Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 27: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 2b Frank sat down smiling, tossing his hat aside. Folansbee pressed a button before he sat down, and a boy appeared just as the cards and chips were brought out. “What’ll you have, gentlemen?” asked Folansbee. Lockwell and Lawrence ordered, and then they turned to Frank. “A seltzer lemonade,” said Merry, rippling the cards. “Oh, come!” exclaimed Lawrence, ‘We are all alone here together. It’s all right, old man.” Then he turned to the boy, saying: ‘Make it four whiskeys.” ‘Make it as many whiskeys as the gentle- men like,” said Frank pleasantly; “but for me you will bring seltzer lemonade.” “Never saw a fellow like you, Mr. Merri- well,” declared Lockwell, with an attempt to be jolly. “Do you always take your medi- cine straight when nobody is looking?” “You have heard me say that I never drink.” “Yes, but we know Lockwell stopped, with a little gesture that meant a great deal, The color was rising into Frank’s cheeks, but still he held himself well in check. b Bd “Please be good enough not to hint,” he said. “If you have anything to say, speak out. I presume you are driving at the first night on the road.” “T.didn’t know but you would be touchy.” “Mr. Lockwell, did you see me take a —drink of anything -but water that night?” ‘““N—no.” “T thought not.” “But your illness. And your glass was half-full of champagne when you—when you —gave up.” “I do not know how that champagne came . there. Perhaps somebody else does. I did not drink any of it. Come, gentlemen, if we are to play. Of course, Mr. Folansbee is to be the banker. He informs me the limit on this game is five dollars, and so——” “We could raise the limit,’ Lawrence broke in, “if it is not high enough to suit you.” ‘‘I am very well satisfied, as it is. To tell you the truth, I had much rather play a dol- lar limit game. But then, I have some money I can lose, if luck does not come my way. However, before we begin, I wish to tell you that I am lucky at this game. That is why it has such a fascination for me. I almost always win.” He was looking down at the backs of the cards as he spoke. Lockwell and Lawrence exchanged glances and winks. There was the shadow of a sarcastic smile on the face of each. Frank Merriwell would need to be pretty lucky to win against their combina- tion. “It will be a quarter ante, eh?” asked Folansbee, counting out and stacking the chips. ““How many will you have, Lawrence? The whites are quarters, the reds halves, and the blues dollars.” “Oh, give me fifty dollars’ worth,” said Lawrence, producing a roll and tossing out two twenties and a ten. ‘Have you chips enough?” “Well, I have three boxes of chips here. I think they will go round. Here they are. What will you have, Lockwell?” “The same.” He counted out five ten-dollar bills. “Now, Merriwell?” “T think twenty-five dollars’ worth will do me,’ answered Merry, laying down two tens and a five. “Pretty light,” murmured Lawrence. “Bet- ter take fifty. What if you get up against somebody with a good bucking hand?” “T’ll use money, if necessary: I have some left.” Frank displayed a wad of bills that made the eyes of the two rascals glitter greedily. He had been paid a week’s salary and the royalties on his play for that length of time, and he was flush. ) Folansbee took fifty dollars in chips, and then they cut for deal. It ‘fell to Lawrence. Lockwell made the ante. It was Merri- well’s first “say.” Frank glanced at his hand and found three A LEADING FEATURE OUR FREE COUPON OFFER—See Page 33. 000)