The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-13

what was Talbln az IN one anotner, Dut
he want interferin' with no trick O
Courtney's. bein' as he was liable for to
try it his own self later on. Anyway
he didn't say nothin' but just dropped.
"The other Teller, he was n o the
planters, he stayed. though. an that
brought 1t back to Courtney an he boosted
1t another hundred. maxim a big pot, but
Watson was game an he stayed, though
he didn't raise. an the planter, he says,
Well, I'm in for 80 much. / mought as
well throw in another hundred an he
put II in, closing the pot.
They was playln' straight poker-no
draw. There was some draw played.
even IA long ago az that. but straight
poker was gently the game on the boats,
an o co'se the planters bet were a call
fr a showdown
"The planter. he want in it nohow,
havin' on'y a flush. but Watson showed
down a full house. queens an sevens.
an looked kind O. smilin' f'r a minute,
but Courtney tipped over his cards kline
o careless and showed four jacks.
He was just reachin' fr the pot when
Watson says. Hold on. there! That
hands crooked The same instant he
turned over the deck with his left hand
an showed the jack O. diamonds on the
bottom OF it.
90 co'se that meant fight. IN this here
Watson. ven il he was q No'therner.
'peared to know we'll enough what was
comm. While he was turnin' over the
deck with his left hand he was a-reachin
fr his gun with his right an bein' az
Courtney was some swift on the draw
his ownself the two on EN- shot the same
instant an both on 'em fell.
When they was picked up everybody
thought first of that they was both dead,
but there was a doctor abo'd the boat
an he said they want neither on 'em
quite gone. He done what he could fr
'em, but that want much. an bein' az
they was just landin' at Baton Rouge.
Capt. Foss had 'em both took asho'.
3Watson's wife. she looked tpfable
nigh dead herself, but she follered her
husband to the hospital nm the boat went
on down the river. 'Cordin' to what Foss
told mi they both on EN- died in the hos
pital, but il that man what was in here
just now amt Sam Courtney there's
somepin' serious the matter with my eyes,
an they don't often trick me-"
The two men to whom the old barkeeper
told this story listened to it with unfeigned
interest. but while one Of them heard 1t
merely as a tale Of the river the other
turned white and showed deep agitation
Noticing this, his friend said j%okingly:
"One d think, Watson. to o at you
that you were the man in the story; but
Mix says it happened thirty years ago
NO said Watson. slowly, Il wasn't the
man, [ was only a kid then at home up
North: but that man that Sam Courtney
killed was my father. My mother told
me all about it before she died. And l
drank with the hellhound, wonder the
liquor didn't choke me-"
-Oh. come now said his friend, SEEM
ingly alarmed at the others emotion. Il
don't imagine this can he the man. Mix
50 va he heard he died in the hospital, and
more than likely it's only n case OF chance
resemblance. A man changes a heap in
thirty years" He looked a~nxiously at
Mix, as if hoping that the veteran would
disavow his expressed opinion
Caleb Mix shook his head g~ravely.
and Watson said: Well settle that right
quick. IN find out for myself. and
/ then
Then WHAT asked his friend You're
not going to fight. are your
"Idon't know said Watson, briefly, and
turning on his heel he left the barroom.
Ten minutes later he found the man he
was looking for, smoking a cigar on the
upper deck. and going up to him said:
Il was looking at you rather closely
in the barroom just O and | wonder II
have seen you before. Wasn't it in jim
Hooper's clubhouse in New Orleans?
II I'm not wrong your name Is courtney.
likely you'd remember me, for ] was only
a %yonngster, seeing the sights, but | don't
think I'm mistaken"
mo, ] don't remember you was the
reply. but you've got me right. I'm Sam
Courtney. ! was dealing for Hooper
about five years ago.
There was some talk Of crooked dealing
in the house. said Watson, coelly. with
his hands in the pockets OF a light over
coat which he wore.
Courtney Strengthened up in surprise.
See here. young fellow he said
angrily. what are you getting at? Don't
you know that's lighting TALK
; Long before that continued the
; other. calmly. you travelled the boats as
a professional poker player. / reckon
you're the man that killed John Watson
3 when he caught you playing crooked?'
At this Courtney reached for his gun
= with an angry oath. but as he was drawing
Watson fired from both pockets, bringing
. his man to the deck. apparently dead
/ As he rolled over, however. he raised his
weapon with a ~convulsive EFFORT and hired
r pointblank at Watson. who fell also.
a When they picked him up. however. he
exclaimed exultantly, -In be the man
) thatIl come out of the hospital alive this
= time. So indeed it proved.
Looks to me-" was Caleb Mix's rom
, ment when he heard the particulars OF the
, haht. slike il was a good thing fr a mar
not to talk 30 doggone much sometimes
! A. DR.. Johnson said II.
From the London Chronicle.