The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-20

"hth lie TOOK MS place at the table
the stranger bought a s25 stack of chips
I'm tAo cid -:.an az did the other play
ers. and then laid 800 in bills along
side his chips on the table, taking the
amount from roll that made the old
mans eyes glisten, and putting the roll
back in an inside pocket The mere
sight OF IT, however. had been inspiring
to the other players.
The game proved to be not particu-
larry exciting The Stranger showed
himself to be good player. as Blais-
dell had thought he was but luck ran
against him, and though Blaisdell re-
Trained from exercising his skill in the
deal. holding himself in reserve until
more of the wad should be produced,
the strangers money melted away, till
he had no more on the table
Then he stretched himself and rose.
"Thatll be all Tonight" he said. 81
don't never play to lose no mo- n puts
In first Off, but ! mought tackle yo' uns
agin to.morrcr IL | feels lucky"
Come round said Biaisdell heartily.
They'll be n game on. but don't les
make it no sich of pikin' ones this.
II yo' plays 'cordn' to that rule we
en- put up enough at the 20 of TO to
make 1t wuth while"
We'll, ! amt 'xactly what yo' mought
call piker," said the other carelessly.
but | sho' does play that rule. aims
to lose what | puts In, or win the same
amount often all the others what sets
in. II Ia "A win $500 Tonight Id "a
quiz just the same"
That's one ON me-" said Blaisdell,
thoughtfully. 81 amt never heerd o.
nobody playin' thataway afu', but l
amt a-sayin but what mehbc it's good
idee. Yo' all talks like go mought be
pfcssiona,"
We'll. | makes a business of it," was
the reply. They know me tol'ablc well
on this boats. My names Gwatncy."
Buck Gwaltney?" said Blaisiell in
some surprise, and when the other
nodded he continued: I'VE uns sho' has
heerd mention o yo' playin'. but we
want p'pared TO yo' all to Sc, in 50
modest like
We'll" said the other. "th' amt no
hellOva hurry. aim To set in again
bu; / kyind o. like to size a crowd up
afo' I plays 70 'mpo'tant money. I
mought put in mo mex; time"
Have a drink" said the old man. who
had been listening attentivcly, and they
had IT,
Il reckon he amt such a much alter
ALL" he said after Gwa.tncy had DIS
appeared IF go uns plays it right
tomorrer mo- n likely We'll cit his hull
wad."
But Bla!sdell shook his head. doubt
fully. "All the same he said, "yo'
al wants Ia have that red deck handy"
Soon after dark the following night
Gwal'ncy rcappear d. and this time the
old man extended the Inequalities with
out waiting to hear the outsider speak
FIRST He seemed to be looking for
ward to something.
No more than time enough for a
single round was taken. however. b.
fore the party adjourned to the back
room to renew the contest. This time
Blaisdell had nothing to say about pix
ing, for the stranger produced the en-
tire wad from his inside pocket and
laid it on the table.
Il feel like maxim a KILN tonight"
he said.
That's mo- like IT," said Jake Winter
bottom, approvingly. How much is yo'
all putin up?"
Il know" said Gwaltney. somewhat
rudely, but II yo' all wants to find
OUT, III AIN nOIlllN 10 Keep AO from
bettin' ag'in it,"
81 on'y ask. count a. the game bcin'
table stakes. I'd kyind O like To- ppare
myself" responded Winterbottom. with
suspicious mildness.
Table stakes, What's that" asked
Gwaltney still more truculently, but
Wnterbottom refused 10 get excited.
"Oh, very well" was all he said. pro-
InpIptr ole Of
was to be no limit.
At first the stranger won. but even
Blaisdcll, though he watched kccnly
for evidence of questionable play. could
find none, and he hcs!tatcd about eNer-
cising his own skill at first. rejecting
that so able player as Gwaltncy UNI
doubleday was might possibly be gifted
with unusual powers of observation.
He had by no means forgotten the
eXpedient he had determined to try,
however, and after perhaps dozen
rounds sam Pearsail gave a sudden
start OF surprise just as Blaisdell was
about to assemble the deck, preparatory
to dealing.
lie recovered him.cl Instantly, how
ever. and called out to the old man:
Fetch us a red deck" he said, with
every appearance of being much an
noyed Them blue guards pears to be
4 hoodooed. | amt had no hand 70 a
week o Sundays" And the old man
came in promptly with the red deck.
! Biaisdel ripped off the cover and
| shuilied the cards with ostentatious
/ thoroughness, but IL he employed any
of his famous skill in doing 1t Gwaltney
B did not discover ii. Then he offered the
deck to Winterbottom for a cut, but
when Wlnt,rhu.tom cut the cards for
/ him he was seldom disconnected in his
/ plans. Wlnterbottom seemed to know
/ just where TO cut.
Then he d. alt and Gwaltney noticed
with some surprise that he made a mo-
ton as If to continue dealing after
serving each player with five cards II
was a very slight motion, and he ar
rested it instantly, but Gwaltney had
caught glimpse of the card which he
had almost separated from the deck
1t was of course the first card thai
would be served in the draw, ant
Oval ncy would be the first to draw.
The betting was large, before am
after the draw, but when that was Il
be served only Gwaltney ana Winter
bottom remained in. the others hiNinl
been driven out. Then GwaltneS tool
one card and WIntcrbottom took two,