Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

16 THOMSON BURTIS of seventy-five thousand dollars, prob- ably you’ll agree with me that we needn’t be too honest about our own methods of getting it back. Asa matter of fact, he’s a crook every way. Even his gambling games—when there are big players—are crooked.” Suddenly Tex threw back his head and laughed. Daly grinned, and Ivers per- mitted himself a smile. “T know that from a friend of mine who got taken for plenty. When a man or men, new rich oil men or whoever they may be, are live wires who want to play real poker with no limit, they’re taken to a private room where a house man, Donnelly himself, presides. There are always enough men to make up the game. Two men—Donnelly and a confederate whom the sucker does not know is a con- federate—are sure to be there. If there aren’t any other customers—and there usually are, a couple of supposed custom- ers wander in. They’re house men too. The net of the proposition is that any man is playing against from two to four men working together—raising and re- raising each other and all that. It won’t take you ten minutes, with this tip, to discover the truth of it yourselves. Often Derringer himself takes a hand—he loves poker. He’s as crooked as his house. Whenever he isn’t too busy he spends his evenings that way.” “He sure is a versatile boy,” Tex said thoughtfully. “Surely is,” agreed Ivers. ‘I thought that perhaps you fellows might like to go into the gambing house, play a while, and look Derringer over. I’ve got a telegram here from your father—he realizes that we may have to spend money to get our money back—saying that he’ll put up his half of whatever amount I decide is necessary. We'll pretend that you’re able to lose plenty—and let you size up Der- ringer, prove to yourselves he’s a damned crook, and—”’ “Say, listen,” Tex interrupted, and the silent Daly could see he was afire with excitement. - “Suppose we do that. Sup- pose we prove to ourselves that he’s a crooked card player as well as a crook every other way. Duke, what’s wrong in our fighting fire with fire, and crooking him right back? Gg@in there and play square poker, of course, losing money deliberately until we’re sure we're: being rooked. Then go right back at ’em!” For a moment there was silence. Then Ivers leaned forward. “That’s a possible idea,” he said crisply. “And I’m calculating on risking ten thousand dollars for my share. My check is good for twenty, to make up Bill’s share. Maybe more—say fifteen thousand a piece. I don’t know—” -““If he’s so powerful, it seems like the best way to me!” MacDowell said slowly. “After, of course, we’re dead certain that we're only fighting fire with fire.” There was a queer feeling within Daly. For some reason he could not accept the situation as anything but totally unreal— a dream. Suddenly he leaned forward. “Mr. Ivers, would you be willing to trust the playing of all that money to Tex and me?” Ivers played with his watch chain, and did not look up as he replied: “His father thinks Tex a fine poker player, and you have that reputation—” “From whom?” Ivers raised his eyes. Daly was tense. “From Tex, originally, and from his father to me.” Daly relaxed slightly. Then Ivers did not know that he had been forced into crooked gambling, years before, by an older man, when starvation was close upon him. And that he had been one of the most successful of the card men, be- cause of his youth and breeding. Then he laughed at himself. How could Ivers know anything like that? “MRE THESE them Army officers?” It was a voice from the door- way. A tall, very thin, very hard looking man, his blond hair-tousled and his chin covered with a thin beard, was standing there. His hard gray eyes rested on Ivers. “Yes,” Iversanswered, studying theman. comicloooks.com