The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08
Jim Blaisdell's Surprising
Skill as a Dealer
Vindicated.
STRANGERS ERROR COSTLY
Straight Flush Turns Out in the
showdown to BE Only .
Pair Of Jacks.

Many men had watched Jim Blaisdell
closely when he dealt the ca rds in the
poker game that was not infrequently In
progress In the back room Of old man
was u precaution which no experienced
player ever neglected to watch the dealer
In any game in that part Of the world.
but when Blaisdell was dealer II was gen.
erally considered specially important I'd
sGutinize hiA. play with unusual care
because Of his reputation. which was wide
spread. snviable or unenviable as II was
considered. according to the viewpoint Of
The copsiderer.
No one >entured TO call him crooked
player. That is. none had ever called
him that to his face. whate yer might hav G
been said at safe distance behind his
back But. on the other hand. the OBJ
|, servers who kept tabs on his proceedings
were disinclined to attribute the char
acter Of the hands he dispensed to the de
ternininr influence of luck
Whether luck or skill. no viewer. was the
decisive factor in the game a. he played Il,
there could be no question Of the almost
Uniform success OF the home team when
strangers sat in at old man Greenlaw's.
And 70 great was the confidence Of the
others on tho team in that success that
they yer hesitated to back their hands
hber. when Blsisdell dealt Old man
oreen~ regarded him rs a marvel
Therefore it was that men fixed their
eyer on him unwaSeringly when he dealt
for ventureeome z amesters from the out
side would often sit in at the game. filled
as they were with calm confidence In their
own prowess and unafraid at the be-
ginning Of the contest None had ever
detected AIRY irrcgularity however. in the
movements Of his supple fingers. II might
have been "uphemistic to credit the god
dess II chance with the remarkable hands
~hich would often be held on his deal. but
II was certainly more prudent to employ
the euphsrnism than it would have been
la indulge in any criticism Of the methods
III h" dealer.
" "oS Huc VuouSu NtAt men 06O t0eIr
. suspicious. but one Of the beneficial re-
suits OF playing poker in that part OF the
world was. that the participants In tha
game leasped to appreciate the great
ben,ty " self restraint I'm the matter Of
criticism. the requirements OF etiquette
were rigorous, and any infringements OF
IL were likely TO entail serious conse-
offences. ....
There we're few men in tho Mississippi
valley who were better acquainted with
the etiquette OF poker or more conversant
With the peril involved In the indulgence
IN hasty language than the one who sat
on Flaisdell's left tho night a curious
thing happened. And there we're no,
many who could have maintained a more
admirable appearance Of composure
when he realized the nature of 1t.
Pierre Grosjean was one OF the most
capable gameeters who made their living
at the time on the river boats. 1t was
not exactly true that he had been in
weighed into playing that night. for he
had gone to Arkansas City for the ex-
press purpose OF sitting in. being mar
who loved adventure. He had not
avowed his purpose. however. but had
allowed himself tp be persuaded into tax
Ing hand with seeming reluctance when
he found himself In the saloon. and Blais
dell and Mis- friende. not being acquainted
with him. supposed at first that they
would have little trouble in outplayine
him.
After they had played along for time
they realized their mistake. The stranger
seemed to be as we'll acquainted with the
intricacies Of the game as they them.
selves were. His play was both wary and
bold. and the poker instinct which On.
abled him to avoid serious losses was ~
keen as his perception OF the opportuni.
ties which came to him from ti4e tc
time Of pressing his own advantage.
TherefRe it happened that the game
was prolonged unusually. and old mar
Greenlsw was con siderably perturbed
He had stood Watching the play for some
time, but finding the strain on his nerves
to be somewhat severe he retired to the
front room and spoke his mind TO Mr.
Owen Pepper. 800
-If tif' amt somepin' did soon.' he
said. that there pirate 10 liable TO &c
pull out winner into the game
-Oh. don't know said Mr.. Pepper
sPierre GFosjean sho' is a expert. but
! reckon'hes UP az in 1t this time
lis that Grosjean?'' asked the old man
IN surprise. 80,
-Oh, I don't know what that's his reel
fame. but that's what they call him OF
the boats" said Mr.. Pepper.
Them Creoles is dang 'rous,' said the
old nun. 'an' I've done herd o this one
special. %. 1 reckon 'twont hurt nothin
n WAS to give Bsssett the Office. Mo- n
likely they'll be things a-diddin' afo
long
.Oh.. I dou't know" said Mr. Pepper
81 reckon Joe en- smell = disturbance
nigh bout as quick p any. never seer
nobody cotch him onp pared 49,
Joe sho' IL tol'able promp.' admitted
the old man, but nobody amt never nc
wuss of 70 bein' warned"
Accordingly he returned TO the bscI
room and so conducted himself a. to catcl
the watchful eye Of the redoubta bl,
sheriff, who regarded him with some
surprise' Then. standing directly behint
the strange and being thus secure from
his observation. no executed series q
uantomimio movements well calculutet