The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03

ana hlled one for himself after tho
others in turn had poured from the bot
tie he supplied. And he held himself in
readiness to join In the conversation d,
that was naturally to be expected In
case they should tarry after drinking. I
Ills careful attention to details OF this
nature contributed In no small degree I
to the prosperity he had attained.
They gave him an opening imme-
diately. one Of the four asking him a
direct question while ordering another =
round. which he did when he set his
glass back on the bar.
rs they anythin' diddin' in Arkansas
City. these times?" he demanded as !
one who il doubtful OF finding excite
ment.
"Sho' is" replied the old man with
great emphasis. The s q hellroarin'
good game o. poker In the back room
right now. They was couple o spots
come here I'm Little Rock last night
what set in with two citizens afo' they
d been here mo- n about a hour, an
they been plain 'em meet.
"One on EN- Is done win up'ards Of
a thousand Already, an the game Is
gettin' red hot. They was kickn' en-
sid'able. long O. the game bein on'y
To- handed. but pears like they amt
nobody round what's got spotin blood
s'fcient To- to set in. They done took
of the root when they begin. an they
been playin' out under the sky ever
sincet."
In confederation Of this statement. or
so 1t seemed to the strangers. there
came from the back room at the mo-
ment the sound Of a spirited alterca-
/ ton such as might he expected at any |
moment. in that part Of the country |
at crisis in such O game as had been /
| described.
! one voice was heard exclaimlng. !
! That don't GO This yeres cash
game, an tn amt no mouth poker to-
be did ag'in' my money. II yo' all
wants to call. put up the stuff Yo' en-
arays git n show TO what yo' got. but
yo can't call no bet o mine 'thouten
putin the same amount In the pot"
} What the second voice said in reply
to this was more forcible than edify-
ing. but 1t was to the general effect that
the speaker was good for the amount
mentioned and that nobody but one not
easily to be described in polite Ian
guage would hesitate to recognize the
} fact.
J Selling q bungstarter from behind
the bar. old man Greenlaw rushed to-
ward the disturbance. brandishinE his
weapon and shouting at the top Of his
voice. Hold on. thar tn amt no
shootin' lowed to be did on these prem
ises" And he burst into the back room
in a state of great excitement.
Following him in close order. the
= four strangers saw Bassett and Win
: terbottom facing each other with drawn
2 pistols and the other two players hold
grx IL, tla tInn saf
i preventing a homicide. There was a
!. confusion Of boisterous language and
n much violent action for moment or so.
but the old man easily dominated the
I situation by the aid OF the bungstarter
: he fiourished, and even the two armed
Z men Gained down a little when he
u said:
III yo' gents can't play peaceable
y yo can't play into my place. II they
Is any fightin' to ne did ii en- be did
3 out on the levee."
And when the quarrel had been ex-
y planned to- him he decided as umpire
{. that Winterbottom had been In the
70 wrong In insisting on a mouth play.
i Money talks in poker" ne said. AN
d tn amt no call To- nobody else to say
nothin'."
= well. IL thems the house rules
u reckon I'll have to put up with EN-,
> said Wlnterbottom grudgingly. II alays
played in a gentleman's game afo' this
!" when n mans word was took till III
,e come 10 be known. Tain't as II did
X Mt had wad." he continued. diggin,
~ inside his shirt and producing an enor
'e nous roll To justify himself.
The sight Of the money had a grea
ne effect Bassett Gained down Instant,
nd
- in the game. and Winterbottom cover
nc ing the bet that had been made Shove
the winning hand and took the pot.
The four strangers were also i'm
III pressed They conferred among them
y. selves for a few moments while tn
en- others listened without seeming TO d
W. so. Finally they decided that 1t Nigh
nc lie worth while to join in a game whe
!" 40 much was at stake. and that
great peril would be incurred In a part
's SO amenable to reason.
I'VE uns d like to set in, IL tn ain
zoe no ELECTIONS" said one OF them. b.
Blaisdell demurred.
III Eight handed is wuss n 70 handed
''' he said, IAN l reckin tn amt none
wv we uns gwine to quit right now. The
'e' won't be room To- all o yo' uns."
Considerable discussion followed ar
1t appeared tnat no one VI tie eik
NIX , was exactly willing to be left out. b
-" Blatsdell persisted in his opposition
INC a party of that number. until Sam Pea
>, sail suggested that eight players We
~ not too many In n game of stud poke
!" and the suggestion was approved.
From the start. the play was interes
III" ing but 1t did not continue long. T
nv strangers knew nothing of B!aisdel
ieS reputation as a dealer. but his frien
''u' had seen him handle the cards befo
and they waited with some confiden
mn for an opportunity to come to one
ieu other Of them when the deal passed
','e him, as 1t did in due time.
nc When they looked Mt their huri
one cards. winterbottom found ten 81
ner' and as his first card showing was
MS ten, he stiffened himself. The ne
our players king was the highest In sis
-, and he bet a dollar. Everybody cal
mn in, but Winterbottom forbore to ra
me-, not caring to show his strength
soon.
u Across the table from him pair
oIyhts apneared on the second rOu