The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-01-14

dfcated In his features that he was puz-
opponents play, the cards were invari-
ably against the baron.
To many of the most expert players of
the club who had crowded about the ia.
BILE it soon became evident that Fleischer
must have some peculiar knowledge of
the cards still left in the pack Appar-
emily, however, until nine games had
been played. all of which had been won
by his opponent, the baron remained IN
conscious of any cheating.
The tenth game was now in progress.
Fleischer was -four up and marked"
the king for the third time in success
sion. At that moment Won Rachnitz
arose from the chair and in voice of as
sumed calmness said These cards are
marked. demand an investigation"
The next instant he lifted a pack which
lay at his side on the table and flung
them into his opponents face, exclaim-
ing, "You are a scoundrel and a swim
dlerp'
So palpable to many members of the
club had been the cheating of NJ Fleisch-
er that a disposition was at once mani
Tested by number of those present to
throw him into the street without fur
Their ceremony
To this course the baron objected and,
apologizing for the scene he had created,
begged that a full and rigid investigation
of the charge of cheating be made at
once and before any further violence was
offered his opponent The investigation
was made on the spot. and the baron's
charge was found to be abundantly sub
stantiated. The cards were found to be
of a most ingeniously marked variety
and, as was ascertained, had been Snug
gled into the club by Fleischer with the
connivance Of one of the underservants.
1t was at this point that the gener-
! osity of the baron asserted itself in re-
fusing to accede to the wishes of several
of his friends, who desired that the i'm
poster should be turned over to the po-
lice In fact. the baron accorded his late
adversary protection from personal VIC
lence at the hands of the more hotheaded
members of the club. who were anxious
to chastise him on the spot. and per-
mitted the swindler to depart unharmed
upon his assurance that he would leave
Paris at once.
When the door had closed upon the
discounted Fleischer and those who had
witnessed the episode had returned to
the cardroom, the baron begged to be
allowed to say a word publicly.
Gentlemen" said he. II am about to
act out an impulse. Whether am wise
in doing so will perhaps be a source of
dispute in the minds of my friends, but
so irresistibly am impeled to the course
/ am about to take | cannot. | do not
dare, delay announcing my decision. /
need not tell you. gentlemen. that this
episode has been to me a terrible shock
Never before have | seen cheating at
cards, and never again, God willing. will
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 were murmurs of surprise min
gled with slight applause, and it was adj
mitted on 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 and his wife move in the very best
society, and the baroL has q reputation
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 Bac
carat club the unfortunate FIeischer,
who. for consideration, had agreed to
undergo all the contumely and risks at
tending the discovery of a cheat which
were necessary to cover the baron's re
treat from a systematic swindling of his
fellow members probably unparalleled in
the history of cards.