Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-23
get some Of it back at game ! know
SOW, at bi,,or hort

something ABOUT.
returned to Miss Callyon 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 cushion spread upon
their knees, and the game was proceed
ing. A glance at Cariyon's face was
sufficient to tell that he was losing con-
siderably, and as entered the carriage
he scrubbed an l 0 U, and dashed it
over to his companion, indicating pref
ty clearly that he had parted with all
his ready cash. The other occupants
of the carriage-a supercilious-looking
Englishman, stolid German, and heav-
lily bearded old gentleman whom I
mentally set down as Dutch or Rus
sian 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. Course the
cards !! muttered Carlyon between his
teeth, shutting savagely, as though to
break the spell of his ill-luck. no
The train stopped at a station and q
new passenger entered the car and
took a seal by the side of the elderly
Russian.
The players began fresh game. I
watched it silently. Carlyon was evil
IDENTIFY no match for his opponent; but
the Yankee artfully led HIM on b y ex-
tolling his play, and attributing his own
good fortune entirely to his luck in
holding SO many winning cards. Sud-
denly, however, suspicion flashed
across me which charged my passive
interest to the keenest excitement I
WAS all out certain the American had
just used one of the dishonest expedi-
ents | had seen employed by the Chew
alier Koltof. aae .fE ,s5a.
AS yet, the matter rested on suspicion
only. Nothing but proof positive, plain
to others as to myself, would suffice to
take action upon. Leaning back In my
seat, half-closed my eyes and affected
drowsiness, keeping, however, the clos
est watch upon the Americans move
ments. After a few minutes my pa
thence was rewarded. Among the cards
faced" in the course of play were
several leading cards Of the club suit.
1t was the Americans turn to DEAL In
| the act of collecting the cards and Of
fering them to be shuffled he spread
his broad palm over those l have
| named. He awaited himself of his right
to shuttle after Carlyon, then offered
| the cards to be cut. In picking up the
cards, however, he did so in such q
| manner as to neutralize the effect of
the cut, and, as / had anticipated, a
club made its appearance as the turn
up card, while the king, queen, and ace
fell in course of the play from the
Americans hand. Again an O U was
handed over by Carlyon to the Am eri-
can.
Again I watched, and present. y l
saw the American spread his hand over
another group of cards, and hand the
remainder to be shuffled.
"Mr. Carlyon," said, "let me rec
ommend you to count the cards."
Carlyon looked at me with blank
expression Of countenance, not in the
least understanding the drift Of my
suggestion. But the American was
| quicker of comprehension.
81 reckon you mean to insinuate
that l don't play on the square,
stranger, which is an observation no
man makes twice." and the ColonePs
hand disappeared within roomy
trouser-pocket, where it left the tell
tale cards, and reappeared grasping a
small Derringer pistol.
I gave myself up for lost, and tried
| intellectually to console myself for the
prospect of an early grave by pictur-
ing Edith Carlyon weeping over my
tomb: but quick as thought, before the
| American bad time to raise the pistol,
strong hand seized his wrist from be-
hind, and the bullet passed harmlessly
through the floor Of the car. Another
| instant, and the Colonel's wrists were
securely handcuffed behind him.
Not so fast Colonel; we don't want
to try you for murder just at present.
There's little forgery matter to an
swer for first Now Mr.. Carlyon, [
think the Colonel has few trifes be-
longing to you about him. First, allow
me to hand you the king, knave, and
ten of hearts, which were to have been
winning cards in your next game if
Mr.. Lancaster had not SO indiscreetly
interrupted you. Now, as to money;
how much have you lost?'
The speaker was the elderly Russian
merchant, but the voice was the voice
Of Ferret.
"About e45 in cash." said Carlyon,
| very crestfallen, and twice or three
times that amount in I O US. But do
you mean to say it has not been fairly
wonw
81 mean to say that you have been
risking your money against the biggest
thief in the United States. Come, Col
onel, must trouble you to disgorge.
Your winnings are in this pocket,
think. There, Mr.. Carlyon, is your mon
ey, and there are your 0 US. You
may thank your stars and your friend
Mr. Lancaster here, that you have es-
capped 50 easily"
But if, as I inter-" said I, "the Col
onel was wanted for some independent
matter, how is it you did not arrest him
earlier?" aa
because, my good sir, in the first
place had to be sure he was the man
I wanted; and secondly, there were GER
tain exJraditiOn preHmlnarieS to be