The sun., 1916-09-24

Sam saw Il when Murdoch said to
MIN gently. the two being alone,
sam. yo'uns don't pear to play poker
IN Arkansas City the same way what
I was learned TO- to-"
curtly.
No professional poker PLAYER is
nkeiy % be tolerant Of any discussion
AZ TO his play. Murdoch had not
joined In the game since the evening
OF his arrival. but he had seen one
or " games in which outsiders had
suffered somewhat severely.
well. TO- one thing" said Murdoch.
IT looks to me like yo'uns kyind' O.
leans onto each other TO- spot. WAY
was learned ev'ry mans Expected
10 to play his own cyards irregyard-
less o who It's what's playin' agYn
him. An faint Considered reR1ar To-
no two or mo- to play together as'in
one"
"That's right" said Sam promptly.
"'Tain't never did. Two to n amt
no fair nohow. Mon that, faint lie.
Ultimate. not In poker faint. What
made 20 all reckon they was any O.
weuns cap'bls o: nothin' like that?"
Well" said Murdoch. a little doubt.
fully. Il done seen yo' oil raise the
pot last night on nothin' when VIM
terbottom an Squire Hapgood was
the on'y ones in.
"The Squire done opened the pot
an Jake rose him. Bassett and Blais-
dell both drapped an yo' all give It q
boost. Ais yo' had was king high, TO-
I done seen yo' hand.
Looked like yo' all was amin TO
discourage the Squire. so's't Winter
bottom'd win, him bein' mo- Of a friend
O you'n n the Squire was. Then
when the Squire dropped Jake bet,
an yo' all lose interest into IT,"
"Well." said Pearsali, shat was
reglar enough. wasn't IT." His air
was one Of v%lrtuous Indignation.
"Mebbe II was reg'lar," retorted Mr..
Murdoch. 'but II sho' was s'picious.
Looked like yo' all an Jake was in
cahoots."
"Mought a looked s'picious," ad-
mitted Sam. evidently industrious Of
any hard feeling. "but yo' all didn't
ought TO- TO be hasty in yo' Judgment.
Mebbe I done made a mistake playin'
like ] done. but I was reck'nin' on
blufin' EN- both out. I bluffs c'nAid'.
able when I plays. Tn Amt no law
ag'in that. Is they?"
mo-" said Murdoch, but IL yo' al,
was RELY blufin' yo' done took q al
mighty po' time TO- to do II. Yo'
knowed they was both stronger n yo'
all was. an Jake. havin' rose the
opener. sho' was terrible unlikely to
lay down. Pears like II was a mon
strous po' play"
II reckon twas" said Pearsall
meekly. 1.-THE best players makes mis-
takes"
But as soon as he could get away
from his uncle he went TO the old man
In private.
"Yo all want to keep meddlers I'm
snoopin' round in the back room when
they's a game on" he said. angrily.
i can't say nothin' my own self when
It's Murdoch. but yo' all en- make a
house rule whatll keep him out. He's
done been pickin' on me long O. me
startin' a seesaw with Jake when the
Squire opened the pot"
Then II was that the old man de.
clared that Mr.. Murdoch was incon-
gruous.
He has his good pints." he admitted.
but that amt to say that he en- be
lowed to bust up my game. I reckon.
though. what tn amt no 'casion TO to
'dopt no hash measures. He en- be
reasoned with, first Of. seem he's 60,
Considerable Of a wad left. an tn
amt no sense IN drivin' him away afo'
he's done spent It. Mebbe yo' all
mought git him to set in again."
Mr.. Pearsall thought 1, extremely
UNLIKELY that he would sit in.
Amt I done told yo' what he's
'spicious a'ready?" he said. HE Amt
no fool. not altogether he Amt.
Stands to rsason he won't set into no
game he's s'picious Of. but Just mach.
ully ! don't want him to get no DO
'pinion o. me, an I won't stand TO- him
snoopin'. Yo' all Is got to keep him
out'n the when they's a game"
"ThatIl be did, o. co'se.' said the old
man. "but 1t II be did diplomatic. I
can't affo'd to lose what none hes
got left"
His Indignation was not less than
Pearsalrs. but-well. anyhow, he
didn't care to act too hastily. Accord.
ingly. he engaged Mr.. Murdoch In
conversation at the hrst opportunity.
II think . heap o. Jim Blaisdell," he
said abruptly. IAN I wouldn't like to
sec him git riled about nothin'. but he
sho' Is tryin' at times. He's he'll a
In touchy bout trifies."
whats eat!n' him?' asked Muir.
dock with some reserve.
swell. Jim's O artist an he's got
temperament. Pears he don't like no.
body outsider the game lookin' on
too clost while he's at work. Artists IL
thataway."
II sh'd imagine what he'd be some
sensitive" said Mr.. MURDOCH drily. He
had taken particular notice Of Mr..
Blaisdells dealing several times,
though he had not considered II worth
while to comment on 1t.
He is." said the old man. ignoring
the others tone. IAN he's done asst me
TO- to make a house rule ag'in anybody
lookin' or what amt into the game"
"House rules goes" said Mr.. Muir
dock promptly enough. IAN I amt one
to put UP no kick. They's a heap o.
things goes in Arkansas City what
mouGht afYO'd some 'casion TO- re-
maj as. but I dunno q I feel called on
TO- to make EN-. Pears like the prin-
cipl thing TO- me to do. now Is done
ranged the bulk o. my earthly affairs.
Is to live peaceable. an I dunno but
what I en- do 1t som'er else full as