The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-23

| bWeIs Uuk l1bQe up my Iuluu tQHt II ne
said. anything more lswould quit the
game.
Outbreak by Bassett.
Then l won another pot In which
he was loser. 1t was a jackpot. AS
was raking 1t In he spoke up violent-
ly. glaripg at me in open wrath.
That don't go, stranger, he said.
'Yo' all can't play no such poker as
that Not in Arkansas City, yo' can't
What's the matter? asked,
greatly disturbed, but trying to speak
coolly.
'Yo' can't open no jackpot on a
par O. tens, not in Arkansas City, he
said, still more roughly. And he struck
the table with his fist as he spoke.
But said, Il didn't open the
pot. This gentleman opened It. And
l pointed to Pearsall. I came in on q
pair Of tens, as l had a right to do,
continued, and drew third ten.
What's the matter with that? What
are you going to do about it?' spoke
rather defiantly, feeling sure that the
others would support me.
i"They did not, however. and re-
membered that etiqutte forbids inter-
ference with another's quarrel, so
when Bassett said again 1T don't go,
interrupted him.
"I leave 1t to the table, said, and
looked around, knowing that II ap-
pealed to they could speak without
improperly.
Greenlaw Upheld the Stranger.
II will do old man Greenlaw the jus-
ticc to say that he did speak. l think
he saw that Bassett's outbreak was
too raw, or at least that it was Ill
timed. ..l.
The gents right, Joe,' he said. HE
didn't open the pot. Shut up an quit
devilin' on him.
But Bassett wouldn't shut UP. Or
rather he wouldn't be placated. He
jumped up. and thought at. first he
was going to strike at me, but to my
great surprise he rushed out of the
place in great hurry.
What's the matter with that NAM
asked Of the others. is he crazy or
Just plain drunk
oh, tn amt nothin' p'tic'lar tn
matter with him. said the old man re-
assuringly. 'Yo' all amt got no call
be d'turbed. He done killed man
day befo' yesterday an he's been
drinkin' mo- r less ever sinc't. When
he drinks he's liable To- to be some
quar'lsome, an he's gone out now to
git heeled. / reckon somebody must
lifted his gun off'n him. But yo' all
needn't to mind. The boys won't let
him come back
Why lie Had No Gun.
~ didn't know the boys and l did
mind, so did heap Of quick think
ing. First, thought of my own gun,
which was in my grip over ut the
hotel. How 1t came to be there in
stead of in my pocket was somewhat
curious. ~ p"
IA few days before friend in Mem
phis had noticed that l was carrying
It and said to me, You'd better put
that thing away. II you are caught
carrying it in Memphis you'll be sent
to the calaboose sure. It's new law
and we're keen about 1t. The mayor
of q Kentucky city was locked up for
! 1t last week. "a
$50 had put it in my grip and for
gotten 1t, not having the habit Of tot
ing 1t except when was travelling
Just now 1t seemed as II l might want
It, and said. as lightly as l could:
That's all right, but IL it's all the same
to you I'll go and get my own gun.
That man may come back
oh, very well. That's nachul
enough said the old man, and l went,
leaving my chips on the table, though
did not feel sure that would come
back. did not want the company to
think l was running away.
Concluded 10 Return to Game.
"As / went l. had another thought,
which was that probably the safest
place for me in Arkansas City was
right here at the poker table, since
my enemy would surely find me if he
went looking for me, no matter where
! might be. At least there'd be wit
nesses there who knew what had hap
pened. ii
$50 got my gun and wentback.
When re-entered the room the old
man leaned back and pulling der
ringer out of each Of his hip pockets
laid the two of them alongside his
chips on the table.
:" It's damned onhandy settin' on
them things he said casually, and no.
body else said anything, but noticed
that Winterbottom drew revolver
and Pearsall knife, placing them on
the table. 80 a. ,t II
at seemed evident enough that no
one had any very firm faith in the
boys ability to keep Bassett away. so
I, laid my own gun with my chips and
sat facing the door. i wanted to see
him frst-in case he should come. Then
the game went on as II nothing un-
usual had happened or was expected.
Nothing more did happen except-
ing that lost money for the remain
der Of the sitting, rather more rapidly
than had at first. Perhaps / was
nervous. Anyhow was thinking
principally about how long I'd better
stay there so as not to have the ap-
pearance Of running away from q
fight. The money seemed compare
lively unimportant, at the moment. but
after a time professed to be almost
busted and said reckoned wouldn't
play any longer, dis l wanted to keep
4 enough money in my pocket to pay my
fare out Of town.
Permitted to Quit. 81,
1 ~ presume they believed. as l want
ed them to, that had no more money
with me. AT all events they made no