Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-09-23

by the by, were invited 20 the Duo do
Pincenex"
"one Of the very people, my love. who
would never invite us again II | were TO
give up play suddenly and without good
excuse"
"oh, we'll. then, suppose IL can't be
helped, said the baroness, resigning her
self. A. sue had often done before, TO what
seemed to he the inevitable.
1t was two days after this conversation
that Rsoul Fleischer became q member OF
the club. He was rude, overbearing,
vulgar creature. egotistical and pushing -
. degree. boastful about hts superiority at
games OF skill and exasperatingly conf.
dent of his luck at games of chance.
Noone appeared TO know precisely where
he came from. although he bore letters
from eminently respectable gentlemen,
dated at different parts Of the Continent
Fleischer had not been member OF the
club week when IL was suggested to Won
Rachnitz that be should challenge this
very objectionable person TO u great bout
at ecarte, In which. IL his iuck-which was
by this time proverbial in the elub-held
good, NJ. Rasoul Fleischer might be taught
"A lesson.
well, baron" said the latter one night,
addressing Won Richnitz with a vulgar as.
sumption OF familiarity. ''lrcky. as usual.
| suppo-er'
II don't know 80 much about luck, NJ
Fleischer, I'm prepared TO back my skill
even against you. III play you few
games OF ccarte, 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 gamei" replied Fieischer
Indignantly II lost the pool last night. 1t
is true, but the cards were against me-
that WAS why-I made no mistake | will
meinherr, play you, when you will, for
what you will, hundred games of ecarte
aud we will see who Is the better man, ! or
you"
Very WELL" replied Won Rachnitz, ''as
you will. Tomorrow | will play you 100
games of ecarte for 1000 francs apiece"
The following night the club was crowd
ed. News OF the match bad spread abroad
among the members, and met who had
not been seen In the rooms for months
were present. IL was evident that the
sympaties OF the onlookers were with the
baron, who. although displaying admira.
BILE cooluess and all his accustomed skill
lost steadily. Hand after hand was played.
| and Won Rachnitz invariably lost
What was most extraordinary about the
contest wIls that Fletschcr's success came
to him in spite of the fact that his play
was contrary to all canons of the game.
He played "on authority" when he seemed
TO have hardly decent card in his hand
and yet he won, and he gave cards" when
he held good playing hand. aud invaria
bly, succeeded Ia bettering IL.
Won Rachnitz's face became study
lie lifted his eyebrows from time TO time
In "A 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 OF
the club who had crowded about the table
IL soon became evident that Fleischer must
have some peculiar knowledge Of the cards
| still left in the pack. Apparently. how
ever, until nine games had been played, all
OF which had been won by his opponent
the baron remained unconscious OF my
| cheating.
The tenth game was now In progress
| Fleischer was -four up" and marked" the
| king for the third time in succession. At
| that moment Won Rachnitz arose from the
chair. and in voice Of assumed calmness
| said: These cards are marked. demand
an investigation" The next instant he
lifted II pack which lay at his side on the
table and flung them into his opponents
face. exelniming, You are seoundrei
| and a swiudler"
So palpable to many members OF the club
bad been the cheating Of NJ. Fleischer.
that "a disposition WAS at once manifested
| by number OF those present to throw him
into the street without further ceremony
To this course the baron objected, and
apologizing for the scene he had created
| begged that full and rigid investigation
| of the charge OF cheating bc made mt once,
| and before any further violence was offered
| bis opponent. The investigation was made
on the spot, and the baron's charge was
found to be abuudantly substantiAted.
| The cards were found NJ be of q most in.
geniously marked variety, and. ns was es.
tablished, had been smuggled into the club
| by Fleischer with the couuiyauce OF one OF
| the under servants
IL was ut this point that the generosity
Of the baron asserted itself in refusing to
accede to the wishes OF several OF his
| friends, who desired that the impostor
should he turned over To the police. In
fact, the baron accorded his late adversary
| protection from personal violence at the
han,s OF the more hoiheaded members Of
the club who vera anxious 10 ehastise
him on the spot, aud permitted the swim
| dler 10 depart unharmed. upon his assur
ance that he would leave Paris at once.
When the door had closed upon the dis
| comtitted Fleischer. aid those who had
| witnessed the episode had returned 70 the
carl room, the baron begged to be allowed
to say a'word publicly
| "Gentlemen." said he. II am about 10
net out an impulse Whether | am wise
In doing 90 will perhaps be n source OF dis.
pute in the minds Of my friends. but 30 ir.
resistibly am impelled 10 the course am
about to take | cannot, ! do not dare
delay announcing my decision. / need not
tell you. gentleznen. that this episode has
been to me terrible shock Never before
Ia my life have seen cheating at cards,
aud never again. God willing. will sub
init to such AN experience From this mo
ncnt, and in your presence, swear SuI
emnly that neither in this club nor efse-
where will touch a card again for ths TO
mainder of my life"
There were mnrmurs OF surprise, min
gled with slight applause, and 1t WAS ad.
mitted on all sides that the baron had cou.
Quoted himself admirably.
Won Rachnitz is still a member u the
BaccArat club. but he plays no more He.
with his wife, move In the very best Pari
sian society, and the baron has a reputa
tion for rare cleverness aud courage. No
one, however, has as yet given him credit
for having been clever and courageous
enough to have imported into the BaecArat
club the unfortunate Fleischer, who, for a
consideration, had agreed 10 undergo ~
| the coutumely aud risks attending the dis