Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-11-24

he said. Lacy had reputation for
knowing everybody in the city Il
/ can't imagine how he ever came TO be
1 elected, or, rather why we never
blackballed him. There was time
when we were select at the Nonpareil
club, at all events"
"He plays confoundedly good
game Of cards, said my brother lie
4 had an intense admiration for anyone
who could make money.
so much the worse, said Cush-
more, turning his pockets inside out
1 with comic gesture OF despair. He
cleaned me out last night One does
not mind losing ones money 10 fell
low like Horace Linley, that lucky
broth err in law of yours, but when Il
comes to an interloper like this man
| Balsam. or whatever the fellows
name IS it-well, you know what
mean. BY jove, would give
anything to see him heeced--not that
/ have much left that is worth having,
even at gift
Horace is the only man Who could
prove d match for him.
AND Linley won't play with the
brute, small blame to him, either"
Liuley is going to play with him
tonight
Both the men turned and found
Jared Henderson at their elbow.
Don't you believe Ii, said Lacy,
helping himself to q cigar from the
newcomers case.
Its fact. They arc to play poker
ten dollars ante, and betting uullm.
tied.
Cushmore whistled.
Horace refused to have anything
to do with him last night; whereupon
Balsam remarked: And just as we'll,
70, il he wants TO keep his reputation
as the best player in the club, which
brought Linley up TO the scratch like
the thoroughbred that he Is.
You don't mean to tell me the fel.
low had the cheek 10 say that. Lacy
was tremendously shocked. lie could
not understand any one being rude
even.
lie did though. Now for dinner
at Delmonico's, and then back here 10
see them play.
And the three young men casting a
look OF unutterable disgust Ia the III.
rection Of the great leather chair ia
which the new member % 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 II 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
comparatively new member OF the
club, James Balsam.
Lacy and 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, Balsan was
winner. He had the most astonishing
luck in drawing II he needed king
or an ace or jack he was almost Ger.
tain to draw IL.
The bets ran high, good hands were
the rule, but Linley was in hard luck.
After an hours play he had lost at
least 81 900.
Towards midnight something oc.
Cured which caused Cushmore u
raise his eyebrows re 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 darkencd by an angry
frown, Horace pushed back his chair
These cards are marked" he said. /
quietly; they must have been snug.
glcd into the club with the comm. |
vance Of one Of the servants
ITS lie"' Balsam Kissed. H.
looked around the room, hoping 10
find some support among the mem.
bers, and finding none, he made n
sudden movement toward the door.
In a moment, Cushmore sprang al
him and seized his wrists.
Not so fast, my friend. " he said
Lacy sent a waiter for policeman
but my husband called the man back
Don't make an ass Of Yourself he
said Whatever happens, let ia avoid
q 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 lis mock.
ct, drew forth huge roll Of bills. and
laid his winnings on the table, feel.
ing like whipped dog
Horace removed few Of the notice
probably q hundred dollars--and
handed them to Balsam without i
word.
a murmur Of appreciation at his
generosity ran round the room,
When the door was closed nnon
Balsam, and those who had witnesscd
the disgraceful episode had returned
to the card room, my husband begged
70 be allowed to say word publicly.
Gentlemen" he said II am poino
TO act on impulse. From this ma.
ment, and in your presence, / swear
solemnly never TO touch a card again
for the remainder of NV Iife
Whether am fool for my pains ~