The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-07
THE OLD MANS WORST
/ FEARS REALIZED
Even the Bunsstartsr Ussless
Against the One Eyed Mans
New Tactics In Poker.

| tho @lastaeAppl NAucy nad been 0nGAHoo
for year, in considering the question
whether it was possible to get the better
Of certain group Of poker players who
made theiT headquarters in Old man
Oreenlaw's saloon in Arkansas City
Many attempts TO perform this feat had
been made and some % them had been at
least partially successful
There were players who got away from
Arkansas City with more money than
they took with them when they went 20
the place, and there had bean one OF
two instances in which the rough house
which frequently followed the game when
an outsider seemed likely to quit winner
had resulted in the discontinue OF the
reioubtable combination; but these
were recognized as exceptional Instances
and Il had como 10 be generally acknowl-
edged that IL wac practically impossible
for any player or combination of players
to get the better of old man Greenlaw's
friends
The thought that this was true. OF
probably true. was exceedingly bitter
IN number Of gentlemen who prided
themselves on their own skill not only
In the manipulation 81 playing cards but
also In the use Of weapons II was there
fore with much interest. though with
considerable sceptioism. that q kruup
OF sporting men on the deck OF the river
steamer Creole Belle listened to the de-
tails Of plan which had been evolved
by one Of their number and which he be-
lieved would result in the defeat 10 not the
downfall OF the famous quartet Of Ar
kansas city players.
A might have been expectei hy any
one who was acquainted With the sporting
fraternity Of the Mississippi ~ that
period. the speaker was the one eyed
man. There WIRE few Nho ~uuAllei aud
none who eIOelled him ~ a poker player,
and HIS Goodness and daring hal b~-n
provet in more than on. physical an
counter. 10 that h. WAS greatly RESPECTED
by his fellows. even by those who had
no great liking for him personally
i reokonet yo' all done had enough o.
that gang a'reAdy.- Ssii HArk Masters
little malioiouzly when one Eve suR-
ge-ted that he thought OF going again
TO Arkansas city.
Not yet h. r.plirI. With al evil
CLEAN in his remaining ey. ! don.
been there mo n oncet. az dor. com.
away with winrin's mo- n orcet That's
This was dig At Mr. Masters aad vas
fully appreciated by thor. who knew
II that gcutlemAn's effort and expert
ence in Arkansas City.
Still. he continue1 L Airr what
yo' mought call happy about the way
come. done heer'd how Joe Ba-s~t;
sweArs he'll have my life ~ I 40 th.r.
again. an was kind o. thin kin I'd give
him a chanel
-Yo're welcome said Mr.. Masters
with shruE. i reckon yo' want got
anybody To go with yo'.'
i want rock min Oh goin alone.
replied one Eve coolly. hut II there's
anybody in this crowd rs Afeer a he don't |
have TO 60
Then he propounded the details Of his |
plan. and though At first he was ooldly
heard he sucoesds1 after half an hours
talk in securing pledges Of assistance
from a dozen or 90 Of his hearers
Accordingly four men entered old man !
saloon together about a week !
later. and marching up 10 the bar called
for four rounds Of drinks for all present.
These invitations. coming one at a time. I
were graciously accepted by the habitu<s
OF the place. and an the strangers proved
to he extremely sociAble the conversation
became animated
Presently Masters. one OF the four.
preached the subject Of draw poker
Last time ! wac here he aaid pleas
antly. you uns trimmed me f'r nigh
about all I had Twa'nt moron $50.
but | been some sore about u since, an
! done come hack f'r revenge These
here friends o. mine herd was comm
an they come too
jake Winterbottom. as spoke sman OF
the home party. rspli~d that tnsre was
no reluctance to give Mr. Masters another
whirl at the game
But he added. we uns don't gently
play eight handed Makes an awk ard
game
This objection WAS met 10y the proposal
that they ~,It the cards for s.ats low
man 10 stay cut but TO have the privilege
u taking the place % the first player
to go broke
This was satisfactory aud Pearsall was
low man. In consequence Wint-rbottom.
BaSsett and Blaisdell were presently en-
Esged in a conts-. with party OF four.
" no were as we'll organized IL not az skill
Iul players AZ they themselves were.
The visitors demanded a table stake
game. with 81 Oo Apisce 90 bagin. and
a. this sounded good to tho home players
Did man Greenlaw produced the chips,
whites Is. reds t2s end blues si0D
We're lookin' rr quick action said
Masters. an he insisted on these valuations.
and again there was no objection, though
Did man 0reenlaw looked serious. a. vas
for the hacker Of the house game
when he saw one OF the visitors named
put up an ante Of Us. no having
The first age. the old " an shook his head
xravely and vent out In the front room
70 make sure that his bun gstarter vas in
it's usual place.
IN amt no tellin'. he mutferrd.
II was Winterbottorn's deal, and after
Blaisdell had como In on Snathsrs's ante
Masters trsiled. Then when Baasstt had
,lso tTailed. Wilkins, the next man, raiaed
Z SIS. and Hollis, The other stranger, made
9 80 more.
Winterbottom. remembering that he
lsd dealt and finding TIRES tens, Jaw
he double raiss. but Smathers dropped.
Then Blaisdell. having only q single pair
his n nd httN rarV,NNn l,rt1.,w 81 |