The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-30
DISASTER AVERTED
IN ARKANSAS CITY
One Hawlcy, a Runt. Sits Tn at
the Game Again and Wins
Shamcfully.
HOUSE RULES INVOKED
As Last Resort and Old Man
Grrcnlaw Saved From FL
nancial Ruin.
HOUSE RULES INVOKED
ny DAVID 4. CURTIS.

played in the back room of old man
Greenlaw's saloon in Arkansas city
should have had anything to do with
the sentiments of the other participants
in the game regarding the outcome II
is not quite easy to understand. There
seemed to be, however, in the old mans
mind curious feeling of resentment
and n certain sense Of improperly. both
OF which were manifested plainly IN his
comments on the fact that Buck Haw-
ley had won money in the game and
both Of which seemed to be occasioned
by the fact that lIawley's stature was
below the average.
Moreover. the old mans foremost par
ticular friends Jake Winterbottom, Jim
Blaisdell, sam Poarsall and Joe Bassett,
who together with llawlcy had made up
the party 10y whom the game in qucs-
ton had been played, all seemed from
their uttcranCcs and their manner TO
have similar ideas. with bitter con-
tempt they referred to Mr. Hawley as
a runt whenever in the course of the
discussion it was found necessary TO
refer To him at all, and the inevitable
conclusion was that they considered it a
reproach to him that he should be so
small az he was.
Mr.. owen Pepper was equally con-
temptuous in his characterization of the
successful player. He called him a fool
but that had nothing to do with his size.
He did not call him "A big fool. and in
deed the circumstances would not have
Justified him in referring to him as such.
since Mr.. Hawlcy was certainly not big.
whatever else he may have been.
The facts were simple Mr.. Hawlcy,
as has been intimatod was an understood
person. He was also stranger. He
had signifnd his Willingness to join in
the poker game and had done So, to the
entire satisfaction Of the other players.
which satisfaction. however, proved TO
be evanesccnt later on. For MIR. Haw-
ley on Blaisdclls own deal had re-
manned in "A pot with somewhat ques-
tlonable judgment on three parts of a
straight flush and had drawn the two
cards he needed 10 ill the hand. Then,
betting out with all the confidence that
any other player would have felt under
the circumstances he had won the pot,
which by tina. time contained a goodly
sum of money. and had forthwith re-
tired from the contest.
IL was not, perhaps surprising that n
eeries of events as remarkable as these
were should have provoked the indig-
nation of the old man and the chagr!n
OF the four players. Most especially was
Mr.. Biaisdel mortified by so unexpected
a circumstance having occurred when
he was dealing. but 1t was not clear
why their minds should have been so
affected that their indignation and cha
grin were intensified by the fact that
Mr.. Hawlcy was as small as ne was
This of Itself was a psychological prob
lem worthy of more attention than they
gave TO it under the stress OF their
earnest desire To- get back at Mr.. Haw-
ley. AS no attempt was ever made,
however. by any Of them TO solve the
problem II has remained unsolved up TO
the present time and is still open to
discussion by any who may be inter-
ested.
Had Mr. Hawley been as large az Joe
Bassett, or even of average size, the
bitterness of having been outplayed by
him would seem naturally to have been
likely TO follow the game exactly az 1t
did actually follow; but no. They re-
viled his littleness, regardless of a tenn
perate expression OF Jake Winterbot-
toms which he offered only half heart
eddy, as If not expecting the others to
adopt his view Of the matter.
81 reckon II didn't ought fo' to =. OF
agin him" he said. what he's t.' s.zc
he Is. Gawd mighty made him that
away. 'Tain't likely but what he'd "a
been bigger II he could" But the others
refused To look at It in any such way.
Strong as was their rcpugnanCe to
Mr.. liawley on account Of his diminutive
proportions, their ycarnlng for revenge
was stu Stronger, and the former sem
tlment faded away presently in the
eagerness with which they listened to
a suggestion by Mr. Pepper that he
might be able to induce Mr.. HaWlcy to
sit In again. So artfully did he intro
duce this thought that tho old man adj
vanccd him a handsome sum for travel
ling expenses in the furthorance Of the
Schcmo and Mr. Pepper departed. os-
snsibly in search of the runt.
For a considerable time those who
remained in Arkansas City waited in
vain for news of either of them, but
MI. Pepper usually stopped there on
his rounds as travelling salesman
and after an interval he appeared again
in the saloon, Him they questioned i'm
mcdatoly.
"Oh, don't know said Mr.. Pepper
"Mrbbc he'll come again an mehbe ne
won |. done met up with MN at
Memphis, an he said what he would
but they aiut no telin'."
His Indifference reused the old mans
anger II done xiv go all hundred"
he said Indignantly, 40 to be used
fctchin' him back, Pears like go all is
guilty % misfeasance."
"Oh don't know" said Mr. Pepper
81 reckon | amt missed no feasance
nor uothiu' else. Way looked at il,
done tolahic well as twas, bein's | done
had To 20 To- Memphis anyway, SO that
there hundred was velvet But played
fair. lie done promised he'd come
couldn't do NO mo n that"
The old man used his hunFstarter to
express his disagreement with this
notion, and Mr., Pepper went away from
'h"r" in some haste. Later on, how
ever, they judged him more lenicntly.
for Mr. Iawlcy arrived on the very
next boat and presented himself at the
saloon with calm assurance, having no
misG!NingS, apparently, as to the nature
of his welcome.
Lets liquor" he said on entering
and they hQuOrcd.
e,