The sun., 1908-12-06

Auoh " hnoWcu me = NhQ Dlkkef
bis leg, all yeller money, an says that
just what he carries round f'r TO buTn
the most o. th' estate bein' In bank. as
him what he was playin' poker f'r. beln
as he had alls he wanted o. money an
he says just f'r fun.
"Just naturally that looked good 10 me
an ast him where ] come In, seein' =
wouldn't give me no chanst o. winnin
nothin' oT'n him. So he says he's be'r
up agin them dogs on tn boats 90 lonl
an 30 hard what he's got appetite f'r dog
an pposes for to eat some on 'em alive
Thought him an pal could do II better'r
him alone. an 'mebbe I'D hitch horses
with him.
Didn't look like there was nothin
putrid about that, neither, 30 I says
don't make no objections. p'vidin' he'd
stake me sufficient; case Of sisable game,
an we shook hands on it,
He paueed and refilled his pipe In SILENCE.
his friends thinking he would continue
as he had q light. but he said nothing
more until Greenbut spoke.
3D. you mean to say you're reck min on
breakin' away I'm we uns7' he demanded
with some heat. I'VE been standin to-
gether f'r some year now. an pears like
it's some irrelieious f'r you to bust up
friendship thatawsy, special when there's
wad like that nn you tell ON br,ing to
Arkansas City providential like
Il mought hitch horses with him, an
then steer him up ag'in your game first OF
fore startin' on the boats" said Winter
bottom, refectively.
Sure exclaimed Greenhut, with en-
thusiasm.
"On'y. IL was to do that continued
Winterbottom, aan' we uns was to skin hm
outen hia wad. that bein nothin' more'n
bis pocket money, more n likely he'd
balk. an wouldn't get no chanst at the
estate after ALL
Jake, said the old man. sternly. don't
you 60 for to worshippin' Mammon into
your old age. You want TO stick by y'r old
friends, an not be led away. Fetch him
here. an we'll trim him outen what he's
got with him, an II he's the man you say
he II come back
Winterbotton thought about this for
long time. while the others waited. afraid
Of saying the wrong thing. should they
speak. Finally he said, "Ill fetch him
round. and old man Greenhut set EN- up
all around gieefully.
The next night the two cousins entered
the saloon together. and Jake introduced
Bill all around. the occasion being duly
observed at tho bar. Then. after some
conversation, q game of poker was started.
it having been privately arranged that
old. man Greenhut should provide chips to
a mt h,r fh< AL
in reducing to decent proportions Bill
Winterbottom's overgrown wad.
In the natural course Of events they
had no reason to doubt being able to do
this. as no outsider could expect to win
against such combination as Bassett,
Blaisdell, Pearsall and Jake Winterbot-
tom made, especially when the outsider
was relying on one Of the four as being
his own pal.
No undue haste was shown at the out
set. but before a single round had been
dealt it was apparent that Bill Winter
bottom was no piker. Displaying his
money freely he would bet 500 as readily
as he would IS, and that without regard
to the probability of raise.
His losses Of some $500 in the first ten
minutes Of play only seemed to add to his
zest. and Blaisdell coon saw that no delay
was necessary. He therefore dealt with
extra care when 1t came his turn and
Bassett having anted $5 call $40, Bill
Winterbottom came in.
Pearsall stayed and Jake Winterbot-
tom made 1t $50. Then Blaisdell trailed,
Barrett raised it $40 and Bill Winterbot-
tom saw both raises. but without further
raise. Plainly he was hooked and Pear
sail. having only pair. dropped.
Jake Winterbottom put up 500 and
Blaisdell, after looking at Bassett and
getting an almost imperceptible nod,
laid down his hand. Then Bassett made
it 500 more and the GROSS fire was as
tablished.
Three times more the betting went
around, Bassett and Jake Winterbottom
raising more and more till there was more
than 5000 In the pot. the victim staying
but not raising.
Then when Bassett made it $1,000
more and Bill winterbottom stayed, with
the remark that he was all in. Jake threw
his hand In the discard, forcing show
down. since both Of the others stood pat,
ana baee0tt lott Win ~ toH Iuu hBdlHbt
the others king full.
what in blaSes did you throw down
for?' demanded Blaisdeli. white with
rage, but Jake wintWbottom replied
with surprise:
did you reckon I'D stay any longer on
q measly straight And he turned over
his discard.
1t looked like a straight flush Of clubs at
the first glance. but a second look showed
that one Of the cards was a spade and
there seemed to be no doubt that Blais-
dell had blundere5 in the deal.
The stranger said he was willing to
play longer, but as the home talent was
stas6ered by the blow he rose and after
cashing in left the place. saying that he
would come back the next night.
The disaster was go great that old man
Greenhut and his friends found nothing
to say for few moments. Then Jake
winterbottom got up. saying;
Il reckon I'd better 60 look after that
pirate. Likely he'll leave town II don't
And he walked out into the night.
A few moments more OF thought seemed
to inspire old man Greenhut with an
uneasy doubt.
"Mebbe you'd better 60 an see what's
diddin', joe he said, and Bsssstt, rod