The sun., 1908-05-10
THE WRATH OF
! MRS. PEARSALL
A New Element In the Arkansas
City Poker Game, and a
Winning ElcniGnt Too.

ro inquire OF the proprietor and HE frends
whether anything definite was known
,nncerning the whereabouts Of her husband
sam Five times abe had beon solemnly
assured by old man Greenhut hmsclf
and his statements had been corroborated
with emphasis by the frequenter Of the
.lloon, that Sam Pearsall had not been
seen anywhere around town for several
days past.
And now a guilty looking group Of men
,at nervously awaiting the sixth call. which
hey felt sure was imminent. Their eyes
we're turned reproaohiully at the missing
man. who. far more nervous than any OF
The others. sat by the window looking up
The road that he might get due warning Of
his good lsdys approach.
There had been little Conversation among
them in the intervals between the different
visits, no man there feeling that he could
express himself adequately. but when the
suspense became 90 great as to be almost
unendurable old man 0reenhut spoke,
firmly though not unkindly.
There's reason in all things. as the
Good Book sayS, SAM he remarked, 'but
this here business o. gettln' gray headed
fr y'r friends sure is unreasonable. 'Tain't
that We amt ready TO do what We can. but
you ON see fr y'rself tn amt no sense
into it. IS long . you're here In Arkansas
city you amt safe. Sam
-Mebbe you've got a pair o. wings you
en- loan me f'r TO get outen town with, >
said Pearsall' bitterly, -You seen i'r your
self how she done watched the lsvee when
th' last two boats was here, n BaBsett
knows they amt train leaves but what
she's on gyard. Tn amt no other place In
Arkansas City but this Z she wouldn't
hurst into onceremonious. n II she don't
find me afore night reckon she'll come In
here after me-
She never would exclaimed old man
Greenhut in CONSERVATION.
-Ho!' said Pearsall, derisiyely. Pears
Ike you uns amt none too well acquainted
III Mis- Pearsall's ways. She's good deal
Of lady till she gets het up, but there
won't nothin' stop her when she makes up
her mind. I'm here, N she comes tol'able
nigh KNOWN by this time I amt no.
where's else
Well. then, don't see nothin for it,
sam, but you'll halter go home
For answer Pearsall laughed scornfully,
but only said, Il was sayin' you didn't pear
to understand Mis- Pearsall's ways
Well, Sam, you en- see f'r yourself I
YOU can't stay on here indefinite like
- don't know why, said Pearsall with the
air Of one pressed beyond endurance, and
at bay. Il reckon got as good a right
az any one to stay into public house.
Sure" was old man Greenhuts reply,
but hain't never reckoned on maxim the
house too hellroarin' public. Looks.like Id
better take down the doors N let the hull
MissIssippi River in nor to have Mis- Pearsall
rampin' in with about four days 'oumula-
tions o. wrath an bilin' over onto the hull
caboodle on U.S.
YWelI, don't leave here 'thouten I'm
tooken out feet FIRST said PearSall and
the old man, seeing that he was really
desperate, sat down TO think 1t over.
Before he had decided on q course Of
action the door opened and iashily dressed
man came in with the air Of one assured OF
welcome.
-Howd'ye. boys was his greeting, and
amid q chorus OF -HoWd'yes' in reply, he
motioned the group to the bar.
All respo nded excepting PearSall, who
continued to look with gloomy expectation
UP the road. The newcomer looked sur
prised and asked:
What's eatin' you. SAM Don't you
remember Jim Watsrs?'
But Pearsall gave no sign Of hearing
and the others explained the situation In
undertones, whereat Waters shook his
head sorrowfully. Before he had left
Arkansas City he had known Of Pearsall g
marriage.
'It's mighty hard on Sam he said SYM
pathetically, "but hain't got time r. no
social matters This here trip IL strickly
business.
There was a couple o buccaneers I'm
th' ozarks blowed into Little Rock week
ago n started to bite big chunks outen the
wads o. the citizens. Pears like they'm
some swifter n creased lightnin', an 30 fur
they've had the luok O. Satan.
Il been dealin' fr Pete Leary this winter,
n when they stacked up ag'u tn bank
twas all q cd do 10 break even Inside
Of week they was nary a man in town
but me d deal for EN- an they was barred
outen all the poker rooms. 30 they come to
me n as't II there want no mo 'zoitsrsnt
70 DO had into the State Of Arkansas.
I'VE ON play faro they says, an
knowed they sure could. but poker's our
game. Haint there nobody nowhere
got spo'tin' blood9 Pears like we've done
drove sv'rybody TO cover round here
$50 / tells 'em o. your back room an
steers em TO th' train. ! don't play no mo
poker my own sell, but stand 10 on the
game Z perduce 'em onto the premises
Savey?-
TeTns were agreed upon after some
haeglinR. old man Greenhut advancing
ths argument that u these players were as
skilhII as Waters said. the riSk was extra
hsSs rdoaIs. and the rakeon should be pro-
nortionately reduced. Waters, however,
stood out for the usual commission, saying
hat the Arkansas City players shadn :
netter put up no beef about .yaps IN IN
Ozarks bein' dangerous thouten they
was ready 10 own up they want no suon
players theirselves ~ they was gineraily
Hits sgin my principles now to play
poker be added, tbsin' a. faro IL heap
easier an more dead surer, but, them as
plays Il hadn't oughter kick about two
outsiders comm In when there's four In the
home team
He carried his point and vent back %
the tavern for his two victims, while old
man Greenhut and his friends discussed the
question OF leaving Pearhan out When tine
game should be made up. ~
snalI = s.siS thS ola man FAN taiHt reason