Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-13

one who would be dcspicable antag-
onist in the impending struggle. His
face was set in stern lines. so that the
dimple disappeared. and with II his
rolliciinE look. and the sinister cast
remained
They saw. too. that his muscular
fingers were far more precise in mo-
ton than his tongue. And as he had
taken OFF his coat they observed tina,
his figure. from the waist up. at least.
was Surprisingly stalwart. AS to his
lower cXtremities there had already
been evidence.
1t was plain that he was one who
might have to he reckoncd with. \
certain respect for the poientiality that
his appearance indicated was shown in
the close attention they began to pay
to his actions.
AS the game went on this respect
grew. There had been strangers be-
fore him who had proved TO be excel.
lent players, but with the exception OF
the one-eycd man they did not recall
any who could he classcd as his supe-
rior. 1nstinctirely he seemed to sense
the situation after each deal and play
cd cautiously or boldly, as circum-
stances dictated, so that after a llttl.
more than II decreased. with the ex-
ceptlon Of B!aisdell he was the ONLY
winner at tho table.
Realizing that such n condition n.
this was intolcrablc, Mr.. Blaisdel care
fully prepared for killing the next
time the deal came to him Nobody
had ever detected Mr.. BlaisdcI i'm the
act OF stacking the cards. and there
fore 1t cannot be averred positively that
n a IN hat 4.
dealing were at times such as to sug-
gcst tho thought that perhaps he had
done il,
The stranger received an excellent
hand and bet out boldly. Winter
bottom trailed and Pearsall raised The
others dropped and the stranger ro
raised. Again Wintcrbottom trailed
and Pcarsall raised.
Then the stranger found food for
thought. but after little hesitation
he went back with all his remaining
chips and the same play followed
again. Fearsall producing real money.
In addition to all his remaining chips.
The stranger then pulled out his wad
and laid 1t all in the pot Seeing that
the end had come. winterbottom
dropped and Pearsall called There
was much more money on the table
than the stranger had invested at the
start
GRABS ROLL
AND MAKES GETAWAY
Grabbing it all with liEhtninglike
motion. the stranger damned 1t in his
pocket. taking heed of the chips
At the same instant the old man en-
tered the room brandshing his bunC-
starter and the players all rose TO
their feet.
r Working his right elbow with the
vehemencc and precision of piston
rod. the stranger drove 1t into Pear
sails chest in such fashion as to send
him Keeling backward against the old
man so forcibly as to send them both
crashing TO ;he floor.
Then his two fists shot out in diff
fcrent directions. one of them catch
ing Blaisdell on the point of the jaw
and the other Earring Wintcrbottom's
solar pleXus violently. AS Il result OF
this maneuver both those gentlemen
recled and fell temporarily disabled.
Mr.. Bassett had pulled his gun
again and raised his arm as If to fire
but before he could pull the trigger
the stranger dived headlonG at him.
butting him in the stomach.
Then he ran out and boarded boat
that was just leaving Arkansas City.