CHAPTER 12
The restaurant Newman took Butler to was packed with people eating breakfast. There was not a table with less than four diners at it. Apparently, the Stockyard was every bit as good as Newman had promised—so good that the locals flocked to it.
“When you said it was good,” Butler said, “you didn’t mention how popular it was.”
“I’m sorry,” Newman said, “I guess it’s not as early as I thought. We’ll have to wait.”
But there was one table with only two people at it, and Luke Short stood up and waved at them.
“I guess we won’t have to wait,” Butler said, pointing.
They walked over to where Short was sitting with his partner, Bill Ward. Newman knew Ward, of course, so Short introduced Butler, and the two men sat down and joined the partners.
“You fellas called it a game, huh?” Short asked.
“I guess it was about time,” Butler said. “Coe and Clark and Jack were at it a lot longer than we were.”
“Lot of people in and out of that game,” Short said. “How’d you boys do?”
“Very well,” Butler said.
“I did okay,” Newman said.
“He did better than okay,” Butler added. “He held his own and then some.”
“Who was the big loser?” Ward asked.
“Since I didn’t see all the players involved, I don’t know that,” Butler said, “but I can tell you who the biggest sore loser was.”
“Tunney,” Short said.
“You got it right,” Butler said. “How did you know?”
“I saw him on his way out,” Short answered. “He was not happy. Said he thought you and Jack were playin’ partners.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him to get out of my place and not come back,” Short said.
“You didn’t,” Ward said.
“I did.”
“John Tunney loses a lot of money in our place, Luke,” Ward pointed out.
“Not anymore,” Short said.
“We better talk about this later,” Ward said, obviously not wanting to discuss business in front of Butler and Newman.
“We can talk about it now, Bill,” Short said. “The man accused two of my people of cheating. I don’t tolerate that.”
“Your people?” Ward said. “You never even wanted to give Al here a chance to play. Now, all of a sudden, he’s your people?”
Butler was watching Newman when Short said “my people” and it obviously pleased him. Now, after hearing what Bill Ward had to say, he looked crestfallen.
“Bill, now that Al has played in my game and acquitted himself well, yes, he’s one of my people. And you wanted me to buy into the White Elephant so that I would bring my people in, right?”
“That’s true, but I didn’t want you chasing other people out.”
“Believe me,” Short said, “Tunney didn’t gamble so much that I can’t replace him.”
“Luke, damn it—“”
“You know what?” Short said. “You’re right.”
“I am?” Ward looked shocked. Obviously, he did not win a lot of arguments with Luke Short.
“Yes,” Short said, “we should talk about this later.”
Short and Ward had just put in their orders for breakfast, so Butler and Newman were able to order theirs in time for all four plates to come at the same time. Newman assured Butler that steak and eggs was the specialty, and since that’s what everyone was ordering, he just made it four.
Through the conversation Butler learned that Newman was retired. He no longer practiced law unless it was as a favor to a friend. He lived in a small house in a modest section of town, even though he could have afforded a better place. It was the house where his first wife had died, and he could not bring himself to leave. It all sounded a little bit morbid to Butler, but he didn’t make a comment.
The steak was so tender it almost melted when Butler put his knife to it. The eggs were perfectly prepared, and the potatoes were crisp and delicious. To top it all off, the coffee was excellent. So far, Butler had found the best places in town to stay, to gamble, and to eat, and he said so.
“Now you just need to find the best place in town for a woman,” Short said.
“Don’t tell me—“”
“No,” Short said, cutting him off, “we are not running women upstairs in the White Elephant. Bill is way too moral to let me do that.”
“There are enough brothels in Fort Worth,” Ward said. “We’re not about that.”
“No, we’re not,” Short said. “We’re all about the gambling.”
“And we have an excellent restaurant of our own,” Ward added.
“Steaks as good as these?” Butler asked.
“Well, no…but the food is good.”
“He’s right,” Short said, “we do serve good food. It could be better, though. We’re looking for a new cook.”
“We are?” Ward asked.
Short patted the man’s arm and said, “Later, Bill.”
Butler didn’t know if he could be partners with a man as condescending as Short was to Bill Ward. He did not see a long and happy future for this partnership.
After breakfast all four men exited the restaurant together, with the same idea.
“Time to get some rest,” Short said. “We’ve got to open in a few hours and start it all over again.”
“Thanks again for allowing me to play, Luke,” Newman said, shaking hands with the man.
“Don’t thank me, Al,” Short said. “This puts you in my debt, and someday soon I may want to collect.”
Later, Butler would recall just how prophetic that statement was.
CHAPTER 13
Over the next few days another poker game of grand proportions did not come together. Butler played in a couple of games that petered out after he won most of the money.
On the fourth day he was in the White Elephant, standing at the bar, when Short came walking over to him.
“Looks like Bat was right about you,” he said.
“Right about what?”
“You’re scaring off the competition,” Short said. “By all accounts you’re a helluva poker player.”
“I’m sure you can put a game together with all your connections.”
“I have a few fellas comin’ to town that may interest you,” Short said.
“Oh? Who?”
“Let’s wait until they actually get here,” Short said. “Just stay around at least a couple more days. See the sights of Fort Worth.”
“I’ve been around town,” Butler said.
