The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26

but industriously for n considerable
time In silence. 1t presently appeared.
however, that their thoughts were still
engaged with the subject which the
old man had endeavored to elucldate.
Il reckon" said Jake Winterbottom
rather ponderously after the silence had
continued for some time, what they is
considerable mo- what mought be said
bout that there time limit what Pepper
was talkin' bout. / h'ain't never heerd
nobody takin' week To- to make up
ms mind whether he'd call a bet into a
POKER game, but don't s-,- no reason
why ne shouldn't be let to do 1t II he
sees fit. Th'aint nothln In tn rules agIn
it, IS fur IS know"
That's what he LAWYERS cali tho
'reductio damned absurdum.'" said the
old man promptly. 90 cose tn amt
| nothin' in the rules agin 1t.
TIL amt nothin' in the rules apin
co'tin' gal or chuckln' a fit while the
cyards is bein' dealt, but 'talh't to be
Expected how they amt nobody gwine
To do neither one on 'em, not II he's
lookin to set In TO the remainder o.
the game he alnt. All d'pends on
WHAT'S to be Considered reasonable,
Poker is got to be played reasonable
II IT'S gwine to be played at all, same's
anythn' else"
| "Mebbe that's So" said Jim Blaisdell
/ n little doubtfully, but who's gwine TO
tell what's reasonable an what ain't into
a poker game? o. cose II a things
agreed onto when yo' set in. that goes.
. Don't make no difference what It's, nor
1t don't make no difference whether It's
rcas' nable or not.
But II they amt nothln' specified
when yo' set in tn amt nothln goes
on'y what's in the rules regular. /
amt never took week my own self
dcldin' whether I'd play or not, but
II | was to reckon what week was
ne'ssary I'd be some liable to take IT,"
Not If | was settin in yo' wouldn't"
exclaimed Joe Bassett with strong EN-
phasis.
MIR. Bassett seldom Joined in any
discussion while it was being carried
on verbally, and this sudden assertion
IN his part was not only surprising To-
the others but a little disconcerting as
well. He was known to be positive in
his convictions and more or less siren
uous in the UNFOLDING Of them, and 1t
was evident that the argument, If 1t
was to bc continued. would progress on
somewhat different lines
is that so?" retortcd Blaisdel. II
amt a-sayin' how I'm liable to. bein'
: | en- gently make up my mind in
less time n thst what I'm gwlne to
do. But tn amt nobody gwine TO
bulldo2c me into playin' afo' I'm ready.
not If it takes two weeks.
"Mebbe they is them what en- be
bulldozed. but If they is anybody gwine
TO try 1t onto me Ia like to know
how its gwne to be did" He glared
denanly at Bassett as he spoke. and
knowing the latter as they all did 1t
seemed likely that strained relations
between the twl would result. Sam
pearsall. however, spoke up suddenly
"Mcbbc it mought be did thouten
hul.dozin," he said, quietly but ear
ncstly
AS how" demanded Blaisdell an
grily.
"Well." said Pearsall. deliberately and
calmly II amt a-sayiu' what Bassett
mought do, but en- tell what Ia be
Liable TO do. long about 10 or hve
hours alter | done made bet II they
want nobody done made up his mind
what he was gwine to do bout calm"
What d go an reckon yo was liable
20 do?" asked Blaisdel, with an open
sheer.
III done made a bet" replied Pear
sail steadily. AN they want nobody
called, | sho' would reckon the pot was
mine | say the Old man is right 'Taint
.rtps'nJh'" 60 "a man 90 p" mp his money
an set an grow old afo his time while
he's waitin 70 somebody 20 d'cide what
he'd best do. - cose, he's 'ntltled 10
study spell. but faint to he Xpected
what I'm gwiue to wait no week. I'd
. rake tho pot"
Not Mess twas over my daid body
/, they wouldn't nobody rake il, II twas
me what was study.u'," declared Win
tcrbottUm. and the two giared muir
derously AZ each other.
q We'll" said Pearsall, II they was a
daid body in the way, | reckon It d
have to be a da.d body, no matter who
twas. II the pot was mine. I'd have
IL, an | sho' would reckon It was mile
, ondcr them c.rcumstants."
They couldn't nobody holt nothin
ag'in yo' all. nor nobody else. 70 takin
, what was yo'n." interjccted the old
man. buttng in with the benevolent
, purpose Of avoiding the general melee
that seemed imminent, but the pint Is
=, how soon It's yo'n. They amt no hare
an fast rule gov'uin' no SIGH Of a situa'
I ton : fur g knows, but on the other
. hand, tn amt no question but what q
), man has n right 10 to study his pa,
To- a rCas'nahle time. Question is, whats
4 rcasrable."
: "Reas nable be doggoned." shouted
, Rlaisdel who was beginning 10 show
&. temper unusually at having his opinion
- on a question of poker controverted
, "Th' amt no man Twin gwine to tel
q - L..