Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-30

'lIuc. uul ulllCitSOlltUlc, AliON
but yet 1 can't feel happy while he is
in with that horrible man. Would
you mind telling him I want him! II
I can only get him away for little
while it is something gained.
''Certainly; I will fetch him at
once.''
proceeded to the smoking car with
my message. found Clement Carlyon
lazily smoking short pipe, and seated
close by him, reading, the unpleasant
American whom I had noted in the
Kursaal. l delivered Miss Carlyon's
message.
''Thanks but really can't come at
present. l have just challenged Col.
Fisk to Il game at ecarte. Come, Col.
onel, shut up that COMPOUNDED paper.
Time enough for that after you've lost
all your money!"
II reckon you're too strong for'me
at ecarte, Mister Carylon. I guess
we'll:make it poker or Van John.'
You've won good bit of money out
of me, one way and another. The
least you can do is to give me chance
to get some of it back at game l
know something about
returned to Miss Carlyon to report
the failure of my mission. remained
with her for the best part of an hour,
and then returned to the smoking sa-
loon to report progress. Clement and
the Colonel had 4 cushion spread upon
their knees, and the game was pro
r1N ~
was sufficient to tell me that he was
losing considerably, and as entered
the carriage he scrubbed AMI O U, and
dashed it over to his companion, indi.
eating pretty clearly that he had TART
ed with all his ready cash. The other
occupants Of the carriage--a supercil.
ious-looking Englishman, a stolid
German, and heavily bearded old
gentleman whom l mentally set down
as a Dutch or Russian merchant. took
no apparent heed of the game, but
read or smoked in their. respective
corners.
The game proceeded, and again the
American was the winner. "Curse
the cards - muttered Carlyon be.
tween his teeth, shutting savagely, as
though to break the spell OF his i'll.
luck.
The train stopped at a station and Il
new passenger entered the car and took
a seat by the side Of the elderly Rus.
sian.
The players began a fresh game. l
watched it silently. Carlyon was evi.
IDENTIFY no match for his opponent !; but
the Yankee artfully led him on by ex-
tolling his play, and attributing his
own good fortune entirely to his
luck in holding so many winning
cards. Suddenly, however, a suspicion
flashed across me which changed my
passive interest to the keenest excite
ment. | was all but certain the Amer.
lean had used one Of the dishonest eX-
pedients had seen employed by the
Chevalier Koltotf.
AS yet, however, the matter rested
on suspicion only. Nothing but proof
positive, plain to the others as to my.
self, would suffice to take action upon.
Leaning back in my seat, half-closed
my eyes and affected drowsiness, keep.
ing, however, the closest wach upon
the Americans movements. After a
few minutes my patience was reward
ed. Among the cards ::faced' in the
course of play were several leading
cards of the club suit, It was the
Americans turn to deal. In the act
of collecting the cards and Offering
them to be shuftled he spread his broad
palm over those I have named. He
awaited himself of his right to shuttle
after Car!yon. then offered the cards
to be cut. In picking up the cards,
however, he did so in such a manner
as to neutralize the effect of the cut,
and, as had anticipated, club made
its appearance as the turn-up card,
while the king, queen, and ace, fell in
course of play from the American s
hand. Again an I 0 I was handed
over by Carlyon to the American.
Again I watched, and presently
saw the American spread his hand
over another group of cards, and had
the remainder to be shuf1led.
"Ir. Carlyon," [ said, ''let me
recommend you to count the cards.
Carlyon looked at me with a blank
expression of countenance, not in the
least understandings the drift OF my
suggestion. But the Amrican was
quicker of comprehension.
II reckon you mean to insinuate
that don t play on the square, strang.
er, which is an observation no man
makes twice." the Colonel's ri ht hand
disappeared within a roomy trouser-
pocket, where it left the t,,ll.tale cards,
and appeared grasping small derringer
pistol.
l gave myself up for lost, and tried
intellectually to console myself for
the prospect of an early grave by pic.
turing Edith Carlyon weeping over my
tomb; but quick as thought, before the
American had time to raise the pistol,
a strong hand grasped his wrist from
behind, and the bullet passed HARM
lessly through the floor of the car.
Another instant and the Colonel's
wrists we've securely handcuffed be.
hind him.
':'Not SO fast, Colonel, we don t want
to try you for murder just at present.
There's a little forgery matter to an.
swer for first. Now, Mr.. Carlyon, l
think the Colonel has few trifles be-
to you about him. First, al
low me to hand you the king, knave,
and the ten Of hearts, which were to
have been winning cards in your next
game if Mr.. Lancaster had not so in
interrupted you. Now, as
to money how much have you lost -
The speaker was the elderly Russian
but the voice was the voice
of Ferret. .t r-s----.-- ~.-~~e
'About $s45 in cash, said Carlyon,
very crestfallen," and twice or three
times that amount in 0 US. But do
you mean to say it has not been fairly
wOn?"
81 mean to say that you have been
risking your money against the biggest
thief in the United States. Come,
Colonel, I must trouble your to dis.
gorge. Your winnings are in this
pocket, Think. So There, Mr.. Carlyon,
there is. your money, and there are
your 0 US. You. may thank your
stars and your friend Mr.. Lancaster
here, that you have escaped SO easily
"But it, said I, .sThe Colonel was
wanted for some independent matter,
how is it that you did not arrest him
aar1ior 90 rHEa j1sE 5tsgF = $50. st. Al erSslsE