The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-29


sonie particular individual in mind who
should be compelled by some means to
visit his little saloon In Arkansas City.
and take hand In the poker game that
was sometimes played there.
30 far as could he Judged from ap-
Dearances there was no disposition on
the part OF those who listened to him
to dissent from the proposition he had
made, but II was equally apparent that
they were doubtful OF the possibility of
enforcing II.
Il wouldn't so SO far. 70 say that
want so, spcakin' by an large" said
Jake Winterbottom, rather obviously.
but is done led boss 10 water afo'
now. when I reckoned he'd ought To-
10 have a drink. an amt never found
no way o. maxim him take II 'thouten
he was thirsty. Pears like they Is some
things wha: can't be did"
"Th' amt nothin' Z can't be did"
declared the old man very positively.
''p'vidin' the man s does II goes about
II right. Mo n that, this yer zap pears
to have c'nsldable OF wad Stands TO
reason IT'S got TO be did"
Il reckon 20 all II have 10 he the
one to do II, then" said Jim Blaisde.l.
~ one who Ia interested in a matter
but who dsclairns personal RESPONSE
bihty. III they is any way o. maxim
man play poker when he won't.
dunno what It's
'Mebbe not" said the old man. "but
3ust because he says he won't ain- no
proof but what he will. Them that's
the most positive Is mistaken some fire.
Quent Sometimes they'll do things
when they'm drunk what they wouldn't
never think o dom sober
Come to think OF IT," he added
thoughtfully. "'pears like they wouldn't
be no use O. gittin' drunk II a man
was to do the same things what ne
would II he was sober
But his hearers were not impressed
even by this piece OF philosophy.
This yer zap don't drink" said Sam
Pearsall. with the air Of one who con-
siders that he has disposed OF a con-
troversy.
But the old man was still unconvirced
'Mebbe he don't IS grnl rule" he
said. but men amt like bosses alto
sether. They Is ways o. maxim q ma
drink. even n they Amt no way O.
maxim a boss do IL.
IF he's a reel gent. faint likely he'd
stand out II somebody was treatin' the
crowd. an even II he hadn't the common
plteness TO jinc in when he was asst.
mebbe he'd ruther do II n To fight. O.
co'ee. IL stands TO reason tn amt no.
body liable 10 be made 10 play poker
ruthcr n TO fight. beins tn amt no
rules Of etiquette what cover. a pint
like that
But etiquette en- he 'nfoced asin a
man wk7' won't drink when gent doe.
him ~ ke nor 70 to asst him. Mebbe that
mougfNe gest somep!n TO yo all" he
concluded. looking hard at Joe Rassett,
who had taken no part IN the discussion
up 10 this point, but who had begun Ia
show some interest in IT a. soon az the
old man had said something about the
possibilities OF a fight.
When he was thus appealed to he
reused himself, though he raised a qu-s-
ton.
That mought he did. o. co'se" he
said, but even II it's tn Amt no tcllin
whether the Teller d play poker alter
wards. What's the USE"
It'll be b'ginnin' anyway. won,
IT." retorted the old man. "They can,
nothin' be did IL nobody don't make M
b'ginnin'. Cordln' to what yo uns say.
IN amt no mo- use tryin IA do nOthin
with this zap when hos sober but m
20 see things mo- reasonable Ike n he
was drunk It's worth tryin' anyway
an tn expense d be trifln. Stands tc
reason faint gwinc to take a helluva
lot o liquor to git him goln' IL he dom
never drink nothin'."
This line OF reasoning appealed IL
the company rs being sound and thor.
oughly in accord with human experi.
ence. Moreover, the programme ,ug.
sested by tho old man promised To b.
more or less entertaining to those VIII,
should carry II out, and there was n,
disposition manifested by any OF then
to ahirk the performance OF the dut,
he had pointed out to them. Accord
tngly they expressed their entire will
fngness 10 make the effort. though Jak,
Winterbottom suggested q doubt a. Z,
ne utility OF Il.
rh'ain't no ELECTIONS TO plsytn' hosl
WIN the gent 70 . spell, = fur's I or
va" he said. rather obviously. but II
be doggoned II see how rs liable e
DO no greet good, a fur's playtn' poker,
fuoerned."
He agreed readily enough. however
10 Join In the attempt when Blaisdel
aid, "Mebbe so, Jake. but they amt m
ELECTIONS to uyin OF H. Ike yo' al
aid. yo' own self
BY unanimous choice Rassett wa
selected as the leader in tho enterprise
not only on account Of his natural At
ness but because he would under no cir
,umstances have agreed 70 t0Ke sec
lndary position when there was III,
possibility OF n fight involved. Accord
ngly the four friends set out forthwith
'or the tavern up the street where on
Bill Jones had soJourned for severa
laws.
Mr.. Jones, II II almost needless 20 -H
plain after what has already been said
was a stranger In Arkansas city, an,
although old man Grcenaw and hi
party We're far from suspectnG tn
fact. he had come to that place for tn
express purpose ~ PLAYING poker Wit
hem. Being astutr A. wei az venture
some, however, he had planned his pro
cedure with great prudence.
They shO is Cnsid'ahie 'Xcltemen
INTO it," said one Eve chuchUnG de
ightedly at the recollection ~ sundr
sxper!ences OF his own, "hut it's got T
be did cautious II IT'S gwinc to he die
I wouldn't mind takin' whirl al it m