The sun., 1908-12-06
lust IIIE Wal
y Gre ENHUT NEEDED
winterbottom's Cotisin Bill Turnsd
Up When the Poker Game
Was at Low Tide.


'fy TO stlr up more poplar interest int
the game O. poker nor pears to be tool
Iately judgin' f'm the way people aim
settin' In like they useter.
IF this here coodin' on what's been man
Tested recent continues to cool. first w
Know the iron hand of adversity II strike
his hcre bunch o. talent one cruel swat
"lain't reasonable FIR to 'xpsDt an ole man
ike me to be putin up f'r bunch Of
able bodied citizens indefinite 'thouten
here's somepin' diddin,."
Thete was silence In the old mans
saloon for a considerable interval aftal
he had delivered himself thus, and he
looked around from one to another Of
lis cronies with more or lees anxiety, al
If apprehensive of some trouble. As nc
one spoke Immediately. he opened fresh
box Of cigars and picking out the fattest
and blacklist he conld find, he lighted
It carefully and, having started 1t fairly.
walked around to his favorite seat by the
window. Placing his feet on the window
sill, be smoked diligently till Joe Bassett
was moved to speech.
There is them," he said deliberately.
what II bellyaohe over few measly dol
lars of expense money the minute business
sacks up an still hold out f'r q reppy-
tation o. bein' open handed, Then there's q
others what's just Apatural bswn hogs.
Gimme the hog every time
That's what" said Jake Winterbottom
with emphasis.
Jim BlaisdelI and Sam Pearsall nodded.
They both seemed about to speak. but
hearing what the others said they con-
tented themselves with the nod.
Again the old man looked around from
one to another, this time as IL somewhat
startled. He flushed and opened his
mouth as II to retort hotly. but hesitated.
Then he said querulously:
-Th' ain / no call f'rto talk Incorporate,
Ioe. You hadn't ought frto be slingin'
obbleky onto your best friend. just cause
Poplar enthusiasm In draw poker
WE'LL said Joe. Il amt 30 all fired
certain O. who my best friend is. He
mcught be man as sets back an takes
rakeoff outen the sweat o. my brow
an my pals 'thouten the nerve to set in
hisself, an again he mought be some
IN else. 'Tain't quite clear
The old man was still more perturbed
and seemed at loss how 10 reply. Then
Observing grin on Jim BlaisdsIl's face.
hA said.
You know tain't fair. Jim, f'r a man
10 be gettin' Oh no such wry-baid remarks
as that, don't yep
"Well,' said Blaisdell slowly, -mebbe
might have a full house my own self,
at reckon I'll wait till after the draw
'inre ! slide my chips In. Looks like
iced gave you a raise. an it's your say
pcxt, Greenhut.' ''.--
There was another long pause. Then
the old man sighed and rose to his feet
slowly.
Let's liquor he said, and went back
mind the bar
No objection being raised, he produced
special bottle from some hidden recess,
and after they had all quaffed he reopened
tie box of cigars which he had locked up
and passed that around.
No hard feesin's boys?' he said, a
title anxiously, when they had accepted
lia Offering.
Then when they hesitated. as IL loath
TO resssure him too soon, he continued:
-'Tain't to be wondered at as a man
should worrit some when business ia bad
But 'cordin' to Scripter, Moses said he'd
been young an was now old, an he hadn't
never saw a righteous man broke. nor
short o. seed when 1t come plantin' season.
Mebbe things II brighten up
-Speskin O. Scripter." I" said Jake Winter
bottom Il amt holdin' no such hand as
YOU be, but On call to mind text about
them o. little faith what needn't look to
he prospered. Pears like you'd do better,
Greenhut, if you was to have faith. !
heerd I'm a cousin o. mine this week
what I'd lost track OF some years ago.
Pears he's well fixed now
-Hows that?' asked the old man with
forced interest.
His old man an mine was brothers.
said Winterbottom, san' his'n done mine
outen tol'able nigh all t was comm to
him FIN tn old estate. Now he's dead,
an Bill. that's my cousin. g got the hull
ont, an he's done sent me word as he's
Goin to look me up. Pears he feels
friendly
Does he play poker?- inquired old man
Greenhut eagerly.
If he does / reckon I'll get some o.
that family estate back said Winter
bottom, with grim emphasis.
Proves what said declared Green
nut. "A righteous man amt never for
sock. an it's gently the darkest just afore
daylight, like the Scripter says. When
are you lookin for him?'
Most any day, now said Winter
bottom, "but there amt goin to be no.
body round here buttin In till I've seen
him an find out how things be-
Well, that's fair enough said Green
nut, "but you amt goin' back on y'r pals
count O. cousin Z you hain't no feelin's
for, be YEP
No said Winterbottom. NOR amt
eoin back on my own self count o. no
PALS I Keeps tabs on expense money
Further than this he would not commit
himself, though Greenhut produced his
private bottle again. And when, few
days later. it was known that Bill Winter
bottom was in town and that Jake had
seen him he refused at first to crafty
old man Greenhut's curiosity.
After two or three interviews with his
cousin, however. he entered the saloon
one night and said. after lighting his
pipe.
Looks to me like L d bit Oh moren en-
ri'aw easy. Mebbe there's somepin INTO
this f'r all o. us
They knew too muoh to interrupt MIN