The sun., 1908-02-02

/ yAp stack up against Dick Feared Ike he
sen I'm the first AZ the other two was out
siders, an he never played Ak'in EN- OnCet
| Dick.
'Rut he watched Dick like hawk, an
Say. he played all round him. When Dick
blumed ne called, an when Dick had him
bsat he dropped. Didn't make no mistake.
An when Dick d deal an look fer the yap
| 70 60 full length on the cards he done give
him the yap laughed an throwed 'em down.
he win nigh 500. an then laughed again an
said he had cold feet
Then was when flst seen how twas.
'cordin' TO what Harding tells me- when a
man I knows more'n anybody else about
draw poker, ike Brewster did. meets up
with somebody Z knows mOre'n him.
An | says to myself Z this here zap was
Didn't take long TO aud out as his name
was Peter, Gimp. like I was sayin', but
moron that, he were a new member o
IN Legislatur. an he'd come TO Little
town that season. S sH 'PsSred Ike Sis "a game
upstairs in our place had got him fair
Wild on poker, an he started games in
tolable nigh all the committee rooms up
70 the state House, an skinned them other
Just naturally Dick Brewster an Hard
ing was some sore, an they put up three
or four iobs on Peter Gimp, but 'twa'nt
no use He'd play. 'Peared like he didn't
do nothin' but play poker hut he'd never
lose more'n a hundred or so. an he'd win
TO beat the. band four times out o. five
The old man paused and looked around
a. II fully satisfied that he had established
point, and his friends looked at him and
at one another In amazement.
NO question but what this here Gimp
feller was some OF n player, 'coriin' 20
what you say said Jake Winterbottom
but what the blue blszes has that got 20
do With that riddle you was riddlin a spell
ago2 Pears like they amt no end to this
Il of.s
|Mebbe We hain't come to tn end vet"
said old man 0reenhut. There's some
that's nigh hand what's more or less pulled
In out On this % her here su5IsSt a. o draS Poker;
be none s'prisin' Z they sh'd stack up ag'in
somebody like Dick Brewster did
-Ohl' exclaimed Jim Blaisdell. SIS that
what you're drivin' at1 Well, faint no
TO the Legislatur. en- teach this crowd
nothin' about draw poker
well. 1 mentioned It," said old man Green
hut mildly. Just because heer'd Z Peter
Gimp was In town an liable for TO drop in
here tonight. II there's any game started
it's got to be onderstood ms how l amt in
terested nowAys outside % the house kitty.
You una on lose your own money II you like.
but you can't lose none y mine, not piayin'
agM Gimp you can't;
thenl" aaid Joe BRssett.
- well. no replied the old man "I
aint streiDin' my eyes lookin' fr ROthin'
sAiI the better for us, said Jake Winter
bottom.
The old man smoked on ip silence while
they told one another what they expected
TO do.
They hadn't long TO wait. In q few
minutes the door opened and tall. gaunt,
AniN vwae a al lrak
appearance OF a mountaineer came in and
looked around with a sort OF diffident
curiosity. II is not Arkansas City etiquette
10 stare back at stranger, and those
bu6ily with their tobacco. so that the new
conner soon saw that he would have to speak
Rrst.
Lets liquor he said. briefly. and the
entire party promptly bestirred itself.
drink was disposed Of, -as how this yers
was about tn on'y place in town fer to
find anythin' diddin'. an bein' an | arays
Graves excitement tO'rds the end o th'
week. reckoned I'd call. | amt meanin'
fer TO butt in. but IL there is any fun afOot
I'd like to bite OF a chunk on T.
well, we uns hain't no means o KNOWN
what you calls fun said Jake WinterbOt-
tom. but We most gen'ly has a game o
We was Waitin' fr OeakOn Hipley to come
In an make up a five handed game, but
pears like he amt comm. If you was
to"
Say. Jest let me have his seat til he
comes, will your" exclaimed Peter Gimp.
for II was the man Greenhut had told Of.
Il hAin't had q game f'r a week
Well. this yere's just social game
among friends" said sam Pearsall, -an'
We don't play with no strangers thouten
knOwed you--'
Il know the gentleman" said old man
Greenhut. Hes a Arkansas citizen an
member O. tn Legislator; an nobody in
this town need be skeered o
That's enough" said Joe Bassett, and
he led the way to the back room.
When old man Greenhut had seen them all
seated at the table with $500 apiece IN chips
on the table he quietly Withdrew, and going
again to his favorite chair he indulged in
a At OF violent but noiselees laughter. Il
reckon he said to himself, what this
herell be a lesson to them wise men,
At the card table. however, things pro-
oeeded in much the usual way. In about
twenty minutes Gimps voice was heard
calling for more chips and Greenhut has
tened in with them.
Il amt havin no luck tonight said the
stranger. "'Pears like the cyards won't
praiseworthy pluck and Greenhut stayed
It was Winterbottom's next deal and
Gimp anted IS call $40. Pearsall stayed.
blaisdeu made ~ 10. bAsseu uroppeu.
WinterbottOm trailing, Gimp made IL $50.
Pearsall dropped. Bassett made 1t 500.
and WinterbottoIn, after an inquiring glance
ct Blaisdell. put up his money. whereupon
Gimp pushed all his chips into the pot.
The game was table stakes. so he could
not be raised further but Blaisdell covered
the bet, and Winterbottom, seeing no proba- |
bility OF his being valuable in the contest,
threw down his cards.
Gimp drew two cards to his three queens
and did not better. Blaisdell showed pat
flush and took the pot.
Gimme a thousand this time said the
Ozark man, producing the money. Likely
they'll come my way soon.
But they did not. He played In con-
sistently bad luck for half an hour more,
and though they could soc no evidence OF
great skill on his part they all saw that he
played the game well. losing only because
good hands were constantly being beaten.
Though he lost his money. 5000 In all,
he did not lose his temper. When hts last
stack went 90 Bassett he rose from the
table and said goodnaturedly, Il reckon
don't know a hellova lot about draw poker.
but do know enough TO quit when hlck's
az in me. don't lose no more tonight
As they could not very well argue against
that they set up few drinks and bade him
a hearty good night when he went out Is
Ah. .o-f,,N h. kaH