The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-26

to degree, boagtful about hi1 SUPERIOR
ity At games Of skill. and exasperatingly
confident Of his luck at games Of chance.
No one appeared 30 know precisely
where he came from, although he bore
letters from eminentiy respectable gen
tlemen, dated at different parts Of the
Continent. Fleischer had not been q
member Of the club week when IL was
suggested to Won Racbnitz that he should
challenge this very Objectionable person
to great bout at ecarte, In which, II bis
luck-which was by this time proverbial
In the club-held good, Mr.. Raoui Fleisch-
or might be taught lesson.
Well. baron" said tho latter one night,
addressing Won RachnItz with vulgar as
sumption Of familiarity, lucky. rs usual
supposed"
= don't know so much about luck, NJ.
Fieischer; I'm prepared to back my skill
even against you. III play you few
games OF ecarte. II you wish. though per-
haps that's hardly your game, Judging from
the way you lost the big pool last night. :"
'.Ecarte not my game I, replied Fleisfer.
Indignantly. Il lost the pool last night,
tits true. but the cards were against me
that was why-I made no mistake.
will main h9rr, play you, when you will
for what you will, hundred games Of
ecarte and We will see VINO Is the better
man. or you"
Very WE'LL" replied Won Rachnitz, aas
You will Tomorrow / will play you one
hundred games Of ecarte for 1000 francs
apiece"
ed. News OF the match had spread abroad
among the members, and men who had
not been seen In the room for months
were present, It was evident that the
sympathles of the onlookers were with
the baron. who. although displaying adj
mirable GOODNESS and all his accustomed
skill. nevertheless lost steadily. Hand
after hand was played, and Won Rachnltz
invariably lost.
What was most extraordinary about the
contest was that Fleischer's success came
to him In spite Of the fact that his play
was contrary to all the canons OF the
game. He played ION authority" when
he seemed to have hardly decent card In
his hands, and yet he won, and he gave
cards when he held a good playing hand,
and invariably succeeded In lettering It.
Won Rachnitz's face became study.
He lifted his eyebrows from time to time
In surprised way, and clearly indicated
In his features that he was puzzled Alb
solutely irrational as was his opponents
play. the cards were invariably against
the baron.
To many Of the most expert players In
the club who had crowded about the table
1t soon became evident that Fleischer
must have some peculiar knowledge of
the cards still left In the pack. Apparent
ly, however. until nine games had been
played, all OF which had been won by his
opponent, the baron remained unsuspic-
ious OF any cheating.
The tenth game was now In progress.
Fleischer was flour up" and marked"
the king for the third time In succession.
At that moment Won Rachnitz arose from
the chair. and In voice or assumed calm
ness said: these cards are marked. 4
demand an investigation" The next In
slant he lifted the pack which lay at his
side on the table and lung them into his
opponents face. exclaiming: You are a
scoundrel and swindler.
So palpable to many members OF the
club had been the cheating Of NJ. FIeischer,
that disposition was at once manifested
by number Of those present to throw
him into the street without further cere-
mony.
To this course the baron objected, and,
apologizing for the scene he had created.
begged that a full and rigid investigation
10.
and before any further violence was OF
fered his opponent The investigation
was made on the spot. and the barons
charge was found to be abnndantly sub
stantiated. The cards were found to be
OF most ingeniously marked variety,
and, as was established, had been SNUG
gled into the club by Fleischer with the
connivance OF one OF the under servants.
1t was at this point that the generosity
OF tho baron asserted itself In refusing to
accede tho wishes OF several of his friends
who desired that the inlposter should be
turned over 10 tie police. In fact, the
baron accorded Is late adversary protac-
ton from personal violence at the Hands
OF the Fore hot-headed members OF the
club. who were anxious to chastise him on
the spot, and permitted the swlndler to
depart unharrued upon his assurance that
he would leave Paris at once.
When the door had closed on the dis
comf1ted Fleischer, and those who had
witnessed the disgraceful episode llad re-
turned to the card-room the baron begged
to be allowed to say word publicly.
Gentlemen" said he, II am about to
action an impulse. Whether am wise in
doing so will perhaps be source Of dis
pute in the minds Of my friends: but so
irresistibly am impelled to the course
am about to take that cannot, do not
dare delay announcing my decision. l
need not tell you. gontlemen. that this
episode has been to me a terrible shock.
Never before in my life have seen cheat
Ing at cards and never again, God willing,
will l submit to such an experience.
From this moment. and in your presence,
swear solemnly that neither in this
club, nor elsewhere, will touch a card
again for the remainder OF my life."
there We're murmurs Of surprise,
mingled with slight applause, and it was
admitted OH all sides that the baron had
conducted himself admirably.
Won Rachnitz Is still a member Of the
Baccarat Club. but he plays no more. He.
With his wife, move in the very best Pa
risian society, and the baron has reputa-
ton for rare cleverness and courage. No
one. however, has as yet given him credit
for having been clever and courageous
enough to have imported into the Bacca-
rat Club the unfortunate Fieischer who,
for handsome consideration, had agreed
to undergo all the contumely and risk Ks at
tending the discovery of cheat, which
We're necessary to cover the barons re-