Johnny Napier - The Gambling Gun

By John J. Law

Johnny Napier had won most of the hands handily, and had cleaned out the others. He could already feel the weight of their angry glances falling on him. It wasn't hard to tell that the men were not good sports about losing so much money. Most people wouldn't be, but these men were used to pulling the trigger for lesser reasons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Dec 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223804222

Book preview

Chapter One

Read 'em and Weep

The old saloon was packed more than usual tonight. There was the usual rabble of clientele' that the saloon served, and some more. The usual collection of drifters and drunkards were all in attendance tonight, but there were some new faces. Some men that usually didn't frequent such an establishment, were here tonight. It was clear that they were expecting to see something different, something that usually didn't come upon the sleeping town. Each man in the saloon that evening knew that fate would not disappoint.

The piano player churned out senseless music that tickled the ears of the men inside. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and you could hardly breathe without coughing. The air was heavy with smoke and expectation. It was almost as if the saloon itself expected some kind of confrontation.

Everyone's eyes were all fixed on the poker table that was in the center of the saloon. The small, circular table was packed with beer, chips, ash trays and cards. The four men that sat around the table tried their best not to reveal their hands. Most of the men did this by putting on stoic faces, in spite of what their cards read. The men did their best to carve faces of stone that were bereft of any kind of emotion. All this was done in the name of secrecy, and of hiding whatever hand fate had dealt them with. This was, after all, the usual means to conceal one's cards.

One of the players employed a different tactic. The man stood out from the others like a sore thumb. He displayed a much different demeanor than the others, and for good reason. His pile of chips had been growing steadily with the last few hands. The man had been winning most of the hands of the game, and was coming dangerously close to wiping out the other players. The man displayed uncanny confidence and abilities in playing cards, much to the chagrin of the other players.

I'll hit you for another five hundred.

The man more than had the money to play with on the next hand. The same couldn't be said of the other players.

"I ain't got five hundred no more. You

cleaned me out!"

I ain't got nothin' no more because of you, an' this stupid game! I'm out!

I'm folding.

The other men had lost their nerve and the means to continue playing. There was one exception, and he was determined to see the game to its bitter conclusion.

You don't scare me, Napier. Hit me.

Johnny Napier had won most of the hands handily, and had cleaned out the others. He could already feel the weight of their angry glances falling on him. It wasn't hard to tell that the men were not good sports about losing so much money. Most people wouldn't be, but these men were