The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-26


heap of notes and gold under his hands.
The people at this table were now play
ina at unlimited vin9t-et-un,
81 know something of this game" sale
Webber. as it limitedp
mo-" replied Sivory. who held the cards
"but any player can put upon his cards up
TO twenty pounds, and finish the board al
once by challenging the dealer"
Twenty pounds" said Webber, calmly
putting the money near the card whose
face he had not Eeen.
Game closed~ cried Sivory, (the leader
flingiug another card TO Weber, and tax.
ing one himself.
Webber looked at his cards.
'Enoughp be said,
Enough" Sivory repeated.
The cards were flung down.
Twenty" said Sivory.
"Twenty-one," replied Webber.
Sivory WINGED. His was the best num-
Der but one. The next best, twenty-oue
doubled the loss. In q moment lie had
lost forty pounds.
He paid over the money very quietly,
while Webber said not word.
"Stake-stake," said Sivory, dealing one
cald TO each person.
Il will not stake this time" replied
Webber, calmly getting up and taking a
cup OF tea.
Now is one of the peculiarities of vingt-
et-un that if the dealer has moderately
good cards he must win, for all ties" pay
him; therefore, the greater number of
players, the greater his chances of making
money.
Three hands Of vingt-et-un were then
played, and Austin won perhaps ten
pounds.
Webber now approached, and laying twen-
ty pounds down, challenged thegame, ST.
worry, with certain marks of impatience,
cried, Game closed" flung down a card
to his opponent, one to himself, and wait
ed.
Enough" said Webber, though he had
only two cards,
The dealer looked at his two, now laid
upon the table. The pips counted fifteen.
He must take another card. He did so. 1t
was seven, and that, added to the fifteen,
made twenty-five, one over the vingt-et-
un, or twenty-one, and he had to pay the
ten pounds to Weober.
why, you are only fifteen, sir; if had
not drawn, you would have had TO pay me
the tie,"
Il should have had to pay you the tie"
said Webber, in grave voice,
The people began looking at the stranger
with admiration.
Il throw up the deal" said Sivory.
Sivory had lost fifty pounds in less than
n r,,o do IN, i,ns Of 81
ian gentleman who spoke Eng'is ish with SO
odd an accent.
Il will take it if you like, said Webber,
The place was ut once conceded to him,
and he placed before him about two hun
dIed pounds in notes and gold.
Now in gambling, a cool head and large
capital are sure in the long run to make
Roadway. Webber's was cool head, and
certainly he had enough capital before Kim
to ojustify his hopes Of success.
At the end of five minutes he had largely
increased his gains.
AS Webber won, Sivorv lost; and as he
played without prudence and with a sort
Of rage, it soon resulted that he wus quite
deprived of money; Then happened what
frequently occurs at gambling parties
that SiVory played upon trust-upon his
word.
This was exactly what Webber wanted;
and at once he accepted the proposal. And
now something very singular occurred. Si-
worry was clever man but upon this partic-
ular night he lost his money simply because
he play rashly. No sooner W as he brouhgt
to a sense of the danger he was in, in con-
sequence Of having to play upon credit,
than all bis caution and ability were with
him, and in few minutes he had won
nearly fifty pounds. These rapid gains in
duced him to believe that his good for
tune had returned. He continued to play,
and he lost all he had won in less time than
it took him to amass it, for he played un-
scientifically. He had no chance; for he
was fighting against man who was cool,
knew his business and who now had his
large winnings to back him.
Gradually Webber maddened him. The
detectives pleasant voice aud cool behav-
ior grated upon his senses. The mans very
politeness seemed an insult. He knew
nothing of the officers real Intentions
could not possibly guess at them; firmly
he believed that he had just arrived from
Rome, and that he was only partially Eng
lish; but nevertheless, his conscience
would persist in whispering to him, BE
ware-bewarei He is an enemyw
But when he persuaded himself that the
way to take his revenge upon this enemy
was by the road Of winning his money, lie
was upon wrong track. Webber was too
cool hand to lose money at cards.
Gradually also that peculiar drunken
1.pen nf rinv-}ho q ynOrt do IF II he
shapes of intoxication-took possession of
Sivory's remaining senses. The cards
were before his eyes-no longer cards, but
weapons with which he was attacking the
unknown enemy. But the other side knew
quite as much about these weapons as did
Svory bimself; and, as we have said. he
was perfectlycool."
At five o'clock that morning, Webber held
Sivory's o U's for f274.
He had allowed the other players at the
table to regain their losses-against Siyory
be was implacable.
The entertainment was over. These
people. after their eageI nights play, look
ed terribly worn. aged and weary.
Good morning, Mr.. Varli )" said Sivory,
bowling slightly as they moved towards
the door. May l ask where shall call to
pay you the money owe youi"
"See; here is my temporary address,"
giving him card. "But do not worry
yourself about the money. Pay it quite at
your leisure, my dear sir. My sister and
myself will be glad to see you whenever
you think 6t to call upon us. Good morb.
iBg,"
They parted Mt Lady Pauline's door, and
went different ways.
sivory asked himself, "Why do hate
that map7p