The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-25

P'"N'iNVs vi professional players,
ana held himself not bound by any
cthicai restrictions when he detected
crooked work by them when he played
win them. as he did on occasions.
When he had received his orders
TO go to Arkansas City to make Ger
tain surveys Of the great river at
mat point he had smiled somewhat
Grimly at the prospect of having the
opportunity to match himself against
the four noted players who had given
the little town the name of being the
place where draw poker was played
somewhat better and somewhat more
lutn.essly tnan 1t was any Siis,e else.
And he had gone ioyously.
," e wa.' il ma:ht be ss;a mat a
certain advantage lay with him when
he Jo,.,eJ In the game that was made
up for his entertainment on the night
when lie made his first appearance in
old man Greenlaw's saloon. For he
was fully aware of what ne was up
against. having heard much of the
powers of the famous quartet.
But though unaware they were
never unwary. and before the game
had gone on long they understood
something OF his quality, for he played
with an excess Of caution, though
twice in the game he surprised them
by bold strokes, both of which were
so unexpected that they preferred to
lose the pots rather. than call what
in each instance had the prima facie
appearance of a blum.
The fact that both of these plays
were made on the Lieutenant's own
6cal vas evidence enough in their
eyes to Justify suspicion. but they
were always suspicious anyhow and
though they scrutinized his every
move they saw nothing convincing.
This accorded well with tho Lieu
tenants plans, for knowing that he
was tn remain for some days in the
vicinity he was not minded to cut on
his only source OF amusement by
making the first game decisive. And
on their part old man Greenlaw's
friends were we'll pleased at the pros
pect of another chance to despoil the
! Lieutenant Of his wad.
1t was OF the morning following
this first or opening game Of the
series that Mr.. Blaisdell took steps
toward putting in operation a plan
which he had evolved over night and
which required the cooperation OF two
other persons only. one tn call for a
new deck Of cards and the other to
bring it. Further proceedings were
to be conducted by himself alone.
Having instructed old man Green
law as 10 his part. as has been told al
ready, il remained to tell Bassett what
to do. Accordingly when that worthy
appeared at the saloon not long after
midday Blaisdell said to him:
Joe. they'll he "a time into the game
tonight IL that army Teller shows up
what Iii want to change the guards.
When I do yo' all wants to holler to
the old man TO to fetch a blue deck.
Don't make no mistake"
Il won't make no mistake" said
Bassett, but how'll I know when to
call?"'
you'll know said Blaisdell. and he
said no more.
II was not his way to explain his
methods to other people. even to his
friends. prefcrring as a rule to allow
his works to speak for themselves and
realizing hat no small amount OF the
admiration he compelled by exhibit
lions of his cleverncss was due to the
mystery attaching to his feats.
After the vents of the evening fol-
lowing what has been told there was,
however. so lively "A demand for par
~ticulars on the part of those who had
witnessed what was done to the Lieu
tenant that Blaisdell was fairly forced
to tell how he had dom II.
II reckon" he said, how they won't
he no harm did II ] was to tell it.
seem tn amt nothin' like it liable TO
TO happen on'y onc't every blue moon.
Even II they was. tn amt mo n six
men what cd do II IL they was to try.
one Eye mought II he was to think of
it. an I reckon I'm the other five" he
concluded modestly.
II seen when this army Teller set
in he began again after he had
lighted his pipe. what he want no
ornery amachure. They was some
pin bout him what ! s'picioned I'm
the start, but l will say what II he
played crooked I didn't see nothin'.
/ got my 'pinion o his dealin'. Them
two big pots he done We uns outen the
first night he played was too good to
be honest. but I couldn't say nothin',
bein' s | couldn't prove nothin'.
II seen mo- n hat afo' he done
played long. I seen what he had
a eve like a hawk an 'peared like he
knowed all they was to be did with
the guards. So they IAN no reg1ar
trick liable to git by with him into the
game. So just nachully ! p'pared
to spring a new one onto him case o
necessity.
THE old man seen me change them
six spots to sevens. an I knowed he'd
fetch me the right deck when Joe
called 70 1t. like to fell of my chair
laughin' when I kicked Joe in the
shins. He came nigh reachin' TO his
gun, hut | will say how he understood
suddint an he called TO the blue deck
all right.
"Well. yo' uns knows what faint
no kind of a stunt To- me to stack
the guards 'thout anybody seein'
nothin'. but the trouble was what this
army Teller 'peared to know 1t too, an
what I had to do was to git him to
know somepin' else what wouldn't be
so when it happened.
80 I lone give him three sevens
afo' the draw. Him settin' on my lef;
an havin' the aige, I reckoned maybe
he'd give II a boost 70 luck, mo- spe-
o cial alter ! done make a false move In
the deal like I was gwine to deal
: another round alter I was through.
[ "'Twa'n't much a move an didn''
a l--. L.