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

not vestige of linen. Shabby almost
to the last degree, yet scrupulously
neat and clean, and with something OF
a faded aristocracy about him, the
CheValier, once seen, was not readily
to be forgotten. TO what country he
belonged | was not at loss to discover.
His name seemed to indicate Russian
or Polish origin, but his features gave
no clue to his nationality, and his fea.
lures was a Polyglot Of nearly every
European tongue, French, however.
predominating. After few sentences
OF casual conversation, Ferret re-
marked:
"Chevalier, my friend is very anx-
ious to see something of your dexter
ity with the cards. Will you oblige
him!''
"Alais certainement Wiz re great.
est pleasure. l will do mon petit pos
sible. But NJ. Lancashire will give me
his word of hOnOr,f0i de gentilAomme:
Eat he will not make no bad use of my
lecon.'
'.Sir - l exclaimed Indignantly ::
but Ferrett interposed with smile.
''Hou mistake, my dear sir. The
Chevalier has not the least objection
to your making a personal profit by his
instructions. What he refers to as 4
bad use would be your exposing his
secrets to others
"Oh - l exclaimed. relieved. but
still more than half indignant: she
need have no fear on that score.' AS
I spoke caught Ferret's eye, and was
SO tickled by the quaintness of the
idea that was to pledge my sword of
honor (heaven save the mark y to use
the information was about to obtain
for sWindling purposes only, that l
could not control my risible faculties,
but was compelled to give way TO 4
hearty laugh. The Chevalier looked
extremely scandalized 1T my levity !;
and it took all Ferret's tact, and the
assurance that he would answer for
me us himself, to restore our friends
equanimity. Being at last pacified, he
produced from his breast pocket 4
couple of packs Of cards.
Gallons J" he said. "A quel jeu !!
Vat is Eat you want to know L'ecarte,
lie piluet, le baccarrat, lie lansQuenet.
lie birlibibi-vat you call 'three-card
trick'-les petits paqnets-how yorl
call him. blind hooke?' Vat you want
learn =! l teach you =
The majority of the games mentioned
l scarcely knew by name-''Ecarte, |
said-and forthwith the Chevalier,
taking Ferret as his adversary, played
a few games by way of specimen.
There was no apparent effort, no
suggestion of slight of hand, the Che
valier's long, lissom fingers seemed
scarcely to touch the cards; and yet,
whether he dealt, OF whether Ferret
dealt, the result WAS the same. All
the winning cards found their way in
to the Chevalier's hand all the losing
ones into Ferret's. After having suf-
ticiently excited our wonderment, the
Cheyalier proceeded to explain the
methods by which this result was pro-
duced. methods not less astonishing
by their ingenious simplicity than by
the marvellous deNterity displayed in
their use. After having exhausted
the subject of ecarte. o'r professor
gave Il similar demonstration in refer.
ence to piquet. Baccarat, faro, and
rouge ct nOir were in turn discussed,
leaving lne fully convinced that the
only safe way to avoid losing at either
of these games is never to play at
them; and lastly, the Chevalier struck
blow at my most cherished convic.
, tons, by showing that our good old
just as susceptible of foul play as any
other. Time had sped so fast during
the development of these mysteries
that we We're far into the small hours
before the Chevalier took his leave. I
presented him with couple of guineas,
which he accepted with the delicate
nonchalant air of a fashionable physi.
clan receiving his fee, murmuring,
''POur acheter DIES cigares, monsieur,
pour echeter DIES cigares. Sc yous re.
; mercie beaucoup. sail have re great
plaisir of give you anoZer lecon, what
time you please. Sleep you we'll, mes.
sieurs.
And, with many bows, he departed.
A few minutes later I also took my
leave, remarking to Ferret:
Il have to thank you for a lesson of
prudence by which l shall certainly
profit. But one thing I cannot under
stad. How is it that with such extrod-
mary powers. and being, as l may
fairly assume, not oyerburdened with
scrupulousuess, the Cheyalier is in
such poverty as his appearance would
| lead one to believe -
"Simply because he has reached tile
point which all his friends arrive at
sooner or later, of being to well known.
The pitcher goes often too the WE'LL
you know the proverb. The Chevalier:
| with all his dexterity. has been found
out too often. He has lost the entree of
the public salons, and is now driven to
the highways and the byways in search
of pigeons for his net. Once in way
he meets with a plump young bird,
and then for Il season he feasts on
champagne and truflles; gut for the
most part he is in the condition in
which you have seen him. Take my
word for it, rogues rarely die rich.
Yon know the old joke that the man
who first declared honesty was the
best policy must have tried the other
thing. really shouldn't be surprised
| if it was founded on fact. You may
depend upon it no one feels the truth
of the maxim more keenly than an
elderly swindler. The mischief is that
he finds it out too late -
CHAPTER II.
Two days later I was seated in
Pullman car en- route for England. l
had not intended starting quite so
soon, but special circumstances had
fastened my departure. A young
lady, Miss Edith Carlyon, who had
been staying, under the chaperonage
of an English family. at the same
hotel as myself, had made a deep i'm.
preston on me. She was now about
to return to England under the escort
of her brother, Clement Carlyon, who
had arrived few days previously, aud
l had accelerated my arrangements in
order to have the pleasure of travelling
with them. Circumstances had pre-
vented my making the acquaintance
of Clement Carlyon until the previous
day, when, to my surprise, I recognize.
ed in him the young man who had so
excited my interest at the gambling
table few days earlier. OF Ferret I
had soon nnthinr cinoa our coapoo