The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-01
GUNLESS STRANGER
SHOWS HIS QUALITY
BY the Sacrifice of His Chips
lie Gets Away From Ar
kansas City.
JOE BASSETT ANNOYED
nv DAVID q. fCnTiS.

ny
II was a very earnest looking nan
who sat in the Jack room of old man
Greenlaw's saloon playing draw poker
with Jake Winterbottom. jim Blais-
dell and Sam Pearsall. Not only was
he deeply intent on the game itself, as
1t vas highly advisable for him to be
under the circumstances, but he
seemed almost painfully anxious to
acquire n thorough understanding Of
the nature Of his surroundings. being
apparently n stranger not only to the
settlement of Arkansas City but also
to the and customs which
obtained there.
He had ventured into the saloon an
hour or so before. almost timidly,
Offering the customary invitation to
those in the room with a degree of
diffidence that was entirely uncalled
for. and seeming to be almost as much
surprised as he was pleased when his
invitation was accepted promptly and
Internationally.
"I've never been in this part of the
country before" he said AS II apologize
ing for his intrusion, and I had nc
intention when | came Off the boat of
remaining in town. for | have to be
in Little Rock on business as soon as
possible. But | am informed that to-
days train has already gone and I
can't get away till day after to-mor-
row. The trains do not run very fire.
q~uently. it seems"
We'll" said old man Greenlaw. that
d'pends c'nsid'able IN what yo' all calls
freQ'ent. We uns reckons what three
trains a week is tol'able good service
TO- food times. They Is a big 'dvan-
tage into 1t, though, II it's looked at
right"
Maybe So said the stranger doubt
fully, but | don't quite see it."
mo n likely yo' will see 1t afo' yo'
git away" retorted the old nan with
the air of one who believes what he
says. Gives you a chanst o. seem
mo- O. Arkansas City n what yo'
would IL yo'd "a went away immejit."
But" said the stranger with the
manner Of a man who strongly OBJ
jects to what is said, IL don't see that
there Is anything more to see about
Arkansas City. / saw 1t all before I'd
been ashore five minutes. All there is
above water. that is"
"They amt s much shown as they
Ia sometimes, that's a fac" the Old
man admitted generously, but they is
"a heap o things round town what
cam be saw in five minutes. Mebbe
yo' all mought think diff'rent II yo' all
was mo- 'quainted."
We'll. of course I don't know what
there may be around that I haven't
seem admitted the stranger in his
turn. but If there is anything that's
anyway interesting I'd like to flint out
what it's. I don't want to say any
thing against your town. but I'd feel
kind n relieved IL ! could get in
terested In something while I'm here.
! was beginning to think Of getting
drunk, just to pass the time"
"They is some does that" said the
old man, IAN If Il man Ia hell bent
thataway tn amt gently no objections
made. but If he's lookin' TO 'Xcitement
they is sompin' a heap sight better
en- be did. They Is the d~oggonedes,
best game o. poker played into my
back room what they is anywheres In
the Mississippi Valley"
"Poker is good" said the stranger
land ! don't mind taking a hand II
there is a game on and the stakes
aren't too high"
18th amt never no higher n 20
want 'em to be-" said the old man
reassuringly. THE boys gently plays
table stakes. an "A man al'ays gets 6
show TO what he has on the table
Can't be nothin' fairer n that"
mo, that's fair" agreed the stranger
land | don't mind putting up a hun
dred for a starter IL anybody want.
to play. | reckon I'll go melanchol,
mad by night If / don't find something
to do"
Usually there would be -four player.
in the house ready and willing t,
entertain any and all corners VIII,
yearned for the excitement of poker
but on this occasion there were onl,
the three already mentioned. Jo
Bassett. who was ordinarily the fourth
one, was not in the saloon, nor wa
anything said at the time %concernin,
the cause of his absence.
1t might have been noticed, how
ever, that old man Greenlaw SCENE
~apprehensive of some sudden occur
ence, and looked nervously at tn
door every time he heard any sligt
noise, II The noise seemed to be in tn
immediate neighborhood. Two or thre
times there occurred the sound {
what might be taken for a pistol she
in the distance, but to these noises Il
paid no attention. II a only whe
something near by was heard that h
looked anxious.
One of these shots. however. SCENE