The sun., 1914-09-27
Old Man Grcpnlaw Threatens
Pepper, but Pepper Foils
Him for Once.
GRABS THE BCNGSTARTER
Before the Old Man Can Reach
II. and Settles the Dis
pu,e Amicably.
ny DAVID A. CURTIS.

'Dh. 7 don't know" said NJ. owen
Pepper.
In the mouth of one who has natural
spt.tudc or who has carefully studied
thc art Of verbal uttcrancc simple forn
of words l. often susceptible If several
different interpretations without being
altered in sequence. The bald fac. un-
interesting in Itself that Mr.. Pepper lid
not know was one that had grown iu
he moro or less familiar to old man
Greenlaw 10y reason of numerous rcpcti-
tons Of ii by Mr.. Pepper himself
II might bc said withou; eNaggeratiur
that the old man had long ceased t. feel
any interest IN II. considered as a fact.
l. could not he said that he cared hoot
whether MIR. Pepper did or did no; know.
There might have been time when he
would have given some attention to the
fact Itself but he had grown So we'll
Used 20 hearing Mr.. Pepper proclaim it
that Il no longer excited either contempt
or surprise in his mind. Whether MIR.
Fepper know or did not know was a
matter Of entire Indifference to him
There are. however. as ha- already
been !ntimated. subtle infections Of the
voice which may he used by a speaker
who understands them. and which may
he made 20 express shades of meaning
that are not necessarily inherent in the
fact it,elf which the speaker states.
And old man Grecnlaw. who was by no
means slow - apprehension when there
was any suggestion Of hostility. per
coived in Mr.. Peppers voice certain
Infection nj which he was inclined To-
take umbrage.
There had been a certain matter Of
buslnes, between them. the outcome ~
which had been far from satisfactory To
the old man. and he maintained, not
without reason as he looked at il. that
lo was entitled to the return of 800
which he had advanced to Mr.. Pepper
fer expenses to be incurred in following
gentleman who had played poker in
the old mans back room, the obj,c. i'm
following him being to persuade him. If
possible. TO return for another game.
Mr.. Pepper on the other hand. while
he did not dispute having received the
tnn Of money in question. and while hc
made no pretence of having used Il for
expenses but on the contrary boasted
cf having accomplished what he had uu-
dertaken to do without the expenditure
81 any money whatever for that purpose,
took the opposite view in regard to re
funding the 500.
On the face OF 1t there was nothing
intricate about tine transaction The
gentleman in question. not being any
too well aware Of the peculiaritlcs Of
the game Of poker as 1t was commonly
played in the back room atore.aid, sat
tame which sometimes surprise the most
aEiute observer won moderate amount
cf money early in the game and cashod
in forthwith. 10 the disgust Of the other
participants.
Even more than they, old man Green
law was irked. II was almost abnormal
that an outsider should get away with
any portion of the bank roll, and learn
ing from Mn Pepper that the gentleman
was an acquaintance OF his. he had
promptly engaged Mr.. Peppers service s
to the end that the gentleman should
he induced TO sit m again. And he had
advanced expense money to Mr.. Pepper
for the purpose.
MT Pepper had subsequently met the
gentleman and the gentleman had re 10
turned TO Arkansas City and had again
played in the old mans back room. So
far the facts We're undisputcd and the
case seemed plain.
There were. however, what the old
man called 'mllitatin circumstants" "
ana on these he based his claim for n
return OF the expense money.
First off," he said, in presenting the
case 81 done said when ! gave yo' al
the money what it'd have to bc de-
Quoted outen yo' rike0ff on tho game
liut tho way things went the Sent win
money again, somp!n scandlnus. 50 ius.
nachuly they want no rdkeun comm
Rein's they want nothin' due an IN
hundred was to be tooken outen IT, iust
nachully they want no raltepff comm
oh. don't know" said Mr.. Pepper.
well. mebbe It's 'Xpectin' too much, >
said the old man, displaying an unusual
amount OF patience in his appeal To Mr.
f"ppers sense Of fair play, 80 tc
reckon how yo' all d understand yo
financial obligations when 1t comes t.
tho higher mathematics. but they Is a
other pint wha, didn't ought To- 10 h.
fo'got. io' all said yo' own self what
Yo' didn't recur no 'Npense o. no kylnd
lookin' 10 him, an the money was gave
To yo' 70 Expenses. Just nachully It's
~ 10 yo' all to hand il back"
"Oh | don't know" said Mr. Pepper
"fo all wants To look at il rcas'nabl..'
said the old man. who seemed still loath
10 proceed to eXtremities 90 co'se II
things had went right an that there
pirate O. hell d "a dropped his wac
stead % maxim win again like II,
done they d "a been somepin' handsome
comm 10 yo' all, but"
'Oh, don't know" ntcrrupted Mr.
Pepper, as one who has doubts
90 co'sr they would persisted tho
old man, though there were signs that
indicated the probability OF break In
his patience before long "No all a a
stood in with We uns. Ike | greed. Yo
nll was part.cip,c cr!mmalbus. as the
lawyers says, an you'd "a ben titled
tG No' share np" a. the house rules !,
what n man alays gifts what's comm
e. him n my place aY' tn amt never
pecH no lnllicti":.s o The rule"
"Oh. , 3"n't know said Mr. Pepper.
"Wel u don't make no din'rcnc,
what yo' all knows, or what go dom
know said the old man. beginning (,
show certain amount Of 'SuSpcra, ON
~ wild ass o. thc wllderU,-s ain
expected TO- to understand tn" pla" o.
sawnton. an similar th"N Is mans
,hinRs what II arays hc lorG way
tcVOpd Nn nl1's t,nIultutl,n rng'fty