Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 302 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

ast = . . 4 _ i _ Faro a — —— = — “So glad!” softly murmured the Thorough- bred. ‘‘ Think 1 will nave to offer you an en- gagement as dealer, when your present occupa- tion is gone. Bear it in mind, please, and jog my memory in case I should forget.” \% Ain't he a daisy, jest!” came from proud Don Bob, in a theatrical whisper, causing an audible smile among the deeply interested spec- vators. Even while marveling at bis audacity, they could not help but admire his matchless nerve in so boldl boarding the lion in his den—so to speak, Not alone iu his play, though that was far beyond the usual limits, even of a fast mining-town, but for bis grit in chaffing to his very facea man with the wide-spread reputa- tion of Faro Saul. Many of them looked on it as little short of suicide, and there was more than one whispered offer to bet that the Fr’isco Thoroughbred would go to bed that night with his boots on! Faro Saul made no reply, but coldly proceed- ed with his dealing, at the third turn winning the bet on the deuce. As cvolly Jobnny from Fr’iseo doubled his bet on the same card, drawling languidly: ‘‘The deuce is in it, and it’s got to come out!” At the next turn, his bet on the ten was Jost, and as quietly ‘replaced. Then, next card, brought tne deuce out in his favor, thus more than recouping him for bis losses. Drawin down the stakes, be quietly wa'ched the fate o his wager on the ten. This was not decided un- til near the end of the deal, when fortune again stood ‘his friend, and another serious bole was eaten into the capital of the bank. His face white and stern-set, Faro Saul wait- ed motionless while Queen Titania counted out the amount of bis latest loss. Then, as the Thoroughbred made no move toward placing another stake, he glanced inquiringly across the table. ‘‘ Drive on, my dear fellow,” was the quiet response to bis silent query. ‘“‘ We've got the whole night before us, and some of our good friends here might think themselves defrauted were we to cut their suspense too short. When the last turn is reached, please wake me up.” Even more than his losses, heavy as they had been that evening, Faro Saul was more bitter! stung by the cool insolence which was conceal- ed beneath that air of politeness. And his white teeth came together with an ominous click as he slipped card after card from the deck, only pausing when but three cards. besides the one exposed, remained undealt. The two cards lying immediately beneath the exposed card, and on top of the last, or card in hock, of course formed ‘‘ the turn.” AsSaul paused, the Thoroughbred draw led: ‘Sorry, but I must this time. I never did like a cat, even in faro. Start up and in afresh, please!” spectators interchanged quick glances at this event. So careless bad the Thoroughbred seemed that this close keeping the run of the cards without ‘‘case keeper” or ‘cue-card” to freshen his memory, appeared extraordina- ry. It was really case, as proven when the Faro Prince ran out the cards, that the last turn consisted of a ‘‘cat” or “cat-hatpen,” meaning two cards of the same denomination hesides one other, beneath the last card shown in the previous turn. By this time, the crowd were pretty well convinced that the Thorougbh knew his business, and the outside betting took a tura accordingly. Saul did: not look any happier for hearing several wagers offered, without takers, that the bank would be broken by Johnny Wild. The new deal was begun and conducted on retty much the same style as the one preced- git. Johnny Wild bet freely, and thouzb he pursued no regular “‘ system,” so far as those who watched the game so closely could dis- cover, his winnings were again considerably in excess of bis losses. There were less words spoken, and it looked more like a business game, espite the ostentatious carelessness of the Tho- roughbred. The cards remaining in the deck were grow- ing low, and despite his iron nerve, Saul could not entirely conceal bis uneasiness at the tide of fortune turning so pp te me him. Not that he loved money so ex ingly, but be had so often boasted that his bank had never yet been closed by a rival, and the vailed insolence of this dashing. unknown sport had so tho- roughly nettled him, that be would rather bave lost his good right hand than be compelled to declare bis own defeat. And despite his efforts at self-contro], be could not keep a vivid light from leaping into bis eyes and the warm blood from dasbing across bis pale face as Queen Titania drew in a beavy wager near the end of the dea]. The cards had run so regularly that there was no chance for a second “cat” at the end of the deal, and in- stinct told him that the Thoroughbred intended to strike bim pease, ne when winning meant a loss for the banker of four times stake risked. His expectation proved to be well founded. The last four cards proved to be ace, exposed, and therefore out of the game: deuce, seven and knave. Rapidly running over the bank-notes before him, Johnny Wild dropped a package on the table, sayirg quietly: “Twenty-five thousand dollars on the deuce, with knave left in hock!” : Faro Saul, white as a ghost, cast a glance into the mask which Queen Titania wore, according to custom. She was busy with her bands inside the box below the table, but with a barely per- ceptible pause, she made a slight motion which the giant gambler rightly interpreted to mean that he had enough money to pay this heavy wager in case fortune should still frown upon him. And this fact was owing to his having early in the evening paid another visit to the helpless victim of his bitter grip of steel, Mar- cus Tudor. Breathlessly the crowd hovered around the table, watching for the slow motion of the giant’s fingers, for they knew that a few seconds now must decide the fate of the bank, unless fortune smiled upon it. Anda gasping breath came from many a strong pair of lungs as they saw the cards come out. The Thoroughbred had “called the turn!” ‘“Who says the deuce is not the gambler’s best friend?” lightly laughed the winner, dain- tily flipping the ashes from his cigar. ‘ Your turn comes next, my dear fellow!” Not a word said Saul while Queen Titania counted out the enormous sum; then he pushed it across the table, saying: ° “Take your money, sir, Count it first, please.” ‘‘Never mind. I mean business now. All goes on first turn of the next deal, if you are agreeable.” ““The bank is broken!” slow)y, hoarsely mut- tered Faro Saul. CHAPTER XXII. BEAUTY AND BOOTY ON THE TURN OF A CARD. HOARSE and strained was the voice of the Handsome Hercules as be forced himself to utter the announcement which was more bitter to him than death itself could have been. Not a sound came from any of the excited spectators, for with their knowledge of the re- putation which Faro Saul! had won, they expect- ed no less than that the final test would come in the shape of firearms or cold steel. And with this feeling they shrunk back from the faro table, heinhe ready to dodge any stray compliment in ead. For the first time since planking his initial bet, the Thoroughbred from Fr’isco showed symptoms of surprise, taking the cigar from between his teeth and gazing into the white, bard set countenance of the giast gambler with widely distended eyes for a moment before ut- ert ; ie ‘‘Sosoon? How annoying! I was just begin- ning to get my hand in, and intended to com- mence betting with the fresh deal.” It required all Faro Saul’s self-control to keep him from leaping like a wild beast over the table at the throat of the man who crowded so much insolence into so few words. Not that the speech itself contained aught at which he could grasp as a pretext for a quarrel, for all was polite on the surface, but underneath he could detect the sneering insult, and he knew, too, by the same instinct, that this man was his deadly enemy, for some reason at present hidden from im. “Tregret it for your sake, quite as much as on my own account,” he forced himself to say, in a cold, mechanical sort of tone. . “‘ It isa pity to cut your enjoyment short, but possibly Lmay be enabled to interest you in some other way. res can think of any little sport you are par- tial to, and will let me have an inkling of it, l’ll be only too happy to accommodate you, as faras it lies in my limited power. Do you ever shoot?” ‘“‘ Never, during business hours,” was the quiet reply to this pointed hint. ‘One thing at a time is enough for me to attend to, and you please we will run this little game out first. “I told_ you the bank was broken,” sullenly replied Oberlin, with an evil glance from the corner of bis eyes, “TI heard you, but maybe we can hit ona chance for you to get your money back, Ifa fair question, how much money have you re- maining in bank?” Faro Saul nodded to Queen Titania, who promptly replied: “Five hundred dollars.” ‘* And one thousand in the handsof our worth stage-driver. Nota bad nest-egg, looking at it cheerfully. Many a man bas ridden a smaller horse over the tide to fortune.” Saul gave a sickly smile, but said nothing. ““ At what figures do you hold this place, in- ciding the house, fixtures, stock and good **Do you think of purchasing?” ‘‘I can tell better after an answer to my question,” was the careless retort. Oberlin sat in silence for a few mo mecbanically shuffling the cards which ha pares him false for the first time in many a 3 day ; then he said: ‘In round figures, fifteen thousand dollars,” Saul, the Handsome Hercules. —_——— mm eee ee ee scess~~e a LL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LL ALLL LLL LLL LE LLL AL LLL LE LLL LL LLL LD — ee ai A ———$—— er ‘Cheap as dirt at the price, too!” nodded the Fr’isco Thoroughbred. counting out a little pile of bank-notes and ruffling them lightly bet ween his fingers as he continued: ‘‘ As yet, our first. bet is undecided, for you have covered every wager I have actually placed on the table. As I believe in sweeping clean, I’ll have one more shy at it. There’s $15,500, which I lay against ‘rg property here and the money you have 7 in bank. Shuffle your cards and deal, then Be fair.” Saul hesitated, and those who were watching” him the closest, were ready to take oath they detected a faint tremorin bis hands as they played around the cards, It may have been that Johnny Wild was one of those keen-eyed observers, for there was something very like a rece of mockery in his clear voice as he ejacu- ated; ‘‘Mvy dear fellow! surely the trump card of Good Enough is not beginning to lose his nerve?” ‘“‘T'll show you where the nerve comes in, before the sun rises, Mr,. Wild,” grated the Hercules, as he swiftly shuffled the cards, cut and turned them face upward, ‘*Make your bet as soon as you on ‘The deuce has beén kind enough to me thus far, and | never go back on a tried friend,” was the light response, as the nonchalant sport. dropped his money on the eard indicated. Saul dealt the cards detiberately, coolly ra ie to all appearance regained control of himself and his sturmy passions. Queen Titania, her eyes blazing through the holes in her mask, leaned forward to catch the first glimpse of the card which was to decide the wager, and it was from her action in drawing back with a gasp— ing breath that gave the others their first in- timation of the way fortune nodded. The deuce came out winner. The White Elephant now belonged to the bold Thoroughbred from the Pacific Slope! ‘‘Let the deck remain as it is, if you want. another shake for your thousand!” quickly cried Johnny Wild, as the Handsome Hercules seemed on the point of casting the faithless cards away. “What do you mean?’ he demanded slowly. “‘T have no more money, at least where I can put my hand on it at this moment, and I play no man on credit.” ‘“‘T have taken a fancy to Good Enough. I believe I'll try my band at running a gambling- hell once more. Unfortunately the camp is not large enough to support two first-class estab- lishments of this sort, and, as a stranger, 1 would work at a decided disadvantage ainst. an old-established favorite like Faro Saul, should he conclude to open out again.” “What are you trying to get through you? The town is free to all, I imagine, and who shall say I have no right to open up a game,, provided I don’t ask help to stock it?” ‘‘For that very reason I propose to buy you off, or stake a round sum against 1 not to open a game in Good Enonug of five years. Will ten thousand dollars be a fair price?” Saul nodded in silence. He could not deny the liberality of this dashing sport, however in- tensely he had grown to hate him. ‘“*Another fancy, which may seem a little barder than the one just mevtioned,” added the. Thoroughbred. ‘‘Though I don’t want oppo- sition, I do want the services of your faro queen. to preside over the table she bas graced fer so long. In a word, and looking at the matter in. a purely business light, I am ready to stake $25,000 on a single turn of the cards, her services. What say you, my dear sir Before Saul could choke down his an tonishment sufficiently to reply, Queen Titania leaped lightly upon the table, crying sharply: “Close with his offer, Saul! never yet brought you anything but good luck! Place all on a single turn, and with that amount for a starter, you can yet cut his comb and lower his roud crest in the dirt! Take him up, Saul berlin !” ““Good advice, my friend, take my word,” drawled the Fr’isco horougbbred, leaning care- lessly back in his chair, gazing with a languid ry as- sort of admiration at the beautiful figure thus. prominently brought into view. And Faro Saul, gambler to the very core, hesitated no longer. The offer was a princely one, and if he could only win—he must win! The cards could not always favor one side. and surely this was the turn of the tide! As Queen Titania said, sbe had never sg brought him bad luck. He would accept the offer, and with the thousands thus won, would easily retrieve the remainder of ps heavy losses, ter that —and his strong white teeth came together with a savage click that betokened trouble for the sag pares , , , ‘* Very ; 4 accept your wager. hi 3 cog card and let’s have it ovat with,” he said, is voice cold and unnatural. “Like to like—beauty to beauty—on the queen of hearts, my an if you please!” | With a sa stamp of her pel fon areas Titania obeyed, covering the money the card saying sbarply: ‘COME ICO “S pick out the card to decide the whole af- — oo Col