Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-04-30

mol
as usual, I supposed"
~, uou Know so much about luck. NJ
rlsiseher. I'm prepared to back INV
sAli even against you. I'll play YOU a
lew games OF ecarte, IL you wish, though
perhaps that's hardly your game. judr.
ing from the way you LOST the big pool
last night" p0''
Earte not my game" replied
fleischer Indignantly. II lost the nool
last night, 1t Is true. but the cards were
against me; that was why. l made NO
mistake. l will. meinherr, play Won
wnen you viii, for what you will. n hun.
ored gaines OF ecarte, and we win see
who is the better man, or you."
very well, replied Won Rachuitz. "as
you VIII. Tomorrow viii play you 100
games OF ecarte for 1000 francs apiece. :"
Inc following night the club was
crowded. News Of the match had spread
abroad among the members, and men
who had not been seen in the rooms for
months were present 1t was evident
that the sympathies of the onlookers
were with the baron. who, although dis
playing admirable GOODNESS and all his
accustomed skill. lost steadily. Hand
after hand was played. and Won Rach-
nitz invariably lost.
what was most extraordinary about
the contest was that Fleischers success
came to him 10 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 a good play
ing hand and invariably succeeded in
lettering 1t.
Won Rachnitz's face became a study.
He lifted his eyebrows from time TO
time In surprised way, and clearly in
dictated in his features that he was puz-
zled. Absolutely irrational as was his
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 tn
bic Il soon became evident that Fleischer
must have some peculiar knowledge OF
the cards still left in the pack. Appar-
emily, however. until zine games had
been played. all OF which had been won
by his opponent, the baron remained I'M
conscious OF a1y cheating.
The tenth game was now In progress
Fleiseher 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 aeNt instant he lifted pack which
lay Mt his side on the table and flung
them into his opponents face. exclaim-
ing. You are a scoundrel and swim.
dlerr'
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 founs to be abundantly sub
stantiated. The erds were found to be
OF most ingeniously marked variety
and, as was ascertained. had been Snug
gled into the club by Fleischer with the
connivance OF one OF the underseryants.
1t was at this point that the gener-
osity OF the baron asserted itself in re.
fusins 10 accede to the wishes OF several
OF his friends, who desired that the i'm
postor should be turned over to the po-
lice. In fact, the baron accorded his late
adversary protection from personal vio-
ience at the hasls Of the more hothcaded
members OF the club. who were anxious
10 chastise him on the spot, and per-
mitted the swindler TO depart unframed
upon his assurance that be 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 n word publicly.
Gentlemen" said he. 81 am about to
act out an impulse. Whether | am wise
in doing so will perhaps be n source OF
dispute in the minds OF my friends, but
so irresistibly am ! impelled 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
Cdrus. aud never agdln, pou "Iillus, VIII
| submit to such an experience. From
this moment and in your presence !
swear soiemnly that neither in this club
nor elsewhere win touch card again
for the remainder Of my life"
There were murmurs of surprise, min
gled with slight applause. and it was ad-
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 baron has 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 Fleischer,
who. for consideration. had agreed to
undergo all the contumely and risks at
tending the discovery Of 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.