The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-29

DdFtou out without preludlCo 70 MS lnJeTeBl
In the profits that might accrue from the
player he had introduced, and Winter
bottom, Bassett, Blaisdell and Pearsal
made up, with the stranger, a five handed
game, so that there was $500 on the table
at the opening, a sum which the stranger
seemed 10 regard with some awe.
Whether by accident or design, he &C.
cured a seat bE~.sen Winterbottom and
Blaisdell, with Wzsterbottom on his right,
II was a good place for one who might have
known Of BAsdel's skill. and who wished
TO measure his own against the best dealer
In Arkansas, but none Of the local talent
suspected anything Of that kind, and II the
stranger had such a thought he kept II to
himself.
It was characteristic Of the mar In whose
complex nature caution and reokleBsness
were so ~curiously blended that he had been
studying the others with a view Of estimat-
ing their style Of play, even while he was
planning 10 encounter them all, single
handed, That he took a seat at Baisden's
right, however, might have been an acct
dent.
Pearsall dealt first, and as no one covered
the blind a jack pot was made and Bassett
took the deck. It was early In the game
for spirited action. but when W~interbottom
opened for the size Of the pot and John
Barlow doubled the bet there seemed to
be a promise,
Raising at first hand was fairly to be taken
as an indication Of little strength, provided
the stranger really understood the game,
as they all believed he did, the more posi-
lively because OF his protestation ofignoT-
ance. Blaisdell therefore when he found
three tens in his hand unhesitatingly raised
The blind had been s. call IS, making
SOS in the jack pot originally. BaTlow's
raise had been S25, so Blaisdel put in five
blues. representing 500.
Bassett and PearsaD dropped. having
no important cards, and Winterbottom
looked at his hand an1iously, but after
some hesitation he trailed. Then John
This game certainly is a whole lot quicker
than a limit" he said with a laugh that
sounded nervous, but 1t gives you a chance
to bet when you have EN-, doesn't it?"
Nobody answered him, but Blaisdell
looked at his three tens as il expecting
to decide from them whether he was up
against a bluff or really crude play, Pres
! emily he covered the bet and Winter
bottom dropped.
and Blaisdell two. Then they showed
down. Blaisdell had caught his fourth
ten, and the others four sevens we're worth
less.
Three Of the players settled il in their
" minds on the instant that the man who
PLAYED fours in that fashion, sitting next TO
the opener, was anything but formidable,
but Jake Winterbottom was the oldest and
most conservative player there, and he
doubted whether the poor play had not
been made with full knowledge. When he
prepared to deal he looked grave.
Give me $500 more, said John Barlow as
soon as he had recovered from his sur
prise, but there Sc amed to be apprehension
in the tone Of his voice. and the confidence
Of the three was strengthened.
Old man Greenhut appeared promptly
bringing five yellow chips.
What are these? A hundred apiece?'
asked John Barlow as If almost frightened.
Yes said the old man, IAN green chips
is a thousand. No Use havin' so many
little ones out And he vent back to the
bar grimly exultant at the lively beginning
Of the game.
50 CHEEKY was he in fact that he set EN-
I'D for Pete Kenny and Mr.. Owen Pepper,
who sat in sociable silence by the stove, and
as they poured out their drinks he said:
Looks like the boys was liable for to
have a tol'able juicy game tonight"
"0h, ! don't know said Mr.. Owen Pepper,
with an a~ggravating drawl, I've saw that
man do up some consid'able peart players
afore now up to Memphis
Old man Greenhut stared.
who was you reck min he is?" he de.
named, incredulously.
Billy Hardesty, o. course" said Mr..
Pepper, promptly, Has the name o.
bein' the slickest thing in Memphis, |
KIN owed him the minute | seen him
While the old man was bordering this
he was interrupted by a call FOR more chips,
Sam Pearsall having made an injudicious
bluff, and when the old mar went in with
five more yellows he saw that the stranger
had won back his original 3 take.
Lingering to watch the game, he saw
that the deal had come TO the stranger,
and he saw moreover that though the
shutting and dealing were by no means
awkward, they were not apparently the
work Of a skilful player, and somewhat
treasured he went out again,
you hain't never been mistooken, have
We, when you knowed a man ofhand like
that" he demanded anxiously Of Mr.
Pepper,
Il mought a been. now an again, but |
amt maxim no mistake this time, | seen
him get that cut or the neck, Z shows so
plain.
well, f. was you" said the old man after
a long pause, during which he seemed con-
siderably puzzled, Il wouldn't say nothin'
/ / was 10 hear Joe Bassett cal! this here
Teller some other name. Joe's liable to be
hasty.'
Thereupon MIR, Pepper looked at him ear
nestly for a moment and walked out into
the rain.
The next call for chips came from Bassett
and Winterbottom simultaneously. A Jack
pot had been made on John Barlow's deal
and the deck had passed TO Blaisdell,
Judging from a peculiar look on that play
' ave fa1a HE fF1anHa had lnOE aA NONHAanflU
for good hands. and when they picked up
their cards they had found them. What
they did not know, and what Blaisdell could
not very we'll tell them, was that Blaisdell
himself could not possibly have f~oreseen
what they held, inasmuch as John Barlow
had cut the cards as deity as he had
shut1ed them, and the deal that followed
was one Of pure chance.
Another thing they did not know was that
when Barlow looked at the cards dealt TO
him he found them 30 little 10 his liking that
he promptly substituted five Others that he
happened TO have convenient, and was
anxiously looking for a play,
ing as the others raised back and forth
he kept them going till they were both all in.
On the showdown II appeared that neither
Of them had bettered his threee in the draw,
while his WI small straight was also a
flush, and he raked the pot.
BY this time the home talent was greatly
bewildered, Jim Blais1ell being the most
puzzled one among them. When John
Barlow spoke they glared at him angrily,
This table stakes certainly is a great
game" he said, with a chuckle, 'or else
I'm having a great streak Of luck"
well, | reckon we'll let il 60 at that fr
a spell" said Jake W~interbottom, but
luck changes sometimes When there's a