The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-15

nave three or TO- friends standn' round
Ihats nacherl enough, an I dunno d
bLime him much. him not bein' no
mo of fighter n he recly is"
on, | don'tsknow," said Mr.. Pepper,
VINO seemed TO be somewhat annoyed by
the others obstinate disbelief. 81 reckon
Joe bassett d give yo' all whirl at
l. most any time 'thouten lookin' To-
no help en- nubody."
Well" said one Eye. carelessly. "I
dunno but what Id go back there some
time II thar cd be ranged. An they is
n other thing what | wouldn't mind
dom OF, II they would let nobody else
set in. That's to play a freezeout with
that there Blaisdell person what's gently
reckoned to be SIGH all fired good
poker player. Does yo' all reckon what
that cd he fetched round"
ON. I don't know" said Mr.. Pepper.
Il reckon they wouldn't he no greet
trouble bout that. Jim is gently ready
10 to tackle most anybody what comes
along when it's question o. draw
poker"
Yes" said the one eyed man with
an open sneer. Hes c'nsidable like
Bassett bout that. II they IL pals -
hisn settin' In the game he plays toll
able good won't go so fur's to say he
don't.
But that amt what mean. I amt
no hawg. ! done got away with the hull
on EN- together three or 70 times, but
! don't p'fess to be able 10 do II fire.
quent TIL amt nobody en- play single
handed agin a crowd right along, an
they is too doggone many on en- TO-
nobody to do It successful all the time
"But If any one on 'cm wants my
wad, I'll gin him a chanst at Il most
any time. I'd kylnd q pier Blaisdel,
bein's he's got mo- OF a reputation n he
deserves"
"Oh. 7 don't know" said Mr.. pepper.
81 done hecr'd heap say what he's
nigh bout the best poker player they Is
anywheres."
"Mebbe he Ia II amt there" said
tho ono eyed man with fire afYecta-
ton of Indifference. and he turned away.
But he had said enough.
In such fashion AZ that period
throughout the Mississippi Valley Il
was customary for recognized cham
pions 10 hurl defiance at one another.
and II was seldom that champions de-
clined the contest. Mr.. Pepper was ac-
cordingly pufred az being the messenger
chosen to deliver the challenge. and the
next time he found himself In Arkansas
city he bore himself with all the dig
nifty beiittlnE an ambassador
Going to tho door OF tho old mans
saloon he opened Il cautiously and
peeked in. They saw him and said
nothing.
Come in an set" said tn, old man.
not unkindly. AS the probable bearer
, of Intelligence from the outside world
Mr.. Peppers arrival was not unwel-
come.
"Oh. I dom, know" said Mr. Pepper.
u was rack'nin' what yo' uns mought
he some hasty II was 10 say" But
he sided in carefully and took the chair
nearest To the door.
We'll, what yo' Cwlne 70 say" de-
anded the old man somewhat lmpe-
tiently, seeing that Mr.. Pepper showed
no purpose Of continuing.
"Oh. I don't know" said Mr. pepper.
but I done seen a man what reckons
he's liable TO- 10 come to Arkansas City.
Man with a wad"" interrupted tho
old man.
"Oh, ! don't know" said Mr. Pepper.
he gently totes a wad ID choke mule. &c
This yer g public house. an he'll
he woirom',' said tho Old man heartily.
"When's he comin'?"
"Oh | don't know" said Mr. Pepper.
He's kyInd O. lookin' 10 roub'o.
AM"
I'VE aims 20 please" said the old
| man. "If he piers trouble reckon
! he'll Kit all he wants. Who IL hn?"
"Dh. ! don't know" said Mr.. Pepper.
That j." he continued heartily. per
/ ceiving that habit had led him astray.
! "th' aiut nobody knows who hc RELY
/ j., hu; they is a heap what knows en-
sid'ablc about him az that. Pears he
/ was some onlucky into a fight oncct an
! he done lose one OF his eyes"
"Whcn's he comin'"" shouted Bas-
sett, and Mr.. Pepper jumped
But the old man spake as one hav-
ing authority.
Hold so bosses. Joe. SGT down
/ again, Pepper he said. This yer
pears to be momenchous If they ls
I any way % gijtir' one Eye an his wad
I into this yer s'loon acin it's gwine q
! ne did. Whatn he did when he comes
en- he Considered later"
And even Bassett recognized tho wis
dom Of tn" decision. though he growled
out. "Th'aint but one thing 10 be en-
sidered when it comes to that"
"Oh. yes, they is" rctorted the old
man. They is a wad to he Considered
first Off. Now. what's all this about
he demand d STORMY.
"Oh. | don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
but one Eye dono told me last week
what he was p'pared 10 10 stack M
1gin the huh crowd aEiu. on! h,
wouldn't take on Only one To onct SAID
he'd play Blaisdfll or fight Basse;t sin.
Ele-handed, but he want p'pared 20 tc
tackle no multitude all by his lone
some"
That's reasonable" said the old mar
judicially. and the others admitted thai
II was.
go co'se." he continued, cts mo- reg.
lar for TO not bar nobody out I'm q
game or a fight II he feels like j'inin
in, but II a man has a prej'dice agtn 4
he'd ought to be respected into II. They
can't nobody say what he don't git fail
play on my premises II no insists ontC
it,
Pears like he's c'nsid'able Of a mar
even IL he is n hellyon. Yo' all en- tel
him what I'll stand by with buns
starter an see what they won't nobody
interfere. All tho other p'liminaries CT
be settled alter it's all over.
"But tell him how he'd ought TO- I,
include some allowances into his wat
4, int t,,t q,