The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-09-02

way I'm memphis, on the cnanBt y
settin' In with two o. the heaviest
plungers on the river. we heerd they
was comm here lookin' fr a big game
al we was reck'n'in' on buttin' In IL
we was let"
We'll, you sure be late IL o
was lookin' fr them two p'tic'lar gaia
boes," said Jake W~interbottom, with
an a~ggravating drawl; but IL you was
just lookin' fr a game an want the
roof took off / reckon maybe there's
them here as IL play"
Suits we uns," said Harvey briefly,
and without more d the game was
on, Winterbottom, Blaisdel, Bassett
and Pearsall taking their usual seats
and the two outsiders opposite each
other.
Each man bought 100 in chips at the
start, but II was evident that they were
only wanted for change, since there
was no talk of table stakes or OF a
limit.
In cutting the deal fell to Pearsall.
and Bassett, sitting next, threw In IS
as his ante. Darling, finding nothing
OF value, dropped his cards, but Blais-
dell came in with SO and Winterbot-
tom passed. Harvey made 1t $50 to
play and Pearsall dropped, but Bassett
trailed and Blaisdell came back with
SO more.
ThAy looked curiously at. Harvey, but
he finding himself alone against two
foes folded his cards without a word,
and Bassett losing interest In his hand
threw IL down. The result seemed un-
important, but the play served as an
indication OF the tactics OF the game.
When Basset dealt IL seemed to be
understood that pure chance dominat-
ed the falling of h cards, and when
Darling found that h others had all
come In on his ante he raised unhest-
tatingly or the strength OF his three
sevens, though his confidence In the
hand waned when all, came In but Win
terbottom. ar a}
In the draw, however, he caught a
pair Of Jacks and observed that each
Of the others drew one card. Bialsden
threw in O white chip without looking
at his draw and Harvey promptly bet
500. Pearsall trailed, Bassett raised
| IL 500, and Darling, taking the chances
of a plunge, made 1t $500 more.
Lifting the corner of the card he had
drawn and catching a glfmpe OF Its
face, Blaisdell trailed, and Harvey,
taking his cue from DarIing's play, re-
raised It $500. Thereupon Pearsall and
Bassett dropped and Darling raised
again.
Blaisdell, finding himself under a
cross-ire, meerly smiled. Then, pull
ing out his wad, he covered the $1,000
already up and made it $1,000 more.
Il reckon" he said, quietly, well
get a tol'able good play outen this"
The two wise men
g~lances, and Harvey threw down his
cards, then Darling called. He could
hardly do less in the face OF a prob
able bluff, holding a full house Blais-
deli, however, had drawn to mines up
and mad caught a nine, so the pot went
to him.
Darling clinched his teeth, but said
nothing, and taking the deck dealt with
extra care, There were few men. UNI
Ie.. a. ,,n, T11ose1all hiyacalf xUhn could
do better han he, but Blaisdell was
keen enough to see what he was doing,
and Harvey was the only player TO
come in. Then, as Blaisdell refused to
play, the deal passed to him.
What followed was a surprise. Re
| CARELESS of their knowledge Of the
dealers skill both the river men came
in and playing to the full strentth of
their cards swelled the pot till there
was nearly $1,000 on the table before
the draw.
Then pulling a pint flask from the
breast pocket of his coat Darling made
a little speech.
I'VE uns knowed tolable well what
we was up against when we set in"
he said, AN figgerin' that two ag'in
four or Ave wouldn't stand no show
In a rough house we reckoned on
evenin' things up some.
This here stuff in the bottle is nj
tro-glycerine, an II there's anv trouble
| over this hand count o. crooked play
the bottle gets smashed, see! II we
uns is did up the hull house goes"
Just wait a minute said Winter
bottom with a drawl, and as he spoke
old man Greenhut looked in at the
door with his bungstarter in his hand.
you uns is evident got the drop on
us an we amt got much to say.
THAT there trick was PLAYED on US
oncet afore, an I'd kind o. like to see
whether that bottle II RELY bust or
whether you'm blufin'. I'm bettin'
$1,000 there amt nothin' wuss'n water
into It."
AN you uns en- skedaddle 3 quick
g you like" said old "a Greenhut,
stepping forward with his bungstarter
appraised. I'd oughter swipe you one
or two afore you go, but ruther n to
have the place mussed up III let you
off this time.
moi There amt no time fr divid-
in the pot nor FIR cashin' in. It's up
to you to git. Your bluffs been called"
Seeing that 1t had been, Darling and
Harvey left.