The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-11


scanned them over.
II was not that he expected to discover
any irregularity on the part OF the
dealer, for Mr.. Pearsall. whatever he
might or might not have been likely to
do had he been playing elsewhere. was
not likely to attempt any legerdemaln
in game in which Baisdcll was par
tcipant. There was no necessity for II.
and had the necessity arisen. Blaisdel
was the more competent person to meet
IT, Therefore Mr.. Pepper assumed, with
reason, that the deal was straight.
Neither did he even hope to discover
anything from the facial expression of
any of the players which would serve to
guide him accurately in Judging of their
weakness or strength. He realized
however that eternal vigilance was the
price OF safety in that particular game
of poker, more so perhaps than In any
ordinary game, and he was viglant,
leaving his own hand on the table till
Ii should come his turn to play, while
he watched the others.
Joe Bassett sat on his left, and after
quick glance at the cards he had re-
ceived he made good on the ante. Win
terbottom sat next, and he too came in
without raising. Blaisdell however,
gave the pot gentle boost, and the
dealer seeming to be satisfied with what
he had. trailed. 1t was not to be ex-
pected. with Mr.. Pepper still to hear
from. that he would raise again. what
ever he might hold
Mr.. Peppee thereupon lifted his hand
and beheld with considerable elation that
he had caught pat flush, king high
| 1t was by no means n hand that would
be sure to win in the case of n spirited
contest, but It was ample Justification
for swelling the pot in the meantime, and
he promptly decided to do that to the
extent of s.. Blaisdell having made a
raise Of So.
With that In mind he turned his i'm
mediate attention to the money and
chips in front OF him He was not
aware OF having relaxed his care in the
matter of keeping watch over his pile.
but he saw instantly that he must have
done So IL only for a moment, for his
pile was not what It was when he had
thrown In his two bits and devoted him
self to watching the deal.
The 500 bill which he had placed on
top of the others that still lay there was
not there now.
1t was perfectly apparent to the
others at the table that he had received
a shock OF some sort, and as for him he
took no pains to conceal the fact. but go
far as 1t was possible to imagine from
the expression of the four gentlemen
who looked at him wonderingly, no one
OF them was able to understand what
the nature of the shock was They sim
ply looked at him In silence. and he
looked from one to another OF them as
! HOY Int ola ggIo H,,t
with eloquence In his gaze
"Wot's eatin' OF yo'. Pepper" asked
Winterbottom. not unkndly. after an
interval IT'S yo play"
"Oh. I don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
still looking dazed. "Mebbe better not
play no mo-. Pears like somebody must
be in monstrous hurry 70 to git holt
o. my wad."
Just nachully we uns Is all a-lookin
; TO to git it," observed Pearsall with
calmness that bordered on Indifference
but we amt liable to II yo' all quits
! playin'. It's yo' turn"
"Oh, l don't know" retorted Mr.. Pep
per. ignoring the final suggestion. 81
reckon somebody must "a token some
on It thouten waitin' 70 me to play.
done put 500 bill onto my pile min
, ute ago an faint there now"
Il reckon II they was 500 put thar a
minute ago it's thar now" said Bassett
with a sinister emphasis. They amt
: nobody gwine to disturb yo' pile but
yo' own self"
"Oh don't know" said Mr. Pepper
> forgetting his prudence in the excite
ment of the moment. i've saw hear
J o things did round here afo' now"
= 1t seems probable that Mr.. Pepper
= realized after he had spoken the peri
= he had incurred by speaking as he did
3 for when he observed the darkling eX,
4 preston on each of the four faces tina
\ confronted him he arose from his sea
= in some haste, though not hastily
= enough to neglect putting in his poke
= the remainder Of the pile of bills. Their
Z he looked around the room stlll NOR.
5 hastily, as IL considering whether tn,
8 door or the window would prove TO b
$ the more available opening in case h,
should find 1t necessary to go away from
n there suddenly.
o Between him and the window, how
2 ever. Joe Bassett doomed large. He ha,
Il also arisen at the same NONE nj will
= Mr.. Pepper and his aspect was threat
@ ening
t Then as Mr.. Pepper glanced towar
= the uoOT OIu man LreenltW sudGe nj
= appeared on the threshold with a bung
e starter in his hand and question II
Il his eye. Plainly the passage throug
the doorway was not to be accomplishe
n without difficulty.
o The others in the room got up fror
= their seats promptly, all seeming to b
3 DESTROYS Of getting a little nearer to MI
d Pepper, but that gentleman. having IN
e much experience In the matter of avoid
n ing a hostile grasp, lodged around IN
n room with much agility, so that for
W moment or two no one succeeded In lay
It ing hands on him, though they trie
,e earnestly to do So
lie Considerable confusion ensued, and s
e busily engaged were the others in pur
le suing and being pursued that no on
N noticed the old man when he stoope
very quickly and picked up some sma
is object from the floor And the old ma
d said nothing about It. but looked o
le with great interest until Bassett sue
le ceeded in getting hold of Mr., Pepper.
p Having laid hold Of him. he appeare
r, 10 be about to pull him apart in fras
N ments but even as he was beginning
~ do so lake WinterbOttOm spoke uD.