Beadle's Dime Library No. 429 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

~ * wig? 12 Be eG Oe eee _— _ better here is your chance. ers. sistent bad luck. Before he realized the size of 18 — read his thoughts. He stood the scrutiny without an apparent suspicion. If he had any interest in the attack made by the three rufftians, he showed neither surprise nor vexation at its failure. The cards had just been gathered up for a new deal, and as she looked up, her wrists lingering on the table, the governor stepped forward. ‘* Good-evening, Miss Fanny. Although an inmate with you at the Happy Home, I believe Mr. Darelle is a stranger. I see the lions, and assured him of a welcome here, and promised that he should not be a very heavy victim.” ‘*Mr. Darelle is welcome,” retorted the young lady, with a rather distant bow. ‘ He can’t lose if he don’t bet—and he can’t win, either. He can look on with honor—if he does more, he must take his chances for profit. You under- stand, Mr. Darelle, that just now I am pure business. At some other time, I shall be happy to pursue the acquaintance. Now, gentlemen, make your bets. ‘The fun begins,” The players, of whom there were half a dozen or more, closed up again, having stood aside a little during the brief conversation, and the ame went on, with Hart Hawkins prominent in the ranks of the punters. The little gambler had been at work for some time, betting carelessly yet watching closely. He knew the tricks of his trade if he did not always use them, and this was a voyage of dis- cover7. For once Silent Sam was not standing at his shoulder. That worthy had preferred to remain behind, and was supposed to be at the Happy Home, on the lookout for anything like a repe- tition of the attack of the previous evening. Hart had posted him somewhat, though he did not let him into the entire vert 2 of the pre- vious night’s game. He had only said that Darelle had an appointment, and was crazy enough, after the warning he had received, to be willing to trust himself on the town, and his daughter alone, “Tif ye’re crazy fur ther petticut, why don’t er stay hyar an’ take keer ov her?’ asked Loftus, with a dogged glance, ‘* That would be the natural line for a young man with as high an appreciation of the sex as myself. But, Samuel, my dear, when you have a chance for two birds at one shot, let the third one go. I can watch the old gentleman, and take in the points of the priestess at the Quartz. T had a glimpse of her to-day, and I swear I be- lieve she’s more of an angel than the other. You can stay here like a good boy, while I fol- low the dip of the vein. That way we’ll take in all, both, everything.” But at the Quartz, Hart Hawkins so far found nothing but an honest deal. If the capital is large enough to stand an occasional drain, the bank is bound to win anyhow in the long run; and, so far, the young lady had been able to meet all sporadic losses, The coming of the two did not interfere ma- terially with his game, though he kept an eye on them. To the surprise of Shaw his friend manifested more interest in the game than he had expected. ‘* Wait a little,” he said. ‘‘I want to see how my luck runs and I can perhaps do it better this way than any other. I will lose a handful of chips, or have something to show for my visit.” e purchased a little stack of checks, secured a place at the table, and went in with the rest, seeming to understand how to string his chips as well as the best of them. ** [—ough—thought so!” was his exclamation, a little later, as his first bet won. ‘I’m in the vein to-night. [ll cut the claws—ough—of the tiger ; and then, look out! I shall be after ou The governor smiled inwardly, for he had already noticed that the bank had been winning and Miss Fanny was not one whose luck was apt to take a sudden turn. Hart Hawkins did not smile, though he heard the ch, There had not been any money on it; but Darelle’s card had been a winner all through the last deal, and twice in this. He had _ just coppered it to the limit, and thought he had almost a sure thing. Nor did the ort smile again, as the game went on. He had a pile of checks before him too; but it steadily diminished in size, while Darelle as regularly won. If you want to test whose luck is the Take any card you choose and play it to win. Ill copper it. Or you can reverse that and bet clear yourself. I don’t care how soon I get frozen out here; but of course I can’t quit well when I am much of a winner.” ‘** All right, answered Shaw, recklessly. ‘‘ The bank can’t grumble. If we make even bets it will be all the same until a split comes along, and then, it’s bound to be ahead.” So the two ina “tee gs Ag ee each other to an extent that began to interest the bystand- It was not often that Shaw had such per- ‘*Come. . his losses he was out a thousand dollars, while Darelle was in almost that precise amount, Shaw appeared to be weakening. steadily on the governor, as though she would 1ave him out to , — Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend. a { ‘*T believe on my soul that you are standing in with the dealer. Iam satisfied to quit now and go home, If you are not in for a general jamboree eg had better go too. One thing is certain. If I stay in it would be all the worse for both of us.” ‘*Hold on, then. In a minute I'll have a chance to call the turn and you'll see me whoop it up on this. All or none till I get ready to bolt. It’s working. You can see yourself that it is working, now. If you really can.” And Darelle waved his hat and chuckled shrilly. ‘*You can see that Miss Fanny is willing to spring the cards if it is necessary,” muttered awkins. ‘*One won’t pay the other on the turn, and she’s not going to lose a thousand square if the governor stays out.” But Miss Fanny did not spring the cards, though her face wore a slightly troubled look as Darelle’s call, certain as fate, came along the winner. There was an extra glint of fire in the old gentleman’s eyes as he drew in his checks, ‘* This may be fun—ough!” His cough reappeared fora moment, and the | fair dealer held the cards waiting for the sequence. ‘** This may be fun—more than pitching: cop- pers on a rainy day—but—ough!—it might be funnier, Can’t you extend your limit? Ll put the size of your bank on one card, and then, win or lose, stop.” ‘** Tbe bank will accept for ten thousand. If you win it closes for the night.” The answer came without hesitation: and as promptly Darelle pushed in his stock of chips, and then began heaping up notes for the bal- ance, all on the ten. The other bettors had quit, and a breathless silence was maintained around the table. Even the governor felt a shade more excited than was usual with him. Ina square game, it does sometimes happen that fabulous winnings are made by outsiders who have more nerve than judgment, and though even yet he did not think the old gentleman’s luck would be better than the bank’s in the long run, yet there was a chance. ‘*You all done betting?’ asked Miss Fanny coldly. | Of course they were. Even Hawkins had not nerve enough to copper Sidney Darelle’s card, ‘* Then, here goes!” Card by card the painted pasteboards slipped from the box until nearly a dozen pair had been counted out. — Then the ten won, CHAPTER XX. HAIR TRIGGER TOM ARRIVES, ‘Ir is scarcely worth while to test your sys- tem to-night,” laughed the governor, recovering his coolness as the ten came out. ‘* With such luck as yours, I don’t see but what one scheme would be good as another. Anything would win, ‘* Just where you are mistaken—ough! After such a run of luck did you ever know a man to change his game without changing everything else? I have been pushing the game for some time to break the back-bone of the streak, so I A have a chance to show you what it would 0. ‘* At regular retail prices? Ha, ha!” ‘‘Oh, it must be interesting; but excuse me a moment. I must cash in,” ‘ — enough. Never let money go beg- ging. I see my friend Boutelle there. Let me speak to him. He may as well join us.” Sidney Darelle made no objection, and so the three sat down to a table in one of the alcoves, each with a well-filled wallet at his elbow. It would have been possible to have screened themselves by dropping a curtain, but none of them seemed to care for the outside world; and it was not possible for a crowd to gather in such a position that the hand of either of the players could be seen. As Darelle sorted over his first hand witha feverish eagerness that was in marked constrast to the coolness with which he had attacked the tiger, Colonel Boutelle eved him curiously. The colonel, in spite of what Shaw had said, was not a desperate gambler, though now and then he managed to drop quite a pile into the hands of more fortunate or more ski!lful players, He could not, at first, see why the governor had invited him into the game when it looked as though he had a very good thing of it for him- self alone; but it might be that the pigeon need- ed a little nursing. and that Shaw, intending to pluck him thoroughly, had an objection to the colonel being seen assisting in the operation. **No limit to-night,” yawned Darelle, looking up at last. ‘* As you choose. My limit is generally what I have with me, but of course I am only playing with you to-night for amusement.” * And you carry enongh to make the winning worth while?’ asked the old gentleman, cau- tiously. ‘*Generally: and to-nicht IT am pretty well heeled, I sha’n’t pass a good hand for want of -_—— the stamps to back it. What are you going to do now?” ‘*T can venture to beta hundred. The cards justify it, if nothing else.” ‘‘ Hundred better,” returned the colonel, terse- ly, putting up as he spoke, ‘*Sorry for you both. I believe you are both bluffing. Vl give you a chance to draw out if youare. If not, VU find out. A thousand bet- ter, colonel; and at this rate it will soon take a heap tocome in. Say Sere say, Darelle.” ‘*[T should stay out, but here’s too much to throw away. Il raise you the same figure.” ‘*Mr. Darelle claims to know nothing at all about faro, and is doubtful of bis knowledge of draw. If he isa greenhorn, what sort of sharp- ers do they have back East? Still, as this is the beginning of the game, it won’t do to let bim scare us, As you stay then, Boutelle, [ think Pl go another thousand better.” The colonel had quietly put up his money, and at the raise, Darelle’s eyes twinkled. ‘* What was good for one raise ought to able tocarry another. A thousand more to my credit,” Boutelle considered, lcoked at the two men, and then threw his carcs to the deck-head with- out another word. ‘* Where’s your fund?” asked the governor, with asmile. You have just heard a great chunk of philosophy, that ought to keep you along with us. Ithas affected me so wonderfully that I think I willremain. Whew!” The exclamation was involuntary, and so low that it is doubtful if the other ears caught it: but he had just glanced over his shoulder, and what he saw, wrung it out, in spite of himself. A moment later he had recovered his nerves, and was gazing blandly into the face of Leona, who stood sae at the entrance to the alcove, looking in with as much curiosity as reproach, ** Leona!” Sidney Darelle holf-raised from his chair. - ‘* What madness is this?’ ‘* Not mad at all, my dear father, but intense- ly curious, though for a time I was terribly frightened.” ‘What! has any one offered insult?” ‘Ob, no. But I awoke, and something told me to go tg your room, I even thought I heard you calling. When I found you were not there, of course I feared some evil might have happen- ed and made inquiries. By chance some one knew that you were here, and so here I came. Excuse me, gentlemen, but father’s health is such that I keep an eye on him night and day. Do not let me interrupt you. I will take pleas- ure in looking on. Somehow, I am not a bit sleepy.” She coolly seated herself in the vacant chair at her father’s elbow, smiling as sweetly as though their avocation was nothing to her. ‘* Perhaps the game had better stop,” suggest- ed Shaw. ‘‘ Your daughter hardly cares to re- main here.” ‘* Not at all; not at ail. One place is as safe as another. With us near no one will be apt to offer ber any insult. Colonel Boutelle, this is my daughter. As you were saying, governor?” ‘ That the bets have gone too high already. I- call. ‘‘Three sixes,” answered Darelle, showing out. his hand with an eager air. ‘* Not good, by just a trifle. Three Jacks are a little better. And here they are.” Boutelle said nothing. He had thrown up two pair and was glad to get off as well as he did. He felt a little uneasy in the presence of the young lady, and wondered whether it was best to have ib go on. Leona, who was watching calmly, and with- out a trace of disapprobation in her face, ap- ed to read his thoughts. ** Do not let me interfere, gentlemen. I reall know nothing else that I can do, and I think can spend an hour at least watching you. It is a rather new experience, I assure you. I have heard so much of such scenes that I rather pre- fer having one glimpse. They seem quiet and orderly out there.” “Yes Miss Fanny has her patrons under very fair control; bunt you can never tell. I have seen very wild work here, especially after she had gone home, and left the place in charge of her assistants. Pray remain under cover if you will stay. We sha’n’t make a very extend-. ed sitting, and we will all leave together. That will be all the better for you. So much the colonel said, while Shaw shuffled the cards; then he tried to fix his attention on the game once more. But Darelle’s vein of Juck had evidently run out. [f the governor had rushed him, as he badd secerned inclined to do tefore the coming of Miss Leona, the cards he held might have won him a fortune. But with that smiling young lady watching everv move, the governor could bard-. ly go deliberately back on his pledge of the morn-. ing, unless he was willing to altogether forfeit her good opinion. As it was he was more of a winner than he felt it prudent to be, drawing in dollar by dollar, or rather hundred by hundred, all that Darelle had won at faro. His luck had. come around again, and he had been recouped for his own losses and had something over for a. fresh start. 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