The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
WIrLYuM,s 1xrEREsr1Ne 1IFE.
A Chocslate-csiore Cssrub Surprises Oue er
nnla Adu,trers.

Eis Adnirers.
1t was 3 o'clock in the morning, the game was
over and the card room WINS deserted by all ex-
cept young Bowler, who was taking q last nip
and smoking a last cigar before facing the long
and drcary journey home. Bowler was not OK
actly unhappy, only thoughtful. 1t was q sort
Of molancholic thoughtfulness that showed In
his face and was seen by Willyum, who was
lowering about tho buffet at the other end of
the room. Deft.handed willyum was busy as q
humming bird touching up things and getting
them ready tor another day. Mr.. Bowler eyed
him approvingly. he was SO smiling, 30 sympa-
thetic, so soft-voiced. 30 respectful. He won
dered that so innocent q chocolate-colored
cherub had found his way into the Bohemian
Club, and feared for his morals. Mr.. Bowlor's
appreciation of wilyum had on many occasions
taken the form of tips, and Willyum was embold-
ened to speak:
"You's a mighty good poker player. Mr..
Bowler"
Am II Well. It's strange that I don't win
sometimes"
"Oh, It amt always the good player that wins
the game. sah."
"No, ! suppose not"
mo, sab; there's a lot In tho cards"
"Of course II one doesn't get good cards he
can't play them. Still 1 ought to win some
times"
u . U BTohb uoai III iuCk, Bull.
but q streak of luck that repeats itself
twenty times 10 rather extraordinary
Yes, sab. Still. luck's mighty funny ting.
sab"
very funny"
YES. sab. Den dere's some gemmens what
can do things wild de cards what oder anne
can't do
"what the deuce do you mean by thatf
swell, Just mean dat dere's some gemmens
OATS mighty clever wild dc cards, sah."
do you mean that any man in this club
"oh, no. sab. 1 don't mean to say any gem
man in dis club
ibid you ever see cards stacked I"
81 couldn't say for sure, sah."
swell. l didn't suppose 1t possible that Q
dealer could stack tho cards when the players
were all sober and watching him closely"
Yes. sab: l suppose OATS a fact"
"If 1 am watching the dealers hands. how
could he possibly stack the cardsf
II don't suppose he could, sab. Not II you
was watching him."
willyum's manner was very deferential, but
Mr.. Bowler took the cigar out Of his mouth and
stared q moment. Then he said:
"See here. Can you do any Of those clover
things with cards I"
"Idunno, sah."
You sit right down here and let me see"
The smiling chocolate-colored cherub sank
into a seat and lifted tho deck 81 OF cards with the
sieht.bafiing swiftness of q c~onjurer.
What sort of q hand would you like, sab
IN ia Ike four jacks"
The cards were passed. to Bowler to cut, and
he cut with care. Then he watched tho deal.
which proceeded slowly. and with all the mo-
tions 80 clearly defined that there seemed no pos.
sibility OF trickery. Yet when he turned his hand
over it held four jacks. Willyum had four
queens.
"Humph!" said Mr.. Bowler.
Then he watched an amazing exhibition. Cut
as he would, shuttle as he would, he could not
prevent the cherub from giving him any sort of
hand he called for. He watched. but could not
see how the work was accomplished. Willyum's
manner never lost its quiet Difference.
I'm a little rusty" he said, but I've got to
get in good shape pretty soon, sah."
"How's thatl"
Coin down souf to Join de cavalry. sah."
Join the cavalry 7"
"" II sin sfn you % ss. does fss!i st. 'TTfSs szs sP Is not much
money in the Savalry" - n.-
rood nsG fit sss; ea Des I IN a d fse esS sah: s sas. aere's some
and an Il t6e p buy buy yS9ar discharges: What sort Of
black. keno, faro. All sorts. sab"
rough efn country u prs' and dI play Crooked Of 20 same y !" 'n''
"Oh, we don't play a crooked game. sab. We
always play square games so long as dey play
square. Yes, sab. Course. IL we can't win when
Yves playin' square, den ives got to do de oder
ting. Yes, sah."
How many times have they tried to lynch
your
William gurgled.
well. dere was dat little Mexican town
where we broke de bank, We had to run t'ree
miles to get away from dem people when dey
found out about us. l been shot tree times. an
had a rope 'roun' my neck once, an my partner
q life I like, sab, Dey's sometin' interestin'
down dar. Yes, sah."
"William," said Mr.. Bowler, there's a pic
ture that the Government printed. l judge that
you are Interested in similar works of art.
You've saved me a lot Of money and Mt tho risk
of encouraging wickedness I'll say that you've
my best wishes for success on your next South
ern trip. Unless / had seen 1t done l never
would have believed that anybody could stack
cards in front of my eyes without my being able
to detect them"
No, sab; OATS q fact, sab. / don't suppose
anybody could fool you, sah,' said William In q
voice that bore in ii the sweetest Difference.