
lounging up beside the big Sheriff by this
time, and Benton looked slowly from one
10 another Of the angry faces around him
and started TO leave the place.
Hold on said Blaisdell, -mebbe this
en- be Strengthened out. Who Is this
here yap rs got all this money!
Names Waters. He's up TO the tavern
said Benton.
DO YOU reckon you en- fetch him hersl'
pursued Blaisdell. An was you lookin'
to set in?"
Il en- fetch him all right, said Benton,
AN mebbe 'twould look DetIer il / "as
to take a hand .
Sure said Blaisdell, AN | sh'd say it
we're on'y fair TO give you a rakeoh II he
RELY has a wad. / reckon Greenhut II
gree TO that now I he's had a chanst o.
thinkin' 1t over
He winked slyly at the old man as he
spoke. and the others looked at him in some
surprise.
Well, il YOU nut il that way" said old
man Greenhut, Il reckon 1t goes And
they took another drink In token Of amity,
while they settled II that Reuton should
bring the other man around for a game the
following night.
When he had departed, after several
more drinks, old man Greenhut turned
10 Blaisdell, saving: What n blue bla4ee
d YOU butt in for2" We'd ouEhter throwSd
him in the river stead O. maxim . dickerII
with him
Then his pal wouldn't "a come here 70
plav." said Blaisdell coolly, 'an' we'd a
missed the wad. There's plenty o. time
10 throw him In the river later.
Old man Greenhut and his friends were
considerably taken aback when they saw
the cripple brought into the saloon in the
arms Of a stalwart darky, and Jake Winter
bottom. who was not devoid OF superstitions,
expressed some doubt Of the morality OF
the proposed game.
"Pcam like it's too low down for to win
money often a oritter like him, he said,
Where d he be. case Of a Disturbance
Old Man Greenhut, however, took q
different view.
"Tain't like a man played poker with his
legs he said. III twas a foot race, |
reckon there wouldn't nobody look for TO
get a bet on, but his money Is as good as
anvhody's into a game o. draw. An II II
comes TO a rough house. pears like he'd
lave tn advantage. Nobodv'd think o
tacklin' him. an he mought shoot hrst.
This argument was conducted, privately.
however. and when Waters took his seat
AZ the card table there was no appearance
NJ incongruity. From his waist upward
ho was normal. and when he produced his
Vsd W~interbottom ceased to make OBJ
Jectuns.
The game was six handed. Bassett,
Blaisdell, Pearsall and Winterbottom sitting
ln with the two strangers. and a. they
s'arted with 500 apiece IN chips there
attention.
The clay was brisk, too. and inside Of two