The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-07-08
THE MAN TN THE
 WHITE CRAVAT
forlsInall

west and the gulf, the steamers plying upon it, handsome boats for their time, carried on sorts of people, among them the most refined in the land. A sin- gular proximity to mothers and chil- dren were the gambling tables in the mems cabin. separated from the ladies cabin only by Q curtain.
 When a youngster of eighteen. l wns sent from Cincinnati to New Orleans to collect Q debt for my employerA Having succeeded. started back with the money. SlO,OOO in bills, in my mon ey belt then Q common method of transporting funds was sitting ono morning on the guards, viewing tho plantations wo were passing, whom 0 gentleman wearing Q whlto necktie sat down beside me and entered Into con yersation. He soon led tho subject to the gambling going on on the boat and informed mo that thore wero several professional gamblers aboard and l must bo careful not to be drawn in by them to play or would surely be rob bed
 Notwithstanding this advice one of the gamblers wormed himself Into my confdenee. got mo to play euchre with out stakes, permitted me to win, then mado the game for money and won S5,OOO, from mo before realized that was in tho hands of Q sharper. Then threw down my cards. Upon raising my faeo from the table my eyes light cd upon tho gentleman in the white cravat standing among a dozen others who had been watching the play.
 "My boy" he said, "let nc have twenty dollar bill I hnvo money of my own. but 1 want to play with your money and for you only. Perhaps l may get back some of your losses"
 There wns a surprised look on the faces of those wbO stood around tho table, for the man was apparently a clergyman. gave him tho twenty dol lnF blll with a muttered prayer that something might come of it
 Nov. Emory Thorne." he said, CT propose to teach you the game of eu- chre."
 "How did you know my name was Emory ThorneT said the sharper. look Ing at him scrutinlEingly.
 Never mind thnt now. As we pro cced l may drop Q hint occasionally that will put you on tho track of my identity"
 For hours I. in company with a con stantly growing crowd. watched tho play. Surprising as was the sight of Q clergyman playing with a gambler for high stakes, it was more 60 that tho game was on effort between the two as to which could do the moro clever cheating. was not sufficiently quick sighted to detect their expedients. but know by frequent expressions of won der on tho part of the onlookers that there were exhibitions of genius. The pllo in front of my champion grew slowly, but surely. now and again slightly diminishing, but every loss made up with a gain. The gambler was the better euchre player, his Oppo- nent the better at cheating. Once when the latter had made a loss he asked:
 When did you see Tom Clarkson last. EmeryT
 The gambler looked up at him with something like terror on his face, but made no reply. The cards were dealt again. and my friend. taking advantage ot having disconcerted his opponent. made Q stroke of slclght of hand which gave him all trumps. with both bowers md the nee, turning a game by which he gnined $500. From this time 1 no- t!ced that whenever be lost he inyaria- ply threw the gambler on his balance by some reference understood only by the two players At Inst the clergy man. looking his opponent in the eye said
 q have a message for you from AlicO Emery. rll give it to you when we have finished the game"
 It was wonderful how the rascal covered up outward signs Of his emo ton It was only by the eye that we knew how bo suffered By this tlmo Q heap of bills, my employers billA were stacked up in front of the clergy man, and ho was winning with every game. Indeed tho gambler seemed to have lost Interest in keeping the mOD- ey. Then my mnn hastily ran over his winnings and called a halt
 How much did you lose, my boyr he asked me.
 "I took from my belt ten bills of $500 each, S5,OOO in on. They aro nll gone besides about s25 I had in my pocket"
 "Very well; heres your money"
 Counting out $5,O25. he handed it to me and showed the rest ncross tho ta. ble to his opponent Then. rising and turning to the crowd. he said:
 "Gentlemcn. this has doubtless been to you e surprising sight knew this man." pointing to tho gambler, "and overheard him say that the boy had money with him which he proposed to take.
 "At an early age developed taste for slelght of hand and used to givo private exhibitions to my friends The tricks practieed by gamblers especial- ly interested me. and took lessons under an expert professional gambler. have no taste for games and never won or lost cent In my life."
 Then to the gambler: Emery Thorne, I heard your companion call you by name when you wero telling him how you proposed to fleece this boy. As a | - -. ..HI.H hr. ..nr.r h-nlh