Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-25
OLD MAN CREENLAW
SITS IN JUDGMENT
Passes Sentence on Stranger Who
Presumes ON Fact That He
L. tho Dealer.
JUSTICE WELL SATISFIED
Newcomer Admits Irregular Playing,
but It Is His Deal, and He Does
the Best He Knows How-Relicvcd
OF His Wnd.
BY DAVID A. CURTIS.

BY DAVID A. CURTIS.
little man with large ears came
Into old man 9recnlaw's saloon In
Arkansas City one evening and looked
about him with an air of bcwilderment.
Aside from his diminutive stature aud
the size OF his ears which. as was
presently noted. wagged little when
he talked there was nothing about him
that seemed to call for special atten-
ton. but after he had been In the place
long enough to be observed more cnre-
fully than no was at first. 1t was seen
that he had another characteristic that
was. TO say the least, striking. 1t was
almost diEconcertng. Plainly he was
Il fellow who might perhaps have to be
reckoned with as OF some consequence.
His eyes were just plain, ordinary
human eyes OF no particular color and
not OF q size to attract attention. being
neither larger nor smaller than was to
be reasonably expected In a face that
was proportionate to the inconsider-
able bulk OF his body but the ga0e he
projected from them was cur!ously d.
rect. One could not avoid thinking OF
him aa level eyed In fact he was ex-
aegera;edly level eyed 1t gave him
q certain distinction.
STRANGER DOES NOT APPEAR
TO HE WHOLLY AT EASE
Es did not appear to be wholly at
case when ne entered. but after 1T
tic hesitation he showed that he had
at least rudimentary knowledge of
what was 10 be expected OF one who
entered a saloon alone. He stepped UP
to the bar and said. Lets liquor"
There was no possibility Of misun-
derHtanding him. for ne spoke very dis
t!Nctly. but they noticed, indeed they
could not help noticing. that his voice
was slightly cracked and somewhat
wheezy. II WAS not n plea sing voice.
: thar no., rAt
one that provoked any violent resent
nent.
Neither were his words Objectionable.
though tho manner OF those present,
In acceding TO his suggestion indicated
liberation rather than any excess Of
cordially. They drank with him with
out denur and resumed their seats
and their tobacco IN silence.
Not altogether did I'll. little man
sccm satisfied. II was az II ne pre-
.erred that some one else should open
conversation. but as no ono else did
=. spoke again after waiting little.
II was reck MIN on comm to Arkan.
So City pertinent" he said rather d!t-
ndently.
Had n. presented signs OF anluenco
the remark might have been received
with some enthusiasm. but II he was
toting 7rai II was not one OF suf-
Accent size cause a protuberance in
pressed. There was n delay.
Al length old man Grccnlaw said
somewhat colily There's other
places"
what other placcs?" demanded the
little man not brusquely. but as one
honestly DESTROYS Of Information.
oh. slathers Oh en-" said tho old
man. a little disconnected
Where be they asked the little
man.
oh. everywhere. All up an down."
was the vague reply.
II reckon done been TO most on
en-" said the little man In n discour-
aged sort OF way. but huin't found
none what 8 p't!c'lar dsirable TO 10
live into. Arkansas City don't pear 70
he. neither. bur a man d ough, To- to
stay somewheres"
Why asked Jake Winterbottom
AIR OF nEwILDERMENT
TURNS no DISTRA CTIOS
The little mans air OF bcw!lderment
already noted In this narrative became
an appearance OF hopeless distraction
when this simple question was pro-
pounded. 1t was evident that he was
not in the habit of analyzing his be-
l!efs. Having considered II advisable
TO find an abiding place, he was never
theless AZ loss to explain the reason
70. having 50 thought. lie suffered
and s,ammercd little. and when he
found speech eventually his voice
cracked worse than before.
It's gently did thaaway, Amt II?
Fears like it's mo- naohul." he man
aged TO say after a little. but the words
lacked conviction.
Some does" said old man Greenlaw
slightingly but they's some that don't
sett!n' hens don't lay no aigs. as tho
Good Book says"
The littie man did not look to him
likely TO become A desirable citizen and
he was not minded TO encourage him
TO remain In Arkansas City.
Tho little man sighed.
II never took no greet int'rest in aigs
nohow." he said AN I don't reckon
on layin' on en- Costs n heap, too.
gwine round firm one place to another
crtinyal. like u man does il he halnt
got no home. couldn't never stand
N Expense II twa'nt TO settin into n
poker game oncct In a while"
Let's liquor" said Jim Blasdel
suddenly.
He had no. thought before of the
little man being a poker player be-
cause OF certain incongruity between
his general appearance and tho ordi
nary aspect OF an assemblage engaged
In the great American pastime, but Mr..
Riaisdell was no sticklcr for appear
reused.
The little man was entirely amenable
to the suggestion of another drink hut
when some one proposed casually a
little later to start game of draw In
the back room for the purpose of
willing away the evening he was hest
tant
II don't gently set In" he said, mot
'thouten l needs the money, an just
now got enough to git along on"
tn amt nobody never got enough"
said old man Grccnlaw severely.
Thing to 10 Is TO to git mo-, nl'ays.
An tn amt no way o gittin' on it
oh'l TO draw poker. Not TO- nobody
what's IS genteel appearin as yo' all,
til amt"
tecl appearing" asked tho little man
rs If greatly surprised
They began to SEQ that he was one
who required time TO accustom him
self to Il new thought before adopting
It as q part Of his own mental concept
Of things in general. And they saw
that he was battered as we'll as sur
prised.
"Sho' be-" affirmed old man Green
law "They IS SomcDin' 'rOpressiv,