The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
what he done 10 git a."

III case ne don't pear to have no Lotion
o. playin', yo' all mought give him q
hint what he's liable to find hisself
among friends II he comes round,
wha. d be some better comp'ny To- him
than II he was to go back to Memphis.
o cose tn amt no Elections to yo' /, II
takin' him thar alter he's done lose his
wad. Pears the reward was 70 rest
In him. They want nothin' said bout
bringin' the money back. was they?".
oh. don't know" said Nr Pepper.
Likely they'd reckon on gittln' that"
In that case" said the ol man,
them Ia one o. tn expectations what's
liable to perish, az the Good Book says.
Anyways It's better TO we uns to make
sho' o what's in sight"
This view of the matter being read
lily accepted by the others Bassett and
Pepper ieparted, and returned shortly
bringing with them a slender gentle-
man.
Mr.. Pepper introduced him as Mr..
Allen OF Texas. and after round of
drinks the old man said pleasantly:
Il done herd some frequent how
they Is heap o. poker played In
Texas"
And Mr.. Allen admitted that that
who were greatly addicted the pas
time, he said, but he himself was not
one of them. having a weak heart and
being fearful OF the excitement.
9TH amt nothin' q good s. excitement
70 weak heart" declared the old man
very positively, "p'vidin It's took set
tin. o. co'se vilent 'xercise Is bad.
If yo' all was In Memphis now. mo- n
likely yod drop dead, tryin' to dodge
wagons n things in the streets"
Mr. Allen averred no less positively
that he had no intention OF going to
Memphis
Likely not" said the old man. but
circumstants II take man to where
n amt a-reck'nln' on, sometimes
Mebbe it'd be better To- yo' all to stay
here"
Mr. Allen was inclined to think he
would prefer staying.
In that case" said the old man.
tn amt nothin' to do but play poker"
Mr. Allen protested that he could
very well remain in Arkansas City
without playing poker. but Joe Bassett
spoke to him severely.
We uns knows tolable well who
yo all ls," he said. but tn amt no
gret preJdice ag'in yo' on that ac-
count g long 3 yo' all Is friendly. II
yore friendly yoll play poker. but II
yo' amt. mebbe yo' all d find IL mo-
pleasanter like TO to take a trip to
Memphis"
Mr.. Allen was somewhat disposed TO
he defiant, but there was a dangerous
glitter in Bassett's eye and a sort OF
st!ffening up OF his enormous body
which seemed suggestive, and after a
little hesitation he decided to appear
friendly anyhow.
When 1t came to buying chips he
produced crisp new bank bill for
$1,000. Handing 1t to old man Green
law he said:
III have to get you to change this.
i haven't enough small money to buy
with"
There won't be no change" said the
Old man, putting the bank note in his
pocket, "or leastways it'll he all in
chips. Likely yo' all II need that many
TO play with
And he gave each man at the table
a stack representing $1,000, making a
careful memorandum of the amounts
charged up against the other players
Ihey were all buying on credit, II ap-
peared. And Mr.. Allen deemed il dis
Greet TO make no protest. Then Mr.
Pepper and old man Greenlaw retired
10 the barroom and the game began.
The old mans first care was TO ex-
anime the counterfeit detector which he
always kept handy for protection
against the danger OF loss from the
queer money in circulation at that time
He seemed gratifed Indeed when he
learned from that valuable book that
the bill he had taken. issued by the
Trade Bank OF Memphis was undoubt-
eddy genuine.
Meantime the players in the back
/ room were Intent not so much on
thoughts of that particular bill, as OF
the ninety and nine others which they
felt assured Mr.. Allen still had on his
person. There had been many desperate
games played in that room, but none
which approached this in magnitude,
ana the opportunity was not to be lost.
Accordingly, the betting was furious
from the start.
They found it difficult. for a time, to
arouse Mr.. Aliens enthusiasm, he SEEM
ing to think, after he had lost his
original stake and few more of his
crisp new bills had disappeared, that
he had gone far enough, but after he
had suggested this thought a few times
and had been discouraged by Bassett's
sinister hints, he seemed to become des-
perate and staked his money wildly In
| the vain effort to win back some at least
/ OF what he was losing
As he was most Indifferent player
/ the end was inevitable. and he presently
declared himself broke. Moreover, he
was testy about it and declared his I'M
favorable opinion OF men who would
1 profess friendship for wayfaring
stranger and despoll him of his all.
! Then he gloomily remarked that he
might as well have gone to Memphis.
We'll, II that's the way yo' all feels
about it," said Bassett, coolly, Pepper
an me was reck'nin' on takin' a trip
s fur 8 there. / reckon yo' all better
come along, bein's they won't be no
trouble bout yo' expenses. They's
enough money in hand To- to pay 'em.
'Twon't cost yo' a cent"
Thereupon Mr.. Allen recalled his
hasty utterance and reckoned he did
not care TO go anywhere inside the
State limits OF Tennessee. He learned
without much delay, however, that his
| personal preferences were not con-
sldered important, and when ne showed
signs of becoming remonstrant, Bassett
took him to the calaboose and locked