The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-19

a heap better OF If they was mo red
paint interjuced in yo' veins"
W that thar stands fo' red liquor
said Joe Bassett, bristling up. "th' amt
no p'ticlar 'bjcctions. s fur s | know.
They's arays room 70 that, an yo' uns
IL welcome 20 go g fur = 20 like.
But II they is any intentions mea
mebbe il mought be a good thing IL
they was Explained mo-"
"Spainin's my long suit" said
the other with palpable evidence of en-
joyment. zone thing we reckons on
IL TO 10 spread IA mo- gen'l knowledge
y draw poker. Pears ike they is
ign'nce on the subject o
poker every place we done been 80
fur' an what we uns p'poses is TO TO
'nlighten the ign'ant."
THAT bein' the case" said the old
man eagerly, 'yo' gents sho' is thrice
welcome. IL they is anythin' under
the blue canister - heaven what Ar
kansas City is a yearIin' TO it's n
C'mplete knowledge u the prin-
ciples q draw poker.
They is Il gainc in the back room
what's alays open to them what on
derstands the way to play. but tn amt
nobody lowed into 1t 'thouten he's
qualified. Pikcrs an beginners amt
wanted. bein's they don't learn us
nothin'. These gents here and he
indicated by a gesture that he meat
the four he had been talking to when
the strangers anne In. "ain't nothin'
but beginners they own sells, but they
Graves Instruction."
"Sho' do" said Blaisdell, confirming
the statement with great emphasis.
They needn't be no mo- said" de-
clared the strangers with one accord,
and after the old man had decorated
the table in the back oom with cards
and as many chips as the players cared
to buy seven men seated themselves
with an air OF preparedness that pre-.
saged an interesting contest.
Il reckon some O. that thar red
paint Is kyind q liable TO to git
stopped over" muttered the old man
as he went back to the barroom alone
after looking the party over with great
care. Anyways, they Is a wad Of 1t
And he carefully put away the three
OLE VI DltS Wll'Il Nv SNihiiS'iS u
used in buying chips.
Not Mess they git 1t over my
daid body. they won't" he added to
himself with a look at his bungstarter.
Then he bit a cigar in two and
lighted one portion of ii after eating
the other. He had just seated himself
in his favorite chair by the window
and put his feet on the sill when Mr..
owen Pepper came in and called for n
drink.
Ordinarily the old man did not en-
courage Mr.. Pepper in "A conversational
way. but at the moment he was rather
curious about the three strangers In
the back room. and as Mr.. Pepper
knew a good many things despite his
habit of denying 1t the old man after
serving the drinks asked him a ques-
ton.
seen anybody round with a pot o
paint recent" he said with an anec-
ta,ion of indifference.
.'Oh. ! don't know said Mr.. Pep
per. They was three buccaneers on
the boat last night what was lit up
some, but | didn't see no paint
displayed. They mought a had it with
EN-. though. 'Cordin' to what I heer'd
they 3 liable TO tote most anythin'."
What kyind o critters vas they
"Oh. | don't know. Some o the
passengcrs was sayir' they was three
hghtin' men I'm TEXAS what a onto
n pleasure trip. Pears they done
heer'd a heap bout Bassett an laid
out 10 give him a tussle."
'"There amt a hellova crowd. Pears
like they'd a did better IL they'd
fetched some mo- long with en-" said
the old nan slightingly.
"Oh, don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
They Is all I'm Texas. an they tel
me what them Texas fighters is c'nsid-
able quicker'n chain lightnin' with
guns. keerless with 'em too. Last
| seer OF EN- they was headed this
away. an thought I'd drop in to see
if they was anythin' didd!n'.'
"Nothin' but mouth play so fur
said the old man with a grin. "but
they We done went in the back room
TO To give Blaisdell some Instructions
bout playin' poker. Mebbe some'
body mought git het up later on. bu,
Gawd hep EN- If they does"
'Oh, | don't know" said Mr.. Pep.
per. II amt p'pared TO say what 70
all an Bassett d be enough TO thu
three on 'em If ii come to a fight, mo
special If 80 all vas to sling yo' bung,
starter round. but Blaisdell amt tn
'Cordin to what l herd pears thes,
T. -