The sun., 1909-02-07
A HAYSEED FROM MISSOURI
FELL INTO THE HANDS OF GAM.
BLERS on AN OCEAN LINER.

Events Proved That He Was a. skiifu
at Seven Up as He Boosted He Was
A little comedy was acted out In the
smoking room OF ore Of the ocean grey.
no ounds recently " hiohmigh have affordet
considerable amusement TO the passen-
gers In general and would have given
great satisfaction TO one or two Of them
In particular had they known 1t was
going on.
The usual complement Of two or three
professional gamblers was on board
with a very stylish looking blond woman
TO assist them In the matter Of making
acquaintanoes. About the second day
out they had succeeded In getting up a
little game Of bridge for the modest points
Of ten shillings hundred. and they were
careful to play badly enough to lay the
foundation fog their revenge later on al
higher points. -
The sixpence point game being once
fairly under way ana the gamblers being
careful not TO push their luck too hard,
1t looked as II they could pay their ex-
penses for the voyage and leave the last
day for the grand coup W hich ould sup
ply them with velvet for shore leave.
especially as the blond woman was par
ticularly fortunate in getting acquainted
with passengers<who fsnoied themselves
bridge players.
the smoking room was one who seemed
TO be Of the genus hayseed. He looked
to be 90, with struggling gray whis-
kers, which he euergetically combed out
with his fingers whenever he got particu-
larly interested in anything.
He wore a rather seedy looking suit
Of gray. which he never changed during
the voyage. but he always had on a clean
shirt, although it was surmounted by a
oelluloid collar and ten cent ready made
tie Of The butterfly persuasion. Except
In the dining room he was never without
his hat, which was OF the slouch variety,
and his only vice appeared TO be an in
ordinate love Of chewing tobacco.
From the first time that the bridge game
was started this peculiar passenger,
who was down on the list as Mr.. Carroll
Of Marshall. Mo. was the most interested
spectator. Although he allowed" he
had never seen the game before he had
-hearn tell Of it," Seven up was his game,
he said. and he allowed he could beat
any man on the boat playing Of IT,"
The poker games in the corners had no
attractions for him. He had seen that
game off and on for nigh on fifty years.
he said. But this hero game where one
fellow puts down his cards and let's you
play EN- seemed TO take his fancy from
the start. Allowing the dealer to make
a trump after he had seen his cards
seemed most too liberal to DE sport. but
he allowed it might be all right
IL took Mr.. Carroll at least two days 10
get the hang Of the declarations and the
scoring and he soon realized that the
piece de resistance was the no trumper.
Whenever such declaration pulled itself
out OF a small hole or made grand slam
he would comb his whiskers vigorously
and exclaim: well swan. but this here
games most as good az seven up
During the course of the explanations
which the dummy or the onlookers we're
good enough to sve him while dodging
his rejected tobacco juice il developed
that Mr.. Carroll's appreciation OF any
demerits when compared 70 his st indard Of
excellence. seven up. lie was never tired
Of insisting that seven UP was the greatest
game ever invented.
Once sure Of his ground in the matter OF
bridge tactics. he Developed an oy,raor-
binary desire - be- uDon the result.
When sitting behind the dealer he would
glance over two hands and then offer
10 bet any amount from a dollar 20 five
hundred on the odd trick, at the same time
pulling out an immense roll OF greenbacks
and licking his right thumb. as IL ready
to count on any amount desired.
Ar first this thing was amusing. but
after n very short time il got to be a
nuisance; 80 one day Immediately after
luncheon while putting their cigars and
leaning against the rail on the prornenade
deck the gamblers held a brief consulta-
ton and agreed that something ought TO
be done TO get rid Of the two inquisitive
gentleman from Missouri.
After some discussion one Of the trio,
a Mr.. Smith. who was not quite as good
bridge shuffler as the others. suggested
that he would invite the hayseed to try
a game OF seven up. In which game he
felt sure that he could give a very good
account OF himself.
Accordingly. when the bridge game |
began and Mr.. Carroll dropped into his |
accustomed seat and began to comb out |
his whiskers In anticipation Mr.. Smith |
made some remark about being cutsout |
Of the first rubber and wishing he could |
play a game Of euchre or seven up or
to pass the time.
At first Mr. Carroll did not take the hint.
but the others helped Mr.. Smith out by
saying There's your chance. Mr.. Carroll.
You've been blowing about your skill
nj seven up ever since we started. Take
Mr.. Smith on for game or two and show
him how you play II In Missouri"
1t was with evident reluctance that Mr..
Carroll left the bridge table and settled
down in a corner to try his old standby.
Mr.. Smith made a wry face at the way
hat moistened thumb was applied to
he cards. just as it had been to the green
backs, but as the stake was to be IS a
,orner and he knew how 20 turn jack
rom the bottom and was even skilfll
enough TO ring In q cold deck with the
could AFFORD to put up with the hayseed's
, little OF his wad.
That Mr.. Carroll knew all the points Of
he game OF seven up was evident. He
Snew when to beg with both high sod low
n his hand and when TO stand with two
lverage trumps. in fact he begged less
han any person that Mr.. Smith had ever
played against; but that he could beat
he skilful shutting of his opponent Oas
lot to he expected and Mr.. Smith had no