The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-30

brooded quietly on the edge Of n whis- |
Key barrel with only one eye open.
And Mr.. Saxton was not even made
aware. as yet. Of the presence Of a
bungstarter. From all appearances It
might have been supposed that a nice
peaceful orgy VAS by way Of being
begun.
MIR. Bassett. however. had other
views. Well DISPOSED as ne was II
pleasure Ia that euise. ne mad oenseN
from MIR. SaNton's words the POSSIBLE
Ivy of something ever more exciting.
Accordingly. ne sho: a significant
glance at a slender. saturnine gentle
man named Blalsdell. who CHANGED to
I've OF the company. and Mr.. Blaisdell
silently withdrew himself to the un-
secluded privacy Of the back room Of
the saloon.
Seating himself at a large table. he
produced from his pocket a deck of
cards and began a game of solitaire, in
which he soon became so engrossed
az to ignore the to the next
round of drinks. This might have been
taken as a breach of etiquette, and Mr..
SaXton seeened inclined at first to
regard 1t in that light. but when he
offered a somewhat indignant COM
ment the old man spoke up in ex-
tenuation:
'.Iim's that hell bent on playin'
guards" he said. what he'd rather no
through the motions n TO drink. let
alone cat
why don't he start a game. then.
stead q foolishin' hisself hathaway"
nSLnt Nlr GuNtI, Srny.,fttt1x
We'll. Jim's kyind a. bashful." sale
| the old man. 81 reckon he lowed what
IL mought he Considered onmannerly
TO to interrupt the p'ccedin's. 7 don't
make no doubt hut what he jine IN
| quick enough II anybody was to p'pose
a game. but he amt one to invite mo-
body 'thouten they wants to play. lie
| don't never urge nobody II they piers
to drink. This yer's "A public house
| an a man en- do what he dam pleases
| into II. = longs lie has the price"
well. ! got the price of n couple o
stacks my own self" said Mr.. SaXton.
| not boastfully, but Us II who pro-
| claims a fact that may be of interest.
II en- sell go "a couple o stacks. q
| course" the old man said. but they
/ WOuIuu I W. lo E''u d-h'ih wv ~ 49,
| 'thouten they was others To buy. Not
Mess 20 all was thinkin' y playin
solitaire. too. ~ that ease mehbe yo'
mought use EN- t. make bets with
yo'self."
NO I wouldn't do that said Mr..
Saxion with all the emphasis of deep
disgust.
Then | don't see no 'casion 70 70
all To- buy EN-" said the old man. as
If dlsmlssing the subject from further
consideration. hut ~i:assett said:
"No all en- count me out two stacks
il they's gwine t" he anythIn' diddin'.
Mebbe If they was one or " mo was
To- buy. they cd bs a game started"
"l.l take a couple, my own self.
said sam l'earsall.
Il reckon I better take three. Pears
like my chips don't last none too well
, c'mpaied 10 what others has. said
Jake Win,erbottom as one who *
down on his luck but dominated 10y "A
desire To sit in.
'oh. very we'll" said the old man,
ana he produced cards and chips. IA X
ing them TO the table where Blaisdell
sat. That gentleman, though ut first
he seemed amazed at the interruption.
consented to join when ii was cN-
planned TO him that he table was
needed for a poker game. and a start
was made Immediately.
What's TIE llmi'?' inquired SaNton
as Inc cards wcrn being shuttied.
w. uns gently hX,> that 'cordin' to
wiat II mans cot. explained Bassett.
O. 80 H., .tas, ,.l-I.s f,.a.,aI 80 has ~.
mo n that"
suits me-. SAID SaXton briefly. Il
never did had no use To- a limit. no
wv" And presently they all saw
that whatever else he might prove Ia
be. he was no piker. He showed that
~conclusively the first time they tried a
scesaw on him.
1t happened GA Bassett's deal. Win
tel bottom had The igc. and SaNtun. sit
ting next. forhorc TO raise. though h,
had three aces ,uld. E'aisdc.'. havln-
tho next say, found . flush ANA gave il
u gentle boost. l'.,r.all and i~iIs>cii
dropped, hut W4ntornutton m Idc -""d
and SaNt"n went back with ten more.
i;laisdcll made II another ten and
Winierhottom stayed along IN genera
principles, though lie had only tW,
pairs. Then SsNlon closed the pot
taking two cards after Winterbuttou
had tlken one. but letting them Il,
face down while he threw a white chi;
in the pot and looked at Blaisdell.
That gentleman stood pat an,
pushed a stack forward with a conf.
dent smile. Then W~interhottom RAISED
and Saxton looked interested. though
80 - II