The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16

10y pAuoVu ", Tcouy IOr ' =. l
around the room stood perhaps half
4 dozen men who had followed the
players in for purposes Of observation
only. They were all residents OF Arkan-
sas City, and while they wero not un-
willing to have the floating capital OF
the community increased by whatever
amount the stranger might happen to
nave In his possession there was no one
Of the number who cared to contest the
matter OF acquiring it wit the four
champions who had undertaken the task
OF separating him from it. They all
knew OF the game.
He and 1t. however. were not readily
separated, and the interest Of the by
ISLANDERS WINS greatly enhanced when
they saw. a. they presently did. ose
after another Of the champions driven
to the boneyard till Blaisdell and tho
stranger were the only ones in the game
who had not renewed their stacks by
purchase.
The opportune pulling OF an ace Of
hearts by the stranger after he had
stayed on four little ones Of the same
suit. had resulted in the discontinue Of
Winterbottom, who had FIVE diamonds
not including the ace. and earsall, who
had stood pat on a straight. king high.
And Bassett had plabed undue reliance
on three aces in another deal after the
stranger had drawn three cards to a
pair Of tens. all three Of them proving
to be seven spots.
Luck pears to be runnin' yo' way,
stranger" said one OF the bystanders,
more rashly than he realized. though he
must have known that outside comment
was a breach OF etiquette that was not
likely to be tolerated.
1t was no surprise to the other, though
he himself seemed unprepared for it,
when he was grasped from behind by the
old man and violently elected from the
premises.
This yer amt no lace TO- nobody
what don't fetch his along. "
said the old man as he bestowed a parting
kick on the impulsivc visitor. and there
after there was silence In the gallery even
when more exciting incidents followed.
One Of these was the direct result Of a
deal by Mr.. Blaisdell. who seemed to be
more or less agitated by the misfortunes
Of his friends. and who sometimes re-
sorted TO extreme measures.
What he did on this occasion was to pass
out four excellent hands. Mr.. Bassett
received four tens, Mr.. Winterbottom a
pat flush. Mr.. Pearsall n king full and the
stranger four mines. II was really un-
necessary, since no more than 500 could
be taken from the stranger on account
Of the game being table stakes, and no
one OF his opponents having a greater
amount than that in front of him at the
may have considered it desirable to get
some one OF his friends in possession OF a
wad large enough to top the stranger
later on. At all events that was accom-
plished. Bassett's pile being $500 exactly
after the showdown. and the strangers
being considerably less than that.
The old man had ret rned to the back
room in the meantime, and observing
where Winterbottom's aud Pear Sll's
chips had gone he brought them more
without comment. and the deal passed
to Bassett. .
the unusual character Of the precedtns
deal. and no one else seemed to con-
slider 1t worth mentioning. but II Is
possible that his suspicious had been
aroused. for he sc~rutinized Bassett's
movements closely. to the secre;
amusement Of tho others at the table
Mr.. Bassett. talented as he was In some
respects, was rather inexpert In sthe
manipulation of cards. though in other
ways he was an excellent player.
Nevertheless he accomplished some.
thing noteworthy this time. for he gave
himself a pat full and the stranger foul
parts OF a straight flush. With thi'
, prospect and seeming to be satisfied
that there was nothing crooked in th'
deal, the stranger stayed to the draw
though no one but the dealer remained
made another ace high flush. though no
a straight. II was enough to call OF
|, when the dealer bet out. and again h
lost.
Looking doubtfully around he said
Il amt one to make no remarks an Tn
free to say what I hain't saw nothin' Tn
, p'pared to swear to, but Ill be dog
goned il | like to see no SIGH hands CON
; out so frequent, not when they're beat
! don't. Kyind O destroys a mans con
fidence."
=, .Is yo' all got anythin' to say abou
it?r demanded Bassett sternly.
.Nothin' p~'tic'lar," said the strange
, coolly. Il was just passin' a remark
That's ALL"
BEST way To- a man to do when h
amt got nothin' to say is TO to keep hi
mouth shet." observed the old nan
as one willing to enter a controversy.
. But the stranger was not ready
.Mebbe So" he replied. and aside fror
, that kept his mouth shut,
That was only for an interval, how
ever. He bought again without com
ment when the last Of the chips In iron
of him had disappeared in the course G
J two more deals. taking $500 worth thi
time, but II was evident from the wa
I in which he watched hiss opponents tina
he was suspicion and when the dec
passed to Blaisdell he took no pains I
uo,onaI thnt fapt