The sun., 1916-10-08

~ $3.50
no part In the p'ceedin's, not 'thouten
he done passed TO a play, an he don't
gently do that, so I seen what was up
to me when It come my way. TO- Win
terbottom opened the pot, an the
stranger he rose 1t handsome.
II didn't had nothin' to play on. but
l knowed what Blaisdell don't never
pier to play IN his own deal To- the
sake o. 'p%earances. SO I done trailed
SOS to help Jake along case o. him
needin' any 'sistance. Then Blaisdell
an Bassett both passed. go I seen 1t
was the regular thing.
well Jake he went back at the
stranger an the stranger trailed. He
sho' is n poker player. I give II a
small boost TO- luck, an Jake trailed
TO- fear O. drivin' the stranger out, I
reckon, an we done had him hooked.
He want gwine. to lay down no three
kings at that stage o. the game. but he
want fool enough To- to hist 1t no
mo- afo' the draw.
"Winterbottom took two, an the
stranger done likewise. 30 O. co'se I
done stood pat, not havin' nothin' to
draw to a. givin' Jake mo- moral
s'ppo't hathaway. b'sides %'xplainin'
my raise TO the stranger.
Couldn't n been nothin' mo- satis-
fact'ry up to then. An even alter that
1t went smooth enough TO n spell.
Jake bet. the stranger rose IL, ] trailed,
Jake rose, the stranger rose. I trailed
an Jake rose onct mo-.
Then the stranger reached down in
his jeans an fetched up the remains OF
his wad, with the rubber band round
1t, an throwed that in the pot, long
with a few bills what was layin' In
front of him. An when he done II he
Says. I'm all in
We'll. o. co'se when I seen that I
knowed I couldn't do no mo- good. so I
folded. 1t was UP to Jake. square, an
bein' 8 Biaisdell done doled the guards.
they want no manner o. doubt O.
| what was comm. But no.
IF l hadn't "a knowed Jake g long
s I has. I'd "a reckoned he must "a
been scairt o. somepin'. They was
money in front Of him. 90 he cd "a
called To- what he had even II 'twa'n't
enough to cover the strangers bet.
instead o which he throwed down his
hand.
Come like a clap o. lightnin'. I was
that s'prised what I set like n bump on
q log, an Jim IN Joe done the same.
while the stranger gathered up the pot
an went out the back do, afo' any.
body cd say Jack Robinson.
Joe recovered hisself quick enough
to fire one shot at him. IN he ran out
alter him when he seen he'd missed,
hpN thn ntrnta 1at axx,aSr ohAsl N hnoN
what was Just pullin' out. He sho'
was the quickest thing I ever seen on
two laigs.
I'VE looked at his hand. o. co'se, an
he had TO- kings all right. Then we
turned Jake's guards over an seen
what he done had To- aces. but he didn't
say nothin'. Just sat like he was
kyind o. stunned like TO- a minute OF
SO an then got up an done went out.
Sho' was the most mysterious thing
what yer happened in Arkansas City"
Such were the things already re-
ferred to. Such had been the lament.
able lapse on the part OF Mr.. Winter
bottom. No great wonder could be
felt that his associates were not only
aggrieved but indignant as well.
AbdI uUy DOuy bIOuiu nave ihlu uOW u
four aces against a two card draw was
such plain evidence Of feeble minded
ness that they We're utterly unable to
believe Mr.. winterbottom capable Of
having done 1t unless he had been
swayed by motives entirely unworthy
Of him. They felt that the old mans
explanation of the occurrence was the
only rational one that could be offered.
yet there was a lingering feeling in
their minds that there must be some
other one II only Mr.. winterbottom
would speak.
He had too long been n stanch COM
rade and q reliable player for them to
believe readily in his having turned
traitor TO their COMMON interest. but
the evidence was incontestable. He
had thrown them down violently and
their resentment was very bitter. yet
their esteem for him was great enough
to make them yearn for some plea
from him in extenuation Of his Of
fence.
The loss Of their money and his own
as well had been a severe blow. but
even the old mar felt that their loss
Of confidence in a tried n hitherto
trusty comrade far outweighed the pc
cuniary consideration. Therefore they
continued to look at him expectantly
after the old man had spoken. but Mr..
Winterbottom stubbornly abstained
from speech. SO that Mr.. Blaisdell was
at length moved to utterance.
"Yo' all knowed I done doled the
guards, didn't yo'?" he asked. And
Mr.. Winterbottom nodded Affirmative
ly without removing his pipe from his
lips.
THAT amt neither hyar nor thar
exclaimed old man Greenlaw angrily.
They both on EN- drawed two cyasds
an Jake made TO- aces He knowed
well enough what the stranger didn't
had no straight flush. mo- special on
Jim's deal. They want nothin' CD
beat him. an he laid down. Wotinell
he lone It TO Is what I want to know
Still Mr.. W~interbottom said nothing
So Joe Bassett took a hand.
Look a hyar, Jake" he said. plead
ingly. me an yo' Is done been friends
TO- a good many year.. an I'd "a my
bottom dollar on yo' any tfne. same's
yo' all would on me. but this yer thing
Is got to be Explained.
"Yo' all don't want to see this com.
bination busted up. does yo'? Pears
like " all done made a hellova baG
break. but Is got confidence enough In
yo' to b'lieve yo' must q had reasons
What is they?"
SO earnest an appeal from 80 rugged
n man might uall hava fo,,chaH a