The sun., 1910-01-30
DARSON TRIP GOT
/ HIS FOURTH TEN
An Experiment at Taking the
Uncertainty Out of
Draw Poker.

sippi River. Il reckon it'd pay tol'able
-eg. - ma1 ed on'y Oontrive some way
Il, rcmovin' the element OF onsartainty
what sure docs pear to predominate
4 good bit o the time. You uns is played
II consid able more n have. an mo- n
likely you've done thought o. that ready,
hut pears like you hain't hit on nothin'
what works altogether plumb
well, no. replied Buck whipple.
we hain't f'r a fac. There's mo- or
less chances into the game, an reckon
m al'ays will be, but we uns has done
the best we knows how. an 'tain't
likely there's no team o. PLAYERS what
we're liable for to meet up with is goin'
70 get no mo- o. them chances n what
We uns is
Il reckon we uns en- give 'em a run
fr their money, anyways.' said Jim
Foster with a short laugh. but there q
alays somepin' to be said f'r a man what
en- do away with any o. them onsartain-
ries what yo' was mentionin', parson.
Is you got any idee o. that sort in yo'
head? II yo' has this'd be a good time
fer TO fetch IL out
The parson shook his head.
y on'y mentioned II. he said, 'bein' as
there's some poker players in Memphis
what's liable for to take a run over TO the
Salina case o. them KNOWN what goes on
sbo'd the boat
That's what I'm reck min on" OBJ
served Bart Lindsay briefly.
Indeed IL seemed altogether likely
that he had had something OF the sort
in his mind when he anchored the Salina
opposite the city mentioned. Various
other stops had been made from time
20 time near the smaller towns on the
river and there had been a number of
games played in the Salinas living rooms
since the trip was begun, but though
these had not been Improbable TO the
four men who had entertained the visitors
who came aboard they had not been
sufficiently rich to satisfy Lindsay 3 ideas
He had gone 20 large expense In fitting
out the expedition and IL was important
that the returns should also be large.
Thus far they had been only moderate.
hut it seemed altogether likely that the
play might be heavier IL some Of the
Memphis players should engage
Well said the parson, Il amt a.
saytn' but what you uns on play all right.
an now I I'm gettin' mo- used to yo' ways
J reckon en- do consid'able to'ds helpin'
out with the deal. but there's one or two
IN Memphis what en- handle the cvards
nigh about as skiiful g can. What I
was thinkin' was t mebbe they was some
% the onsartainties what we'd oughter
reckon with
'Bein's 'tain't my night TO brag,- re-
marked Whipple. Il ain't sayin' much, but
II that there element Of onsartai ainty what
YOU was tallkin' o. removin' is anyways
connected with a crooked deal I reckon
you en- count on me to remove the feller
what gets caught a-doin' OF it
Who are these men you're talktn'
ofS' asked Lindsay thoughtfully.
There's one on 'em name o Dick
pingree." said the parson, what has the
name o. stackin' cyards some hetter'n
anybody else. When 1 was in Memphis
last winter he had a side pardner name o.
Robinson what he played with mostly,
an they done said them two was the
hest team in Tennessee
Then I reckon you an Whipple ID
better go over to town this evenin an
find this here Pingree.' said Lindsay.
addressing Foster. "an' see II him an his
side pardner Is still playin' together. II
they be. an they pear to be fixed well
enough fer to make it worth while, you
mought tell 'em what there's a chance o
gettin' into q tol liable stiff game onto the
Salina. II there's anybody round these
parts as en- outplay We uns I reckon
we'd better know about it,"
What Lindsay said was the law on the
Salina, and accordingly Whipple and
Foster returned the next day with the
two men who were reckoned the best in
Memphis in their line. They were both
eager for the game. and so far from being
spprehensive at the prospect OF encoun-
tering four professionals they openly
declared their preference for a profess
FIonal game.
IT'S heap better n sucker game.
said Robinson, -bein' as tn amt liable
for 70 be no s1uealin' nor no comeback
ater you've done win"
There were no details to be arranged.
Tor the game was the old fashioned sort
with no straights, no straight fiushes.
No Jackpots and no limit. man could
caLl any bet for the amount Of his pile.
end il he lost that he was out OF the game
man took a hundred in chips for change,
and kept his wad in reserve for the heavy
t4'tinR
For a while the play was exceedingly
cautious. Lindsay and his friends were
and were keenly watohful of them, es-
pecially when Pingree dealt, but II that
gentleman attempted anything out of
the way in his manipulation OF the cards
he certainly deserved his reputation. for
On the other hand the parson was mind
tul OF his instructions, and would not
attempt any sleight OF hand without get
ting signal from Lindsay to do so. The
game therefore so far as IL was possible
Tor any one ut the table to judge was
absolutely honest.
II is true that Pingree and Robinson
raised each other on two or three d0als
N way that suggested a desire to seesaw
the others out. and Lindsay and Foster !
trled the same man1uvre several times,
but that from the professional stand
point was regarded as perfectly legitimate
and provoked no Ill feeling. much less
any comment. Their opponents in each |
instance laid down gracefully when |
the purpose became evident and waited !
Tor an opportunity TO retaliate.
u was therefore something like thunder |
out Of clear sky when Foster attempted |
What looked like a barefaced blum. |
lhe parson had dealt and Pingree had |
put up the usual dollar ante. Whipple |
came in, Foster. Robinson and Lindsay |
,ralled and the dealer laid down. Then |
Flngree filled his ante and raised it tS.
Mhinpla fpailaA q fVN Eoafar faoA /