The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-16

loathe he could do 1t remarkably we'll
The others in the room would mo-
have been surprised IL he had admin.
istered q crushing rebuke to Mr.. Pep.
per.
Old Man Controls Himself.
For a moment it seemed as II he was
about to do so, but tho circumstances
were exceptional. He controlled him
self by mighty effort, and even
achieved smile when he answered
II amt got hellova lot O. whites
in the house, Pepper. but got a few
light green's what en- be reckoned
whatever g d'sirable. They won't be
no difficulty bout fittin' yo' out with
chips. S'posin' yo' was to take $1,000
wo'th To- to b'gin with"
rob, don't know" said Mr.. Pep
per, discontentedly. ~ reckon that
won't go fur II l was to git het up
any"
He was enjoying himself greatly in
contemplating the bewildered looks OF
the entire company. They had all
known Mr.. Pepper for a long time, but
they had hitherto entertained scant
respect for him, fact which had
seemed to trouble him not whit.
Staggered by His Tale.
When he had entered the little sa-
loon In Arkansas City, however, a
short time before 1t was determined
that game Of poker should be played
that evening and had recited a wierd
tale of having got the better Of the
most redoubtable gambler who trav-
eled the river in game that had re-
Gently been played on one OF the boats
they had been staggered, II not entire
ly habbergasted.,
Whenever on previous occasions the
great American game had been dis
cussed In Mr.. Peppers presence he
had comported himself with becoming
modesty, protesting no particular skill
as player and declining with diff
dence to Join in any contest in which
experts were engaged. SO that they had
delegated him to the amateur class and
credited him with shrewdness, at
FEAST, in avoiding their clutches. even
though they rated his general intelli-
gence as somewhat inferior to the re-
Quirements of a normal standard.
His Money Talked.
: 1t was therefore difficult for them
10 believe that he had. as he averred,
played horse with the one-eyed man
in a poker game, and they would I'M
questionably have been confirmed in
their Judgment of him as liar OF con-
siderable ability If he had not with
great exultation presented visual EVIL
dence Of the truth of his story in the
cho Of Hrai nf n lnnCf inoradihla
size, representing his winnings in the
game alluded to.
His money talked more convincing
ly than he did, and without putting
implicit reliance on his account Of the
way in which he had acquired it, they
resolved instantly to take it away
from him instead of killing him. as
they had previously intended TO do
because of his reprehensible conduct
when at their request he had acted
as dealer in a stud poker game in
which One-Eye and two Of his friends
lad participated. That story has been
told already.
/. Obviously, the way to get his money
with the least friction was to get him
into a game, and he had still further
surprised them by evincing his entire
willingness to play. The old man was
certainly right in considering the cir.
cumstances exceptional.
To the others they seemed like 9
grotesque and disjointed dream
Therefore they were disinclined to re-
gard Mr.. Peppers pleasartries witt
complacency. Even Jake Winterbot
fom, who was usually placid even un.
der great provocation. showed sign.
or irritation. Sam Pearsall began Il
get nervous. Jim Blaisdell was i'm
patient, and Joe Basnett spoke ou
angrily.
: IF they's gwine to be game. le'!
play he said. Il amt got no tim,
To- TO set list'nin' to chin music. Wot
inells the difference whether man:
got the chips or not, S longs he's go
money"
ooh, don't know" said Mr.. Pepper
airily. Chips IS handler n money
when it comes TO maxim a bet of any
e-nsid'able size"
.'Mebbe So" said Blaisdell. "bu
pears like they won't be no bets
a-tall made If this yer palaver is gwint
on indefinite. They's va'able time
gwine to waste"
I. ooh, don't know" said Mr.. Pep
per; but the old man interrupted him
fudely.
"Shut up" he exclaimed. Here.
so chips" And handing him a stacl
he collected the price and served tn,
others, after which he retired TO tn,
barroom, according TO his custom. ~
further delay was called for. and afte
cutting for the deal winterbottom tool
the deck.
:: Greenlaw Retires to Barroom.
It was not the habit of the fou
gentlemen who were sitting in viii
Mr.. Pepper to show any very tende
consideration for persons who playe
poker with them. It being well I'm
derstood that the sole object Of tn
game was TO get the other man
money, they made it rule to do S
i5uthlessly, not employing violence UT
less II seemed more than usually dc
Esirable. but hesitating at nothing tha
Twas necessary to achieve the objet
1or which they played. There wa
howeyer, no personal animosity CON
lsningled with their discrimination I
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