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

eyed man had repeatedly been guilty
Therefore they would have proceed
ed to chouzle Mr.. Pepper out Of his
wad entirely as matter OF expedi.
ency and without malice but for the
monstrous presumption with which no
had proclaimed himself player OF un.
usual ability and the impudent cool.
ness 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 available for pre-
datory purposes because OF his not
having any very considerable supply
OF money at any one time.
| His cock-a-whoop bearing waN
looked upon, therefore, as unendur.
able, and there was stern determine
ton on the part OF each one OF tho
four to humiliatc him by the very
thoroughness with which they would
Ilmpoverish him. The game according
lily could by no means BIO considered
as friendly one. 1t being intended for
the purpose Of punishment as well as
profit.
or all of this Mr. Pepper appeared
to be gayly unconscious, even when
Pearsall said to him, snecrlngly: "Yo'
all sho' INST "a had a ongodly streak
o. luck TO- to win out into game with
one-Eye."
Smirks Cause Rage.
"oh. don't know" said mfr. Pepper
Il amt never heerd what they was
fp1n IN nt1p 20 a.
Dlayin' with a man like him. Pears
like they sho' call TO- onderstain' o
the game" And he smirked with
exasperating complacency. whereat
they ragged inwardly with increased
bitterness.
1t would be an injustice to Mr.. Pep.
per to assume that he was entirely ig.
norant Of the sentiments he was In
spring in the others by his sprightly
bearing. but IL he felt apprehensive
OF the result Of the game he concealed
that feeling successfully, even after
he had lost several pots which h0
contested with some vigor.
'Meybe yo' all mought better call
TO- bout million dollars with mo-
chips" said Basset. with a contemptu-
GUS grin, as he raked in one of these
pots.
"oh. l don't know" said Mr.. Pep
per. ~ reckon ] en- worry along on
these hyar TO- couple o. mo- deals"
And filling 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 confidence was
not abated.
And as they played along the others
began to see that 1t was. at least pos
sible that there might be some basis
for his good opinion of himself, pre-
posterous as 1t seemed. Time after
time he avoided, either from timidity
or by the exercise of almost uncanny
acumen, 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 1t Is.
This was well shown on one 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 game with
other experts, confessing fear that
he could not do 1t we'll enough to es-
cape detection, so that 1t was we'll I'M
derstood that whatever hands he gave
out were the result of pure chance.
Nevertheless, 1t happened this time
that Blaisdell and Bassett both caught
pat hands and Mr.. Pepper had three
jacks before the draw. Not unnatur-
ally there was some spirited betting,
but though Mr.. Pepper raised once
he contented himself after that with
trailing, while the other two raised
each other till Blaisdell closed the pot,
deeming 1t best to wait for the draw
before going too far. Mr.. Peppers
pertinacity seemed suspicious.
That gentleman took two cards. and
though he looked a little dcwncast
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, the
others began see-sawing again. study
ing MIR. Peppers face carefully as he
trailed twice with what looked like
anxious doubt.
Mr.. Blaisdell from Missouri.
Then on the next round he pushed
all his chips forward to the middle
OF the table and laid his wad along
side OF them.
They recognized it as master play
regardless OF whether 1t was or was
not bluff. but Mr.. Blaisdell was not
one who could be inundated by any
mans holiness. Having come from
! NT;Sco,ri oripinallv ha ever yearned
for enlightenment
THAT all yo' got?" he asked thought
fully as he looked at the wad as II
trying to guess how much was in it.
"oh, don't know" said Mr.. Pep
per. Il mought find some mo- some
/ res round my clo'es."
well. it's tol'able good bluff the
way it lays" said Blaisdell with the
air of one who makes a handsome ad,
mission.
"oh. don't know" said Mr.. Pep,
per. 81 was kyind o. rek'nin' what
mebbe ! mought git mo- OF play p''
tendin' to bluff n what | could be
trailin'. Anyway it's quicker"
Mr.. Pepper Sells Chips.
This was undoubtedly persiflage
and they hated him for it, but agar
they realized that his money was talk
, ing more convincingly than he was
Mr.. Blaisdell saw without taking thu
trouble 10 count the wad that his owl
resources were inadequate to raist
on his part Even to call was too grea
a risk, and he sullenly laid down hi!
hand. Both he and Bassett were forcet