The sun., 1908-10-18

question. he deliberately lifted them both
high In the dir, at arms length, and held
them there while they squirmSd and
twisted In the vain attempt to renew their
ATTACK.
Eat 'em up. Mike Bang 'em to-
gether.' Stand EN- on their heads.
Tie 'em In a hard knot These and other
like directions were shouted by the de-
lighted onlookers. but Long Mike stood
undecided. watching their struggles with
SORE Of bewildered amusement, until
Stumpy called out; ~, Is
Throw thin In tn river. Mebbe thot'n
cool thin some"
Then, with grin OF keen Joy. the big
man started for the door, still holding the
two men aloft without apparent effort.
Had he been steady on his feet Browns
vile had surely had holiday indeed, but
he stumbled and all three fell.
Long Mike was for an instant renewal
OF the match. but the two men lodged and
Wheeler shouted In remonstrance.
"You uns Is sure some spo'ty.' he said.
"but we uns amt got no all round edioa-
tion. Ais we p'tend to know IL draw
poker. an judgin I'm what we done seen
80 far It looks like mebbe we won't have
no walkover at that
~It's all off, said Stumpy. solve
two weeks pay in me kick. an them piruts
II have ut in wan round av the boss
haven't his luck wild him.
Hes tn on'y wan av us ON bate thin
p'fessionals. An him wild the glory o.
tn dhrink on him beloike he'll be losln'
his wad too. Stand by, Sam. in case Of
a shindy'
But the little man sat Ia when the
others did as readily as il he had pro-
posed the game himself It wasn't in him
to avoid trouble,
Hennessy and Gallagher sat in also.
making a six handed game, and Sam
furnished cards and sold chips. Long
Mike insisted that the game should be
table stakes, and after each man had
taken $40 worth he leaned back in his
chair and went to sleep. ..
Wheeler dealt and Hennessy put up
two white chips call quarter, but Stumpy
sitting next found no cards. 30 he threw
down his hand. Long Mike sat in the
next place and they waited to see II he
would wake up, but he didpot.
@Oi think he'll pass said Stumpy. and
reaching over he took the sleeping mans
cards and threw them in the discard.
Then Boxer came in, Gallagher passed.
Wheeler stayed and Hennessv laid down.
That left the two partnefs In with no
opponents, and they went through the
formalities Of the draw and the showdown
with undisguised disgust.
II was Hennessy's deal next and he had
hard work to keep awake while he gave out
the cards. Seeing this Stumpy was sud-
denly inspired. Closing his eyes he snored
gently after putting up his ante, and keep
ing up the snoring he soon had the satis-
faction Of hearing Gallagher and Hen
messy both join in chorus.
Tho two strangers looked at each other
and then at the other four. at first in dis
gust then, as they saw the humor of the
with wide grins.
Il reckon there won't be no game to-
night" said one, -but we sure be winners
so far" And he looked around at the
chips as if wondering how many could be
safely appropriated before any one should
wake up.
As he was about to stretch out his hand.
however, Stumpy stretched himself and
said. yawning:
"oi was tellin' yez there's other spoorts
we do loike betther nor draw poker.
Slapin's wan o. thin. Yen get no Browns
vile money the night. Dim thinkin'.
barrin' the dime ye took of Hennessy.'