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

Belle of the Bayous, q favorite Missis-
sippi river packet in her day, three
men whose general appearance lnul-
Gated their calling beyond any reason
able doubt. Dandies in dress, cool,
keen, ~resourceful, even desperate In
character, to judge from their bear
ing and a certain intensity or express
sion, no traveller who was famlllar
with the river at that time would nave
hesitated to pronounce them all cara
players by profession.
It was evident enough that tney
were discontinued. Any n who knew
the circumstances would not have Won
dered. Two planters who were known
as enthusiastic poker players and VINO
never played for small money were
sitting in the saloon of the boat play
ing old sledge with each other Tor q
dollar a point, while the three profess
SIGNALS, their most artful advances
having been ignored, were forced TO
see one Of the choicest opportunities
of the season pass without n posi-
bility of making their play. :.
After a long silence, during which
the three smoked viciously, looking at
one another with unconcealed suspi-
cion, m threw the stump OF MS cigar
into the river n exclaimed:
at reckon there amt no all Tor we
uns to blame each other. Looks like
we was all did UP alike. More'n ike
ly we uns all took this q count O.
Charlie Packer an Bill Hemstead pein
abo'd. ! did" y,
The tive others nodded gravely and
he continued: -.
against? Here's the two best suckers
on the river playin' numble-te-peg to-
gether an nothin' diddin' fr us. HOW
come these here two amt playin
poker like they alays has?" j.,
One of the two whom he addressed
shook his head slowly and said: I
pass" but the other, a one-eyed man,
said: That's easy. Don't you uns
know where them two is goin'?"
Then when the others shook their
heads in some surprise the one-eyed
man continued: "They both on EN-
done paid passage to Arkansas CITY. y
"Arkansas City!" exclaimed n of
the others in a bewildered way; but
the other said:
"Oho! Thoy'm reck'n'in on settln,
in with old man gang
The one-eyed man said: Sure"
Then he sat for a time. apparently
unmoyed and Indifferent, while the
two other men cursed bitterly. AT
length one of these, who was known as
BiiI Harvey on the boats, though his
name in New Orleans was different,
exclaimed:
HThis here's gone too fur! I reckon
there amt nothin' to say II a man
runs a poker game to suit himself into
his own place, but When he gifts In
terferin' with legitimate business on
the boats, somepin has got to be did.
The one eyed man said: "What?"
"Well," said Harvey, Il reckon that
Greenhut gang amt the on'y poker
players on earth. / Amt sayin' l han
- 49, aIAnn hat rnnknn
II three of us set in together an play
together we'd oughter To- en-"
aTm with you" said Dave Darling,
whose reputation for skill n courage
was equal to Harvey's, but the one
eyed man was silent.
what do you say?" the others
asked him after a pause.
IT reckon I'll pass" he answered
slowly. II been up against that gang
two or three times, an I amt nc
hawg. / amt sayin' it can't be did
but I'm handicapped. I wouldn't be
let set in 'thouten I sh'd kill two OF
three of 'em first, an there's easier
stunts on the river. I'd sooner tackle
some o. them first" +.
1t was noticed that Darling ano
Harvey offered no criticism on what
might have been looked on as coward
ice in q desperate less we'll known
than the one eyed man, but presently
Darling said:
"I reckon tn amt no call FIR no.
body to say nothin' IL you feel lkt
you'd had enough. but pears like thai
amt no reason why Harvey an me
shouldn't stack up ag'in these her
pirates. Likely they amt no more
human"
81 reckon that's right" said the on
! eyed man, but / sh'd size 'em up f.
somepin like the strongest team I evel
seer play together.
There's one on EN- they calls jim
Baisdel what sure is the slickest deal
err l know, an the three buccaneAri
what plays with him don't pear t
need no signals. Looks like the!
know every time just what's up t.
EN-.
"Od Jake Winterbottom l sh'd siz'
up fr the most reliable player in tn,
gang. but Sam Pearsall is a good I'm
too. AS FIR Joe Barrett, l don't coun
him p'tic'lar dangerous IS fur's draw
poker goes but he's a hawg FIR fight
in, II there's any chance o. helpin
the game along by breaking 1T up, Jo'
is sure reliable, an the gangHn bacl
him up as steady as they will Blais
dell" .... ...
Looks like a strong team" sait
Harvey, but ] reckon me an Darlin,
might tackle 1t at that"
You mought," said the one eye,
man. 1--WE known two good player
to get out live, an even fetch a wa,
with 'em, but hain't told you the wust
Eff II comes to a fight, an more
! likely twill If you wiz out. tn oD'
HLLME" LA.N- .H