The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16
A TRAVELLERS TALE
OF ARKANSAS CITY
He Plays Draw Poker at Ola
Man Greenlaw's and Runs
AfOul Of Bassett.
UNUSUAL DISPLAY OF GUN
By DAVID A. CURTIS.

- pVnCh StVt lVS VI M hau'
sas City have a peculiar interest to
me-" sale the gray haired. young look.
ing man In the club smoking room
because Of my personal expe.
rience in old man Greenlaw's back
room.
~ played poker there with the old
man himself and three Of his friends
in the year 1882. and though I wal
n made acquainted with his hung.
starter and vas nj heeced Of any
very considerable amount OF none,
there was enough excitement attached
TO the game to hx the fncident in my
mind and make me realize how faith.
full TIVE Sun stories are in their de-
scription Of the conditions actually OBJ
tanning at that time.
Il was representing some important
interests at the time Of the great food
Of 1852 and II was necessary for me
to 20 from Memphis to Little Rock,
Flood conditions made travel ex.
tremely uncertain and the mos avail
able route wAs by river packet ia
Arkansas City. thence by rail to Little
Rock. I thought I could get there in
side Of two days. but II took me four,
when I got OF the boat I found
Arkansas City practically under wate:.
We landed on the levee, and such
buildings a. were atop Of that--there
were a few Of them. including the rail-
road once and freight house-were
accessible enough. but back in the
town the people we're living In their
second stories. After a little search I
found one man in the freight house.
representing the railroad. and asked
him when the mex train would start.
n was . O'Clock Monday morning and
I figured on getting TO Little Rock.
li2 miles away. that afternoon.
"'They's on'y one train. runnin'
now he said. Shes went up this
.mawnin' an she'll come back tO-mor-
row II she gifts through. An she'll SO
back Wednesday.
"Bin. Bang. There was forty EIGHT
hours gone from my schedule. I shud-
dercd when I thought OF what was
ahead Of me. for I had stayed at hotels
In other river towns. but II had
known what did later on I reckon
ia have tainted. I firmly believe tina.
the only hotel in Arkansas City at that
time was the worst n on earth.
Ply Tuesday afternoon I was almost
desperate and I ventured into = bar
room near the motel. The loose tim
bcrs that were tied together for a
sidewalk were floating in the water
and { had TO pick my way along N
these 10 get there. but I felt that I
must go somewhere.
"A silent bartender Joined MI In "A
drink readily enough. and I looked
around. There was a little back rop'n
to the place. and II the door was
open I could see that three men were
playing cards in there.
II a not acquainted with anybody
in the town. but from what I have
read since then ] krow now that one
Of them was old man Greenlaw. Tho
Two others must have. been winterbot-
ION and Pearsall. I didn't zee Biais-
dell. Possibly he had not Joined the
combination at that time. Certainly
there was no such remarkably hne
work done In the game as he is said
10 have been capable Of. though the
Dlay was obviously crooked.
Il knew enough Of poker to zee that
The cards were marked and h a the
cid man. at least. knew the marks.
lie pretended to have poor sight and
10 lie afflicted with a sort OF incipient
palsy thai made him slow and clumsy
IN dealing. but I saw that he was read
.ng the cards as he dealt. II was
coarse work and did not deceive me
for q minute. but I presume the play
was better after Blaisdell sat in.
II doubt II the three were trying
" ~ - ,z. h A az.
they were trying TO entice me. but the
came was not a big one and ] WA
perfectly willing to lose a little money
for the sake OF a little amusement. 20
after ] had watched them a few min
utes ] asked IL I could take a hand.
| didn't expect any objection. and none
was made. 50 I sat In.
There was no conversation and ]
found enough interest in the game
10 content me without wanting to talk.
Tor II was very funny to see how
openly they were playing together for
my money. As ! did not propose to
Lose any great amount, however. |
played along. enjoying myself fairly
well until another man came in.
HE was. l think, the best looking
Hlou w saw. toi' ~
Gently built, HI had a hne face and
let black curly hair, but he was un.
pleasantly abrupt in his manner and.
as I soon learned. remarkably III
tempered.
HE saw al a glance what we were
doing and without u word took q va
want chair at the table and waited
70" he next deal. when a hand was
deal: to him as n matter OF course.
His name was not mentioned to me.
then or afterward. and it 10 only
through THE Sun stories that / have
identified him as Joe Bassett.
Mr.. Bassett had undoubtedly been
drinking. though I did not imme-
dlately perceive that, seeing no sign
of intoXicatlon on him. I had been
losing rather steadily in the game up
l." the time he sa, in. but II happened
that for the next W. or three rounds
had a little run o. good luck and
! look several pots, not large enough
10 make me a winner, but large
enough to provoke his anger, he being |
the principal loser.
II growled about it rather often.
sively, and it seemed to me that he |
wanted 10 Ak a quarrel on me. though
! do not remember Just what he said
at hrst. Whatever 1t was. It sufficed
!" Iit lie "u my guard, TOR ! never
quarrel al the poker table. and ! felt