The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-09

puuent GOODNESS with which he took
his place among them as an equal.
They were experts Of great renown
and he had hitherto been ranked In
the sucker class. though he had not
been looked upon as specially avail
b for predatory purposes because
OF his not having any. very consider.
able supply OF money at any one time.
His cock-a-whoop bearing was
looked upon. Therefore. as unendursble.
and there was a stern determination
on the part Of each one Of the foul to
humiliate him by the very thorough.
ness with which they would i'm
pnvcrish Sin,.
OF all this Mr.. Pepper appeared to
be gayly unconscious. even when Pear
sail aid to him sneeringiy, "Yo' all
sho' must "a had a ongodly streak q
luck 70 to win out into a game with
One Eye"
"Oh, | don't know" said Mr.. Pepper.
~ amt never heer'd what they was
any greet importance 'tachin' to luck
playin' with u man like him. Pears
like they 'sho' call To- a onderstandin'
o. the game"
II would he an injustice to MIR.
Pepper to assume that he was entirely
ignorant " the sentiments he was In
spring In the Others by his s~prightly
bearing. but II he felt %apprehensive Of
the result Of the game he concealed
that feeling successfully. even after
he had lost several pots which he
contested with some vigor.
"Mebbe yo' all mought better call TO
'hntsf a yNtlIine, dAltaro uttfh mo Chins "
said Bassett with a contemptuous grin
a. he raked in one Of these pots.
"Oh. I don't know" said Mr.. Pep
per. II reckon l en- worry along on
these hyar TO a couple o. mo- deals"
And filling "a flush in drawing to his
next hand he trebled hiS stack. This
did not put him on velvet. but the
game was still young and his conf
dcnce was not abated.
And as they played along the Others
began to see that II was at least pos
gib,e that there might be some basis
for his good opinion Of himself. pre-
posterous as It seemed. Time after
time he avoided. either from timidity
or by the exercise Of almost %uncanny
cumen pitfalls that were prepared for
him with great skill. And on the other
hand he pressed advantages when
they came TO him occasionally with the
judicious holiness Of one who very
well Knows what time o day II Is.
This was well shown on deal in
which the cards were given out by
Pearsall. That player, though he had
some digital skill. was never known to
stack the cards in a game with other
experts. frankly confessing "A fear that
he could not do Il well enough to es-
cape detection. so that 1t was well
understood that whatever. hands he
gave ont werr the result Of pure chance.
Nevertheless it happened this time
tina, Blaisdell and Bassett both caught
pat hands and Mr.. Pepper had three
jacks before the draw. Not unnat-
urally there was some spirited bet
ting, hut though Mr.. Pepper raised
once he contented himself after that
with trailing. while the other two
raised each other till l'laisdell closed
the pot. dceming il best to wait for
the draw before going too far. Mr.
Peppers p~ertinacity seemed suspicious
That gentleman took two cards. and
though he looked q little downcast
when he saw the others refuse To draw
he resumed his clipper air with what
seemed a palpable effort after seeing
what he had drawn. Noting this, tina
others began see saving again, study
ing Mr.. Peppers face carefully as he
trailed twice with what looked like
anxious doubt.
Then on the next round he pushS
all his chips forward to the middle 81
the table and laid his wad alongside
Of them.
They recognized it as a master play
regardless Of whether IL was or was
not a bluff. but Mr.. Blaisdell was not
one who could be inundated by any
mans boldness. Having come from
Missouri originally. he ever y~earned
for enlightenment. lie therefore con-
sidcred the matter with great care
after Bassett had thrown down his
cards unhesitatingly.
THAT all yo' go;"' he asked
~thoughtful.y Us, he looked at the wad
as IL trying TO guess how much was
In IL.
"Oh. ! don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
II mought find some mo somc'res
round my clo'es."
We'll. it's "A tol'able good bluff the
way it lays said Blaisdell with the
air of one who makes a handsome adj
mission.
"Oh, ! don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
Il was kyind o. reck'nin' what mehbc
| mouSht git mo Of a play p'tendin
to bluff n what ] could by trailin'
Anyway It's quicker
This was undoubtedly pcrsihage
and they hated him for it, hut again
they realized that his money was talk