The Argosy, April 1912 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

64 to do. He drew a pair of nines which, with his three kings, gave him a full hand. Square Visage also drew two cards, and looked happier than ever when he exam- ined his hand. The cards were running exactly as he and Fat Man had intended they should, and he was now absolutely certain that he would win. In their exultation they were thrown off their guard for the moment, and neither noticed Roost make a quick ex- change of four of his cards for those under his leg. “Well, what have you got?” demanded Square Visage. “What have you got?” returned Roost coolly. “I’m callin’ you.” Square Visage spread his hand out on the board. It consisted of three aces and a pair of jacks. Roost’s cards were lying face downward on the table, covered with his right hand. He had dropped his left into his left coat- pocket. Instead of immediately turning over his cards, he gazgd fixedly at his an- tagonist’s hand until both that worthy and his partner were fidgeting with uneasiness. They were anxious to take possession of that sack of gold. “Well, don’t be all night about it,” growled Square Visage. “Are you beat or ain’t you?” “TI suppose you two tin horns are real anxious to know, ain’t you?” Roost spoke softly, but there was something ominous about his voice that caused both men to look up quickly and exchange apprehensive glances. Square Visage instantly surmised that the big Westerner, realizing that he was beaten, was about to make trouble, and immediately began to forestall it. “Now don’t start any funny work here,” he blustered. ‘Turn over your cards and show us what you’ve got.” “Pleased to accommodate you,” returned Roost pleasantly, “but just hang on to yourself, for you’re goin’ to get the sur- prise of your life,” and with that he in- serted the forefinger of his right hand under the cards and flipped them over, spreading them out with the same hand, which he promptly dropped into his right coat-pocket. : -For a minute there was absolute silence while the confidence men, and the several passengers who had gathered in the aisle to watch the game, stared at the cards. Roost had turned. up four nines and a king! THE ARGOSY, Fat Man was the first to break the silence. “Looky here,” he roared, “ there’s some- thing crooked about this here pame! That ain’t the hand I dealt you!” “Sure it’s crooked,’ answered Roost calmly. “You and me and your friend there expected it to be so all along. It was Just a case 0’ which o’ us could be the crookedest, me or you two tin horns. Looks like I win.” Square Visage’s hand was stealing to- ward the money on the board. He didn’t know exactly how it all had happened, but he didn’t propose to lose that coin if he could help it. “Keep your paws off them stakes!” snapped Roost so suddenly that Square Visage jumped. ‘“ You so much as touch ?em and I'll fill you so full o’ lead that you'll assay six hundred dollars to the ton.” Roost’s hands were still in his pockets, and he had now pushed them forward until they protruded over the board. Against the inside of each pocket was pressed a hard round protuberance that very much resembled a revolver muzzle. Both men noticed this and shrank back instinctively. “TIT see that you recognize the good old Missouri pocket trick,” grinned Roost. “Well, this is just an illustration; I can give you a practical demonstration any time you call for it. Just touch them stakes and bang she goes.” Neither of his victimes showed any de- sire for a practical demonstration. “Now then,” Roost continued, address- ing Square Visage, “just shove them hands o’ yourn into your pants-pockets and keep "em there where they’ll be safe. And you,” he went on, turning to Fat Man, “just reach over and take that wallet and stuff them bills and check and that gold nugget into it and lay it down in front o’ fre.” Fat Man complied without a murmur. “And now, you darn coyotes, rise up on your hind legs and get out o’ here!” Roost thrust the wallet into his pocket and followed the other two out into the aisle. As he did so the conductor came hurrying in from the forward car, followed by an excited passenger, who had evidently gone in search of him. : “What’s going on here?” demanded the conductor. _ “Why, these two gents invited me to join "em in a little game o’ cards and now they’re mad,” grinned Roost. Colm NOOK CO