The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25

said. "1f I'm gwine to settle down
hyar Id ought TO- to git acquainted
like
That's right" said the old man
heartily. "Thcy can't nobody call his
self REILLY ~'auainted nowheres. not till
he's done set into a poker game.
That's why | %'ncourage the boys to
play in my back room. Fears like
strangers gifts mo- of a idce a what
Arkansas city is like n they does any
Otl.er way.
IN fact they cant git no idee no
other way. Not nom what en- be
relied onto. that is. Mchbe that's one
reason why the c'mmnaity don't grow
no faster n IL does. tn asn't nobedy
but The lest people stays"
II reckon I'll stay. all right" sale
the little man c~omplacently. Il done
been lookin' To- that kyind Of a place
To- a hellova while"
Meantime there had been no delay
in the preparations for the game.
Besides those already mentioned. Joe
Bassett and sam Pearsall were In the
room. and they sat in. making the
party five handed. old man Greenlaw
excusing himself on the plea that he
had to tend bar. Mr.. owen Pepper
was also there. and the dove or peace
still fingered somewhere II but
Mr.. Pepper seldom played M the
dove merely looked on for a time with
4 doubtful air.
The little man bought a single stack
Of chips. paying for 1t from a small
roll Of bills which he held In a way
that prevented close observation: but
the single bill he produced was a yell
low back and they jumped at the con-
clusion that the game would he some
what interesting. II was therefore
with a mind wholly at ease that the
old man returned to the front room
after seeing the game started.
II reckon mebbe that thar shrimp is
done overestimated some c'ncernin'
tn time what he's liable 70 to r'main
into our midst" he observed grimly to
MIR. Pepper. as he took a cigar from his
pocket and bit 1t in two.
"Oh. | don't know said Mr.. Pepper.
blithely. Them sawed offs is liable TO
to be some s'prisin' at times. Mebbe
he's better'n he looks"
Not with them ears. he amt" quoth
the old man with vast contempt.
"Oh. I don't know" said Mr.. Pepper.
He sho' does wag EN- good"
"Tol'able good To- a human" ad-
United the old nan srudgingly, but
a wild ass O. the desert CIR do 1t a
| heap sight better. let alone hee-hawin'
mo satisfactory like. This un hee-
haws. too. but some way tain en-
vincin'. Pears like he amt much
acquainted with hisself; not yet. he
amt"
"Oh. I don't know" said Mr.. Pepper,
assertion. TIL amt no tellin' bout
them sawed offs. | knowed one in
Tennessee played a flute amazin'."
We'll. wotinell is flutes got to do
with III" exclaimed the old nan
greatly exasperated. 70 all talks like
a hunk o mud"
"Oh. | dent know" said Mr.. Pepper.
"Th' amt many plays EN-. Not good.
they don't"
oh. shucks." exclaimed the old
man. who by his time had finished
eating one end Of his cigar. His tone
seemed almost hopeless. but after he
had struck a match and lighted the
other end he spoke again as one who
renews a controversy after having ac-
knowledged defeat.
Stands &c reason tn ain nobody
much plays EN-" he said. They
wouldn't nobody but one o. them sawed
offs waste no time playin' flutes when
they was guards to he played. That
proves IT,"
His manner no less than his con-
Guiding words indicated that he con-
sidered the question settled. but MIR.
Pepper was not convinced.
"Oh. ! don't know" he said. but
before he could say more the old man
reached for his bungstarter.
"Th' amt no 'casion TO yo' all TO
say nothin' mo- bout not KNOWN
nothin'," he asserted. as he swung the
weapon aloft.
"Oh. / dom know said Mr.. Pepper,
lodging, and the downward stroke
began.
Practice had made the Tennessee
trader almost perfect in the art OF
evasion. but this tim he narrowly
escaped the blow, and might not have
been able to avoid the second one
which was already on the way when
a howl of extreme anguish from the
back room Sent the old man in with
his bungstarter.
Arriving he saw the little man
writhing in torture while Blalsdel
held his right hand and Bassett his
left. Both OF them were gripped firmly
and judging from the expression on
Bassett's face it seemed not unlikely
that the left hand was being reduced
to pulp. 1t was enough TO make any
body howl, and the little man con-
tinued to do II,
whats diddin'?" asked the OLD
man, lowering his bungstarter as he
saw there was no occasion to use II
"Nothin' much" said Winterbottom
calmly, "on'y this yer zap vas playin
irregular, an Blaisdell done mad'
Elections to 1t. Stead o putin up 9
argument the blame fool reached TO
n gun. Their Bassett done took q
hand. I reckon 'twon't be in no c'ndi'
ton to play with TO- a spell" he con
cluded with a twinkle OF amusemen'
in the corner Of his eye. Mr.. Winter
bottom was one who always appre'
ciated a joke provided he made
himself.
That's a serious matter" said tn
old man, addressing the culprit will
strong disapproval. 80 co'se yo' all II
n stranger an yo' can't be expected
10 know what irreg'lar play is nigi
- -, Slino vnyhnt thaU 20 n