The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-01


club. at all events"
.'He plays a confoundedly good
game Of cards. said my brother. He
had an intense admiration for anyone
who could make money
$50 much the worse" said Cush-
more, turning his pockets inside out
with comic gesture Of despair HE
cleaned me out last night One does
not mind losing ones money to fell
low like Horace Linley. that lucky
brother in law of yours, but when it
comes to an interloper like this man
Balsam, or whatever the fellows
name is, it-well, you know what L
mean By jove, I would give
anything to see him feeced-not that
I have much left that is worth having,
even at a gift
'Linley is going to play with him
tonight
Both the men turned and found
Jared Henderson at their elbow.
Don't you believe it," said Lacy,
helping himself to a cigar from tho
new comer's case.
Its fact. They are to play poker
ten dollars ante, and betting unlim-
ited''
Horace refused to have anything
to do with him last night; whereupon.
Balsam remarked: And just as well.
to, if he wants to keep his reputation
as the best player in the club which
brought Linley up to the scratch like
the thorough bred that he is
ssYou don't mean to tell me the fell
low had the cheek to say that" Lacy
was IRENE ndousIy shocked. He could
not understand any one being rude
even.
He did though. Now for dinner
at De1monico's, and then back here to
see them play"
And the three young men casting a
look Of unutterable disgust in the di-
rection of the great leather chair in
which the new member of the club
sat reading his evening paper, went
out into the roar of broadway.
The chief card-room of the Nonpa-
reil club was crowded as it had never
been crowded before that night. The
news OF the great contest had spread
abroad, and prominent actors and men
about town were there to see the con
test between Horace Linley and the
compare lively new member of the
club, James Balsam.
Lacy ana a group of his intimate
friends stood just behind my hus-
bands chair, and Cushmore was on
the opposite side of the table.
From the very first. Balsam was a
winner. He had the most astonishing
luck in drawing. If he needed king
or an ace or a jack he was almost GER
tain to draw it.
The bets ran high. good hands were
the rule, but Linley was in hard luck
After an hours play he had lost at
least "a, 900.
Towards midnight something oc-
Cured which caused Cushmore to
raise his eyebrows. He looked across
to Lacy. Jared Henderson, who was
an exceedingly nervous man. turned
white to the lips, and suddenly left
the room. Balsam had been detected
cheating
With his face darkened by an angry
frown, Horace pushed back his chair.
ssThese cards are Marked he said.
quietly; s.they must have been SNUG
gled into the club with the conni-
vance of one of the servants"
cts a 1ier' Balsam Kissed. He
looked around the room, hoping to
find some support among the mem
bers, and finding none, he made q
sudden movement toward the door.
Lacy sent a waiter for a policeman,
but my husband called the man back.
Don't make an ass of yourself" he
said; whatever happens, let US avoid
a scandal"
Then he turned to his opponent.
There's the door, he said, point
ing with his finger go.
The other put his hand in his poclr-
ct. drew forth huge roll of bills, and
laid his winnings on the table, feel
ing like whipped dog.
IJ~,.- "a Y.ornnuad a fa nf the nnfaz
probably a hundred dollars-and
handed them to Balsam without
word.
A murmur of appreciation at his
generosity ran round the room.
When the door was closed upon
Balsam, and those who had witnessed
the disgraceful episode had returned
to the card room, my husband begged
to be allowed to say a word publicly.
Gentlemen" he said, II am going
to act on impulse From this mo-
ment, and in your presence, / swear
solemnly never to touch a card again
for the remainder of my life.
Whether am fool for my pains or
not, will probably be a matter Of dis
pute, but my mind is made up. L
have never before seen cheating at
cards, and never again will 1, will
ingly submit to such an experience
/ am impel1ed to the course / am
about to take, and take it confident
that 1 shall at least have your sym
pathy."
There were murmurs of applause,
which were drowned in louder muir
murs of surprise. and several men
said openly that they considered
Horace an idiot. However, it was adj
mitted on all sides that my husband
had conducted himself admirably.