The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
Consideration, instead o. which nv wad

attempt to excuse himself and his
friends. "Yo' rakeoff last week was
up'arts O. To- hundred"
That was last week" retorted the
old man. 9TH amt nobody gwlne to
GIT rich on what he done did afotime.
This yere IL Choosday mawnin an to-
morrer's Wednesday. The weeks
inore'n half gone Already an airs to
SNOW TO IT IL how measly little runt
IN nowheres In ptlc'lar is done come
In here an win money shameful"
What's did Is did" said Winter
bottom, attempting no excuse. 9TH
a!nt no Use bellyachin' over IT," II
was evident from his manner and that
OF the others that they had been de-
graded in their own esteem by the
untoward occurrence of which the old
man complained and that their main
concern was to induce him to cease
from his reproaches. But worse was
to come.
They is some truth in that" the old
man admitted grudgingly II amt a
sayin' but what there's liable to he
somepln' lost occasional. II they didn't
nobody never win nothln' into the game
mebbe they wouldn't continner to come.
But what gifts me bad IL the way IL was
,p'Aih W Nlldl 20 uuS says, me
not bein' in the room at the time, this
yere hellyon done helt a straight flush"
"Sho' did" said Pearsall.
"On two cyard draw"
Yep" said Winterbottom, reluc-
family.
An It was onto yo' deal, Jim" pur-
sued the old man relentlessly. looking
at Blaisdell Indignantly.
But BlaisdU1l rpfuscd IN opsuor II
was evident that the accusation wis
correct. but he had nothing to say.
well, alrs | en- say is what that
pears TO been onexcusable," said the |
old man, but how come he got away"
And he looked at Bassett with wonder |
Ing incredulty.
IF I'd "a hit him " returned the big |
sheriff surlily. they wouldn't "a been
nothin' on him left, let alone he was |
that little what they want no place |
onto him TO- to hit cnvenient. 'Peared |
like Just couldn't fetch myself to do |
nothin' to him. II he'd "a been big |
enough to put up n fight now" He |
said no more, but his manner was in
dicative Of deep regret.
Does yo' credit. in a way" said the
old man as IL the admission was wrung
from him, but that don't git nobody |
nowheres. I'd ought To- to been called |
In. ! cd "a had him arrested. or some
pin. Pears like yo' must "a been all
drunk"
Want nobody drunk" said Blals-
dell, but ! was that struck when he
showed down n straigh flush what I
couldn't say nothin'. Feared like was
paralyzcd, an ! reckon the others was
the same way"
They all nodded.
He must "a helt out on yo'," suggested
the old man. as one cropping in the dark
for something that might serve as an
explanation.
mo. he didn't hold out nothin'," said
Blaisdell. positively. He drawed 'em
reg lar. an dolcd 'cm to him II they
is anybody TO he blamed To- ii I'm 1t.
but the way II looks to me is what the
lightnin' must "a struck They can't
nobody put up nothin' agin that"
mo" said the old man. "Leas ways
| amt never heer'd o. nOthin'. Pears
like the hull blame thing was one o.
them catcchisms o natur what swal-
lers up a c'munity firm time to time.
It's did. an they can't be nothin' did
about It now"
"Oh, l don't know" said Mr.. Pepper,
who had been listening to the discussion
with no small amusement and a know
ing air.
The others regarded him lstlcssly
Under ordinary circumstances they
would probably have insisted on his
Withdrawal from their presence, but
being unusually detected they seemed
not to have spirit enough to indicate
their preference. For some time moth
ing was said.
Then the old man spoke YEARLY,
They don't nobody look TO yo' all not
70 know nothin'. Not never, they don't.
know now?"
nothin' be did" said Mr. Pepper with
a suggestion Of hope.
Have drink" said the old man.
They has been times when yo' all
peared to almost have Intelligence.
Iebbe this is one on 'em. Wisdom comes
)uten the mouths o babes an suckin'
pigs. II yo' all en- tell anythin' tell it.
Is yo all got any idee who that stranger
vas what done sot in last night"
"Oh. | don't know" said Mr. Pepper,
swallowing his drink, but cordin' to
what | heerd ! reckon maybe 1t
nought "a been Buck Hawley. He's mo- {
r less OF "A fool"
HE let on what his name was IIaw-
ey," said Blaisdell. with show of in
crest AN nobody wouldn't draw to
three flush into a reel poker game
thouten he was a sho' 'nough fool"
"Oh, | don't know" said Mr.. Pepper,
I've did that my own self when the
dds was big"
That's what | done said" murmured
but Mr.. Pepper did not hear
him.
Il reckon It must "a been Buck" he
continued. II hcerd he was trailn'
his away. An If twas he's fool nough
% set in again when he comes down
he river in about a week or so. Mo n
kelly he's reck'nin' on hodln a other
traight flush"
"Nut on my deal he won't" said
Baisdell earnestly.
"Oh | don't know" said Mr.. Pepper.
mebbc he mought hold it onto his own
eal, Them things done happen"
Things sho' will happen II he does
nythin' like that" observed the old
nan grimly. "a stranger en- hold a
traight flush oncet on my premises an