The sun., 1916-01-23
self In abeyance again, but only iii the
second drink was taken,

l X
hissclf when he gifts thar"
Time enough To- that" interposei
the old man. who had deep abhor.
renee OF premature strife. "Mebb.
the gent mought think dir'rcnt IL he
was to be mo- 'quaintcd.'
"Tha's the talk said the stranger
eagerly. Les git mo- 'quaintcd.
en- git auainted with mos anybody.
don't make no difrence who they he.
TIL amt nothin' bout me what's no
better'n anybody else, p'vidin' they's
liquor handy.
| II sho' does hate a place where ~
amt nothin' to drink. but outsider
that ] hain't got no vilent prcfdica
| agiO nothin'. Ais said was what
they didn't pear to he no gre't v'riety
round. but 8 long 3 they = booze I
don't 'bject to that strenuous"
Gent said the place was Gawd-
fo'sooken," persisted Rassctt. insisting
on his grievance. hut the old man
was also insistent. He was not minded
| to have business interfered with.
| "Gawd-fo sooken II clokyal." he
| said slightingly. Don't mean nothin'
p'tic'lar. not 'thouten it's took Serious.
I reckon the gent Is mo- r less reasn-
able even II he is some keeress in his
talk. lie says alls he wants Is booze
an vriety. Spealiin' O. booze"
He paused significantly and the
stranger said promptly. Les have
! another"
A pause in the conversation ensued,
during which they had another. and
after that the old man continued:
/ f,,~ -. ,.',-sA L. Asv aAI H.
said thoughtfully as one who Is CROP
ing around for some solution to a difh-
Guilty. IL reckon they is mo- v'riety
into a game O draw poker n they is
in anyth;n' else under the blue canis-
ter o. heaven. II v'riety is all what
the gent Is a lookin' To-. they hadn't
ought To- to be no greet difficulty in
p'vidin' Of it 70 him. Mebbe he don't
play poker, though
This last was spoken doubtfully, as
II calculated to draw out a declaration
OF some sort. and the strangers re-
sponse was ready and satisfactory.
II cd eat draw poker TO breakfast
eight days In the week. he said with
much enthusiasm. but l don't play
no desprit kyind OF a game. What
I likes is a nice easy. sociable game
among gentlemen. II yo' uns plays
thataway they wouldn't nothin' pleas
me mo- n to set in To- SPELL
"Th' amt no desp'rit play lowed
on the premises, not never" declared
What's did ia 70 TO play along.
friendly an nice. 70 the puppose o
passin' the time b'tween drinks. Chips
is $50 a stack. an they don't nobody
J have to bet no mo- n he has on the
table. no time. 8 fur 5 the drinks is
c'ncerned. they en- he served here
or on the table. 'cordin' to the en-
venience O them what's playin'. They
J won't be no trouble bout that"
'In that case" said the stranger
pleasantly. "they mvught be one mo
set up afo' We sets in, just so = TO
start the game right
Even Bassett's hostility ahated some
what in the face or the stranger $
manifestly earnest desire to ingratiate
himself regardless OF the price OF
liquor NJ the bar. and wnen BlaisjeIi
winterbottom and Pearsall declared
their readiness TO participate in an
effort TO provide him with the variety
he cravcd the bury sheriff was per-
suaded without any great difficulty to
take hand in the game. His com
ment. however, was somewhat un-
: gracious. 10 say the least
"Th' amt no guarantee hut what
he'll cntinncr TO call il Gawd-fo'
J sooken.'' he muttercd suilcrly, but the
others took no notice. and withou,
! further ado the panty adjourned to the
back room.
Chips were sold and cards were pro.
} duced, which Blasdell proceeded to
! shuttle. and the old man after seeing
that all was in order retired TO the
/ barroom.
To him presently entered Mr.. Owen
Pepper. of whom the old man inquired
: IL he knew anything OF stranger
I who had just come ashore.
I "Oh. don't know" said Mr. Pepper
blu, IL it's Jim Plagget yo mean. hes
, c'nsidable Of tight wad round home
| Lives in Helena. He just come asho
often the Creole BELLE 'Peared ike
: he was drlnkin' some. He loosens ur
: a heap when he is. but he don't never
do il on'y when he travels"
That's proper" said the old man
! Time to spend money is when vo
4 travels. They wouldn't be no sense
stayin to home on'y 70 to 'cumulatt
. moEpy TO travel with
!. "Oh. I don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
, Il travels TO git money. an--
! But Just then call for refresh
:. ments in the back room was hear,
. aud the old man fastened away.
The next hour or 80 passed quietly
2 IN the barroom. though the o.d mar
, had occasionally to bestir himself "
( answer to other calls from Mr.. Plag'
= get, twice for more CHIPS and twice
. for drinks. Each time he returned e
{ his chair by the front window with {
). contcnted look.
= Comm an gos'," he murmuree
I softly. Comm an goin'.'
o Then Mr.. Plagget emerged from thu
back room with three or four chip
= in his hand and a discouraged look OF
I his face.
= 81 was reck'nn' what they was mo
i r loss v'riety into the game" he said
= but pears like tn amt
d Didn't the cyards run good?
n asked the old man with sympatheti
4 accent.
e "Oh. yes" said Mr.. Plagget. The!
Z run rne. got hell-rcarin good hand
o nigh bout every deal, but the va!
they NaS beat WIS somepn' mOnoto