Arizona republican., 1912-02-11
O6e Poker Lesson By R. F. FOSTER. Copyright, 1910, by the Pearson Publishing co.)
By R. F. FOSTER.

we could trust 10 handle them and leave me free to figure on the big fel- lows"
 There's young Avery" remarked Hobart, stroking his chin. He has been with us three years now and knows the business pretty well. The only question is whether We could trust him 10 make estimates and put in bids on his own responsibility. He might put us in hole if he made a mistake"
 James thinks Avery is the real thing during business hours" an swered Stanley. All James has against him is that he seems inclined to be sporty. Spends his evenings playing billiards and poker. l believe"
 James is like all head book-keepers over nifty. They think the young fel- lows under them should be as sober as married man with nine children" was HObart's comment. The young fellows will have their fling. But to come back to business" he added.
 why not give him trial? Send him down the river and tell him to do the best he can for us. He cant break us. and if he turns out all right. We might 'ake him in with us some day"
 Accordingly. next day. Frank Avery was told to get ready to go down the river on Wednesday, so as 10 be in time to put in a bid that was to be opened on Friday evening.
 The news soon spread among his friends that he was in line 10 be pro noted to a travelling man, and not the least hearty of the congratulations came from Jennie Wheaton, who had her own reasons for regarding Franks success in life with particular interest.
 "I do hope you will be successful" she told him enthusiastically
 Wouldn't it be nice if you got con- tract all by yourself? I'm sure they would take you into the firm some day
 While Frank smiled at the impor- tance which Jennie attached to such triile as one contract. he realized that the outcome of his first attempt might mean q good deal 10 him, and he de- termined to be very careful in his es- inmates and make no mistakes. If he were to underbid, the firm that got the contract would have to lose money on the job.
 The same evening that Jennie Wheaton was talking over the future with Frank in her home, two men were discussing the young man in the back room of a saloon in another part Of the same town. One of these was a professional gambler called Jim Hoadley and the other was man named Willets, who had requested the interview.
 There's two hundred dollars in it for you, Hoadley." remarked the caller quietly. as he poured out glass of whiskey We want that contract down the river, and we thought We had it all fixed 10 get it. Stanley and Ho- bart must have only just heard about it. and they are going to send one of their young men down there on the jump 10 figure on the job. Now, you see he went on. slipping his whiskey, they think it isn't much of contract, or old man Stanley would go after II himself. We can't get him into the ring with us any way we try IL. Whether we can handle this young fel- low Avery or not, we don't know, but there's one thing sure; If you can fix him it's our contract, and as l said be- fore. it's worth two hundred if you can do the trick"
 Well" drawled Hoadley. as he helped himself to a cigar, "l should have to send two men down the river with him, and they would be gone two or three days. Besides"
 m pay fares and all expenses Of that kind" interrupted Willets hastily.
 Besides, it's a question" continued Hoadley, not noticing the interruption. whether we could hold the young fel- low CT not There's some that you can catch, but they break away. Some you can put the screws on and make 'em do most anything if you get 'em into a corner, and there's others that will fight and break away. Perhaps this young fellow is fighter" and the gambler looked questioningly at Will lets.
 'I don't know anything about that replied Willets, a little impatiently. "All want is to get the bulge on him some way so we can prevent him from bidding against us on that job. don't care whether he never gets near the job at all, or whether he agrees to go in with us and put his figure high enough to let Stanley and Hobart out and leave us in. That's up to you. You've trapped better and smarter men before today and there's two hundred dollars in it. You can have half or IL now. and all expenses paid"
 The upper deck of river steamer, with the pillows of brown smoke swift ly and silently pouring out Of the smoke-stacks behind, and the ever changing. but monotonous, shore m front. with it's endless procession or melancholy moss-laden trees, is not as attractive as the comfortable saloon cabin. with its warm stove and the supper tables all in line, waiting TOT the gong.
 One of the men sitting round the stove offered Frank cigar. making some remark about the absence Of any signs of fog. After chatting pleasant ly for a while, he volunteered the ln- formation that his name was Maxwell and that he was going as far down as Natchez. while his friend here. Colonel Draper-introducing him-was bound for Orleans.
 Both men were dressed in Southern style: black broadcloth suits, with low-cut waistcoats, turn-down collars