Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

: NhAI SAID Jim Blntsdell, roughly. h0
not having recovered his temper, 'nut
bein' as tn Amt nothln' diddin' just now
we uns mought as we'll listen. Go on am
tell us what tits"
Old man Greenhut hesitated and appeared
to be busying himself with his cigar, which
was burning crooked. but the others IN tho
room took Il that he was really trying Tn
think OF something Of more Importance I'm
a game Of poker than a knowledge OF
firearms would be. And they gained tho
impression that he was having difficulty.
Before he spoke. however, tho door opened
and a small stranger entered.
Advancing toward the bar with a curious
sideways motion and an indescribable air
Of self-effacement he addressed old man
Greenhut, whom he seemed to recognize as
the proprietor.
How much does IL cost n man to get a
bite o. whisky here9" he said In q stage
whisper.
"One bit II you drink alone,- replied
Greenhut, CONTEMPORARY. The possibilities
OF profit from such a customer did not
look great.
The little man pulled out a few small
coins from his pocket and then looked
around the room to sec how many were
present. Then he said sadlyi
Il reckon I'll have to drink alone pard-
ner. ia Just admire to asst the crowd. but
1 haln't got the price. Just gimme ono
bite" And he put a dime and three pen.
nies on the bar.
Old man Greenhut set out a bottle and "A
glass and picking up the dime put It in the
cash drawer, ignoring the cents. Seeing
this, the stranger took them back and put
them in his pocket
They may come in handy IL I ever 60
moth ag'in," he said with q shamefaoed
expression. "You'uns don't know how hard
up l be- he continued. Il reckon tn on'y
thing I en- do is for to sell a hoodoo charm
l got, If 1 en- find a poker player to
buy It."
What sort Of a charm You EotT- asked
Jake Winterbottom. with some curiosity
II wouldn't mind buyin' Of II, n twas any
good. Pears like It hain't lone you no
good, though"
That's cause 1 can't play poker" said
the little man, eagerly. II get all mixed
up when I try TO bet. But 1 ON hold tn
hands we ever seen when L
deal II I knowed how to play EN- proper,
I'd own tn hull valley In a year"
What kind Of a lie is that7' said Jim
roughly. "Tain't likely t you
en- deal no better n anybody else, hoodoo
or no hoodoo."
Don't reckon I can" replied the Httle
man, meekly. But somehow I do hold
'em when 1 deal"
Il wouldn't blieve that 'thouten I seen
It. said Blaisdell, but Winterbottom, who
had seen something of voodoolsm in his
youth, suggested that it was easy to put
the matter to test, and as the stranger was
eager to show what he could DO, old man
Greenhut produced a deck OF cards and
they all gathered at the bar.
The little man took the deck, ana after
glancing through It, as II to see whether
1t was a regular deck or not, began shut
fling. He was 80 awkward at this as to
provoke the smiles of the others, and once
or twice he fumbled the cards SO badly
that he dropped several OF them, but pick-
ing them up again he continued to shuf-
file till the others grew impatient. ,
Finally he offered them to Bassett, who
cut them, and then proceeded to deal. It
seemed impossible. so awkward he was.
that there could be anything crooked about
1t, and even Blaisdell, who was Watching
keenly, failed to detect anything wrong,
but when they picked up their hands, each
man looked surprised.
II reckon yo' cham didn't work this
time said Jack Winterbottom with a grin
as he showed an ace full.
AhS "a AlNt odIu bldlsuNll' NlOWln8
a four flush, but mebbe 1 cd stack up
agin the dealer alter the draw"
Then they found that Bassett had kings
up, Pearsall a high straight and Green
hut four tens.
Hit sho' does look like that there charmN
done went back on me this time" said the
stranger, as If overcome with mortlfIoa-
tion, but 1 donno. Lessee what / got"
and he turned over the hand that he had
IaaHN IH.AaANE - l. - -
the bar till the others had looked. He had
four queens.
THAT looks crooked" said BlaisdeII
'but / can't say I seen nothin' wrong
So the little man said he would deal
again and they all watched him more
carefully than before. Seeing their scrutiuyN
he appeared to be confused and was \
certainly more awkward I'm his actions
than ever, but after a time he completed
the deal and they ali picked up their cards
without a word.
OF them all Winterbottom was the only
one who seemed much interested, but he
said with some excitement, on bet you
a hundred you can't beat me this time"
81 amt got no hundred" said the little
man, s~orrowfully, AN 1 amt looked at
my cyards yet, but I'll bet you the charm
ag'n your hundred t l got the best hand"
boueI Sdlu WlnlefDOttOm, with TIA
confidence Of one who has a sure thing.
and he produced the money, whereupon
the little man put a small brown paper
parcel on the bar.
The charms I'm there" he said, and they
turned over the cards. winterbottom had
four kings and an ace, but the little man
had a small straight flush.
you win" said Winterbottom readily
enough, but III give you five hundred
70 the charm"
81 wouldn't take IT," said the little
man, ''on'y I'm such a ornery player what
1 can't get no money outen the hands,
when / get 'om. B'sides that I'm almighty
po' an need the money. But you mustn't
never look at that there charm on'y when
you'm all alone I'm the dark o. the MOON
This was said so impressively that Win
terbottom paid over the money unhesi-
t~atingly. and the little man after treating
or three times took his departure.
Looks like / was right when 1 said
there was mon a understanding o. guns
goes to the maxim Of a poker player" OBJ
served old man Greenhut after he had
left.
"Oh, ] don't know" said Mr.. owen
The last time I seen that little
sawed-off he was givin' an entertainmens