The sun., 1908-07-26

another drink | reckon IN take the next
boat
They would, and they did. but Jim Blais-
dell said pengiveiy. Il reckon you'd better
sample san the Arkansas City game your own
freezeout t'r anything you like afore the
boat comes. There's time enough"
Fine said sandy Butts. Il want
reok min on tackfin the hull gang single
banded hs n' but I sure would relish two
The only preliminary needed was the
purchase OF chips. Each man took $500 In
Q single stack, and exchanged q lew Of
the blues at SIS for reds at S6 and whites
at u ior convenience in the ante anu IN
small bets. Then they began.
Wholly unrnoyea by the serene con-
hcenoe the Arkansas City men showed in
ths prowess OF tneir crack player, Sandy
butts faceo him with equal serenity, anu
dealt first. winning on the cut.
for the bind, and the dealer, tinding nothing
In his hand, proclaimed Jackpot anu
passed over the deck.
TN the next deal he found pair of kings
ana opened the pot, but biaisdell refused TO
come In, putting up the same blind for the
following Zeal.
This time butts found enough to stay on,
and blaisdel promptly raiseu, but Sanoy
Butts deemed his two tens unworthy OF
the FISK.
30 for half a dozen rounds there was
O. monotonous succession OF picayune
playing, tIl blsisoell, thinking 10 hurry
things, Gecideo 10 give out gooo carus.
IL was unusual for MIN to exert his skill
80 early IN u ganno, but like true genius
he submitted TO no set rule.
kven his Arkansas City friends did not
suspect hrn OF stacking the cards, 90 Ceft
was his manipulation, but Sandy Butts
when tho deck was passe to him for the
cut took 1t IN both hands, riffied it twice,
thenscut and pushed 1t back.
he maze no comment, but he was strictly
within his rights, ami blaisdell with vast
increase OF respect for his opponent dealt
in silence.
Finding a good hand. though not such q
one as he had counted on, he cav the blind,
and stayed when Butts raised. though he did
On the draw Butts took two cards and
Blaisdell one to his kings up. He caught
third seven. and hay Ing the first bet threw
In white chip careiessly.
To his great disgust Butts called. show
ing down three tens. which Of course loet
II was plain that the Matches man knew
something Ct the game.
thereafter they watched each other
with redoubled vigilance. Blaisdell. sus-
pecting the Others shuttle. himself rifiied
the cards when he had them to cut, and
from that time on the taoit avowal Of doubt
was repeated on each deal.
1t delayed the game, but they were not
counting the value Of time. and they waited
patiently for an opening. whicn though 1t
was long In coming came at last.
There was jackpot and Blalsdell opened
on Butts's deal. Butts studied his hand
o while and then raised. wnen Blaisdell
went back at him with $50 moro.
Again Butts sr.s st4died; " yn but finally saw the
sslas sesssx ssxng F,oEUa Etsafr r make 1T or won't
4 reckon you WON'T said BIaisdell
sneeringly as he stood pat and bet 500
without waiting to sec what Butts would
take:
hand again. o. II In doubt how to draw.
Finally he took one card and without
waiting TO see what IL was, he said: 9Th
amt no tellin'. but got feelin' "a how
must ha' drawed q club. Anyway. III
And he showed his whole pile forward.
Then he turned over the card he had drawn
without showing the rest Of his hand. 1t
Il knowed iti- he exclaimed with ine
$ ssHw q hs sse dnnps n eSnSdsnty fSsS d e. Ba IA
call
They criticized Blaisden afterward for
calling with q small full. though it was
freely admitted that Butts had played good
have sne@n ssas sis ss would nos
first raise But the post mortefn did no
good. for BItts had takcn tho pot with
four skies. -
He resisted all the arguments that were
put up to induce him TO play further.
.Twouldn.t be fair to the others u was
TO stay an clean you all out" he said sar-
castically Looks like II d be more fun
TO come with the gang an set into Q reg'lar
game. Pears like frsezeout is too easy
The Arkansas City men were not minded
to press him unduly. having In mind the
battle royal that was promised; but they
were sorry lot whom Sandy Butts started
for the boat. saying: we una' II sure DO
here long about the full o. the moon. Pears
like Natchez poker was fun as good as
you uns' game
And as the boat started Joe Bassett
called out hoarsely: Don't forget to fetch
that one eyed man when you GOMEZ