Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-05-26

- ri ND I'VE better than you again"
.IIandsome Harry" McCarter.
sometimes known as the Day
ton Adunis. sometimes as ''the
Mississippi river gambler" and at all
times rs the best spitbali pitcher with
second division team. leaned back
against the cushions OF the private car,
punched his small straight and patted
his nose with it while he weighed the
chances and studied the frank, open
countenance Of Bush Hawley. the
youthful outfefder. The Ponies were
on tour and the nightly poker game
was just beginning.
The Ponies worked at professional
baseball for a living. but the only ma
tional pastime they recognized was
the ancient and honorable game OF
draw poker. AS working men. they
might finish in seventh place every
little while. with six teams In front Of
them and the cellar champions clam
orfng behind, but drop them into q
poker league and the Ponies would be
found banging away high mp in the
first division.
They were a 1ine bunch Of athletes.
running to loud waistcpats. the early
tweuties. cards. dice and single cussed-
ness-the most happy 60 lucky. devil
may care for we don't outfit In the
league.
self that he managed the Ponies. did
not believe In carrying women with
a bail club. IN hts youth. when as
be so often remarked. he bad been
some pitcher. boys. some pltcherf ne
had travelled with one married club
and the experience Ind lasted MIN FOR
years He fancied unmarried men. so
be signed them.
And now. having stailed long enough
to give the old mississippi river gam
bier Il chance to figure out the situa-
tlon and estimate the value OF his two
to the six straight. we return to the
poker game.
Il bet him a buck after the draw
unused the handsome one. '.and be
raised me fiye-raised me FIVE. He's
just about tightened up on me-" Nc
Carter marked a cross upon the table
and traced an imaginary line toward
his pile of chips. Gross shows where
the ole Mississippi river gambler was
shot through the heart. !. said be whim-
sicalIy Dotted lines indicates which
way they drug him out. All right.
Bush. got 10 call How big is your
full house?r
''rm out on limb." said Bush sadly.
showing the chips toward Mccarter.
Il was trying to Ret by with two big
pair. and yon went and hooked up a
straight on me. I'm riiined"
what don't understand is why
you didn't raise the pants Off Bush
instead of Just calling. 1t looked to me
as IL that should have been the play"
it was ii new voice. and the poker
experts looked up for an instant.
Harry McCarter snorted loudly and be-
gan rifEiing the cards.
IF you know so much about poker"
said he sneeringly. its a wonder to
me you Wouldn't sit,into one OF these
games once Ia awhile and teach us
how to play i've cards. We don't bar
nobody. Its an open game. Hogan"
The young man addressed as Hogan.
who was perched upon the back OF the
seat across the aisle closely following
the progress OF the poker game. lush
ed slightly. but made no reply. Nc
Carters remark had been an innocent
one. but the sneer gave an ugly sting
to the words. Hogan was not thick
skinned. and be had read resentment,
if not open hostility. inthe short glance
the players had given him. 9~::.
A few moments later be climbed
down from his perch. yawned. stretch
ed, and moved away toward the smok-
Ing compartment: He was neither
tired nor sleepy. but he did not want
the poker party to know that he had
been driven away. ? y-...s.s...es
Hogan sat in the smoking room curl
ed up on a leather couch and staring
out OF the window at the night lights
as they whisked by the aging yin
dows. Hogan was not mind reader.
and his ears were not burning. New
erthelss be knew that he was being
discussed by his fellows, and the
thought was not a pleasant one. for he
could guess what they were talking
about. 81 -. .~'.
IL was Hogan's first year in profes-
sionaI ball. yet In a short space OF time
he had acquired an nnenriable reputa-
tion as the stingiest player in the
league. and The Ponies. the biggest
hearted. best injured lot OF boys in
baseball. tolerated him simply because
of his ability upon the. field. TO nuke
matters worse Hogan realized that he