The sun., 1916-10-08
IR, WINTERBOTTOM
TRIES THEIR FAITH
But His Associates Say No
More After lie Explains
His Break.
Bv DAVID A. CURTIS.

INV. 10 '''''' Se 's.aA
law. az IL talking TO himself, what's
hat cantank'rous what pears like
they goes wrong TO- the pleasure they
ands in bein' diff'rent firm what they'd
ought 70 TO be-
The manner OF his utterance, as was
said, was such as would have made It
appear to be a soliloquy. but there WIS
that In the faraway gaze he bent on
lake winterbottom while he was
speaking that made that gentleman
\ .ouirm. Moreover. the others in the
| room seemed to find q personal appli-
cation in tho words they had just
heard. and they. too, regarded the Sec
ond Oldest man in the room In a man.
ner that seemed TO add to his en-
tarsssment. Nevertheless. he said
nothing. continuing to busy himself
with his pipe and tobacco as IL striving
10 maintain an appearance Of indiYer-
escs.
II was not altogether a successful
effort that he made. Even though ne
maintained his silence doggedly there
was evidence in his performance on
lis pipe that he was somewhat an
noyed. II not angry. His putting was
s~.accato. and they gathered from the
tempo that he was defiant.
II was realized by all that the situa-
ton was delicate. By virtue Of his
established standing in the commu-
nifty. Mr.. winterbot.om was clearly
entitled to exercise his own judgment
In regulating his own actions. and up
10 a certain point not even the old
man himself would have ventured to
e~riticise him for doing SO. But there
we're things.
Only the night before. and It was not
yet high noon when they sat looking
at him, there had been a poker game
In the back room Of the old mans
saloon on he levee in Arkansas City.
That OF itself was not a specially no.
table fact, for there was always O.
poker game in the back room provided
there was an outsider willing to play.
But this particular game had been
curiously differentiated from other
games by the unexpected behavior Of
Mr.. winterbottom, which behavior had
thus far been unexplained. And the
49, --- - 49, -
from satisfactory.
1t was felt that some explanation
was due from him, and there had been
inquiring glances directed at him as
soon as the stranger had left the room
at the conclusion Of the game, but Mr..
winterbottom's real or assumed in
difference had been so complete and
even naughty that the others were
daunted by his mien and forbore to
question him. Slowly and sadly the
party had dispersed.
There had been cause for sadness.
y The stranger had come unannounccd,
but as he bore his credentials with
him. rolled up in a bulky wad with
a strong rubber band around them, he
had been received affably. He COM
\ ported himself in a cock-a-whoop
manner that was not altogether pleas
ing TO the company. but no spoken
objection was entered against II, there
being a strong impression on the part
OF old man Greenlaw and his friends
that his manner would change after
10 had become better acquainted.
All went pleasantly until in due
FNtlwgo tha .1l v-a. l-AI.al Nka
same Of draw poker as a topic OF
conversatlon. Even then. no friction
was Immediately felt. The stranger
asserted his fondness for the game,
: and fell In readily with the sugges-
ton Of sitting. All thought Of argu-
hent was deferred.
Even when the stranger hesitated
about buying chips, and suggested that
i was Just as easy to play for real
money. II was thought that any show
o. opposition might be premature. and
the assault on his wad began without
demur or delay.
For a time II seemed as II It were
likely TO be a successful assault. There
were several occasions on which con-
siderable chunks were torn away from
the wad by skilful manGuvring on the
part Of the home players, but the
stranger. though somewhat overbold in
The earlier stages of the game, proved
to be a wary person In some respects
and forbore to bet several times when
u WIS confidently expected that he
would back his cards heavily.
Then" as Mr.. Sam Pearsall subse.
uuently narrated the circumstances
The done win n pot unexpected
ITwan't such a h~ellroarin' big one, but
the way OF 1t sho' was some s'prisin'