The sun., 1916-08-27

~~s0 ssOs0 Va ~, lIOt UClII8 upeQ 10 IL, |
u even that did not terrify him. He
drank with the others. but he took only |
. very small drink.
Meantime the old man EXCHANGED
meaning looks with Jim Blaisdeii and
Jake Winterbottom. who were Of the |
party. and Jake. catching his meaning, |
said. ~ he set his glass back, "Mebbe
It mought be worth while TO- TO put of
that game till a'tsr Joe an the rent IL
done tooksn their exercise. Jim"
But Jim said: mo. We uns en- start
II goin' m they en- set In later n they
likes. They's done been c~'nsidabie
valyabls time lost Already. an We en-
play th~reehanded til they're through,
'thoutsn the old man1i set in TO- q spell
Just to be sociable. an make Il TO-
handed"
But the old man said: II reckon I
won't play tonight. Three on ye II bs
enough TO- 10 start In. an mon likely
Joe n the gent II be through by the
time things gits 'xcitin'. 70 all want
thinkin' O. hghtin' long. wa your" he
added. turning to the stranger.
well. that d'pends." said the
stranger. II want thinkin' O. fghtin'
at all. but pears like they 10 some cali
To- II. an I reckon this sentrl have TO
be satisfied. FIRST on. Pears like it'd
Be mo- nachul like TO- to set In at the
game afo' mixin'. Likely they'll b
mo- to night about II it's poker what's
swine to be played"
That's spoke like Q man." exclaimed
old man 0rssnlAw with grsat satisfsc.
tior Joe pears to b some hst up,
but I reckon he amt in no gre't hurry.
Be y0. Jos?"
Mr.. Bassett was not much g1ven to
speech. but It wal evident from his
manner that he was not greatly
pleased. He had been Willing enough
to forego his favorite Amusement for
a time when the old man had set EN-
up. but the greater delay involved In
playing poker was little TO his taste.
He nj not. however. entirely desti.
tute OF nne feelings and perceivlng the
possibility Of pecuniary gain In the
postponement he yielded. albeit ne did
10 ung~raciously.
Have II yo' own way" ne said.
shruEging his massive shoulders. and
picking up his coat. he went with the
others into the little back Of the
saloon.
The stranger tagged along without
haste but with no evident reluctance.
He seemed indeed to have little inter-
est in the proceedings. but to be will
ing enough for anything that might
happen. They studied him carefully
without appearing to do 80. as was
their custom when about to begin q
Rame. but they were unable to form
definite conclusions. On the one hand
he looked entirely capable of looking
after himself In almost any emergency,
az has beer said already. but % the
other hand there was = listless .uess In
his bearing that Indicated an utt0r
lack Of relish fer his surroundin0A u
vas a. II In fishing for bluefsh thsv
had hooked a cod. They saw no pros
pect Of rousing him to excitement. no
matter how the game might %.
Nevertheless he took his seat at the
table readily enough and did not balk
when the old . demanded 500 a.
the rr.ce OF Q stack. Moreover. they
saw that he did not by n . ex-
haust his available capital when he
handed over the money. There was
therefore q possibility that his very
indifference might prove advantageous
to them. And they were all actuatsd
by . high resolve to make II exciting
for him II they could.
Accordingly they started the game
with no apparent regard to the none
were using. blufing one another out
~rageously when the stranger refused
to stay and pretending little caution
In their play EVEN when he joined In
the contest. 1t could not be said that
he seemed greatly stirred by these
tactics, but they noted with satisfac-
ton that ne played. whenever he did
play. with a. little thought AZ they OF
the size OF his bets. but presently q
climax developed.
1t came from Bassett presuming toe
far on the strangers insouciance. No
body had eve criticised Mr.. Bassett
openly. HIS behavior in physical en-.
counters was beyond cavil. but In Z
game Of poker there was perhaps q
shade o much OF recklessness In his
msnquvres. and though his friends
forbore to comment on II they real.
ised that It involved a certain peril
They saw-indeed they could moi
avoid s~eeing-that he was . little care.
less In the way ne took \ card tha'
Pearean handed over to HIM after the
draw.
The stranger saw II too. He coult
not help It. For the hrst time HI
showed keen interest. and he spoke GU
sharply. though his voice was unim'
passioned when he said:
II reckoned mebbe me an 20 d o.
sompin' to night about what was mo
satisfactory n that thar fool talk o
p~olecats. Now yo' all en- either eat tina
cyard or night. whichever yo' damn
please, but it'll be one or t'other RICH
quick.
AN go all needn't to be wavin' tina
stick" he continued. addressing oil
man Greenlaw as he entered the bacl
room with his bungstarter. NJ an
this gent CIR settle this yer question
our ownselfs."
Not even the old man could think o
anything likely to be more sa~tisfactor!
than what the stranger proposed. ant
AZ Mr.. Bassett disdained the use o
artillery in a conflict with a single un
armed foe, and as the stranger made NJ
motion toward drawing q gun. they 81
went out on the levee.
Both contestants threw on thei
coats and the others observed witt
great interest that though the strange
was half q head shorter than Basset
he had phenomenal shoulders an,
> o.-. ond ,hat his chest u,as M thiCl