THE $1,000 BILL

The only money Bret had when he arrived in Echo Springs was his $1000 bill pinned inside his coat. He used it and an envelope padded with newspaper clippings to appear to have a much larger bankroll with which to play in Phineas King’s Saturday-night poker game. Bret later showed it to the angry mob outside McComb’s and offered it to the first man who would’t like what he was about to say.[1]

NEVER TAKE A DRINK...

Bret was after information about the big poker game that brought him to Echo Springs, so he hit the saloon at his earliest opportunity. There, he met an inebriated Joshua Thayer in the midst of getting thrown out of the bar. Bret immediately recognized a warmth and humanity in Thayer and asked him to join him for a drink. Bret took a single sip from his glass, no doubt to gain Thayer’s confidence. Once he got the information about the big game from Thayer, Bret ordered another glass for him but declined any more for himself.[1]

After the poker game with Phineas King, Bret stepped downstairs to the bar and had a celebratory drink, and was drinking alone. Arthur, the bartender, moved to top off Bret’s glass, but Bret indicated he had had enough, even though his glass was still half full.[1]

HIS POKER

Bret bought his way into Phineas King’s regular Saturday-night poker game in a private room upstairs at McComb’s. The game was between King and his circle of highly-placed Echo Springs VIPs.[1]

During the game, Bret was dealt three aces by King, but suspected King was cheating. Rather than calling King’s bet, he folded, believing even three aces was a losing hand with King deal. His suspicions were confirmed when King won with a ten full on a three-card draw.[1]

King also displayed unscrupulous behavior by feigning an accidental turning of Bret’s folded hand, exposing his three aces. Knowing then that King was a cheat, Bret called for a cut the next time King was dealing. King took silent offense, but complied to the request. With the cards thoroughly cut by his own hand, Bret had the confidence to run a bluff on King with “nothing but guts,” and won the game. But King then knows that Bret was on to him, and began to take measures to get rid of him.[1]

BUSHWHACKED IN AN ALLEY OUTSIDE A SALOON

Phineas King had Big Mike McComb send his boys out to beat up Bret Maverick, hoping to scare him out of town, thereby protecting his own reputation as an honest card player.[1]

THE LADIES HE'S KNOWN

Having spent most of her young life in a remote mining camp, Edie Stoller had grown up with a romantic and adventurous imagination. It’s no wonder she found herself attracted to the tall, dark stranger.[1]

WINNINGS

"Thousands of dollars," at Edie Stoller's assessment.[1]