Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-11-30
No. AZ.

I said thoughtfully. "I don't know
how; but, coupled with certain move
ment of one Of his hands, they are sug-
gestive I propose to make test, and
I should like to make the following ar
rangement: 1 will take my place at
your table, rs usual, another night.
After having played for awhile shall
ask to be allowed to give up on the
score of being tired. You will agree
and take no further particular notice
OF me. If make a discovery shall
expose the man openlyr'
Certainly replied Sir George en-
phatically.
The appointed night arrived. The
room was full, as usual. As before,
our table was situated close to that at
which sat De Lacy and others. The
man wore his customary look Of i'm
perturbable good humor-and his smok-
ed glasses. His party was playing solo.
with the usual varying luck, prepon-
derating in the long run with De Lacy.
The cards were shufIled and dealt.
Two passed" Mr.. V. ''propped," but
De Lacy called, Abundance"
Again. calculated Mr.. v. in amaze
ment.
De Lacy smiled indulgently. He had
a splendid hand and got home easily.
At this juncture l gave up as ar
ranged, and, rising carelessly from my
seat strolled a few yards with the ap-
parent desire to stretch my legs"
worked round by degrees until I had
got directly behind Do Lacy and
quickly donned a pair of smoked
glasses, with which had come prepar-
ed. He had just scored another "abun-
dance" when, gazing over his shoulder
at the cards through my smoked
glasses, / discovered the secret Of his
trickery.
"There is no playing against such
luckw protested Mr.. V. half angrily.
'There is no playing against such
cheatingw exclaimed, snatching
some cards from the table. Then, ere
De Lacy could make a movement, I
thrust several fingers into one Of his
waistcoat pockets. With an exclaIaa-
ton of anger he rose to his feet, but
staggered back when he perceived that
I also was wearing smoked glasses.
Gentlemen" 1 exclaimed, sit Is my
painful duty to inform you that you
have in your midst professional card
sharper
The whole room was Immediately In
an uproar. All the men left their ia
bles and crowded around US. De Lacy
at first betrayed trembling lip, but
presently, with an effort, he gained
control of himself and thereafter main
tanned an air of dogged defiance.
"This man." I continued, has been
marking the cards with luminous paint,
q small quantity Of which he keeps In
his wastcoat pocket and conveys to the
cards with his finger nails. The paint,
quite invisible in this brilliantly light
ed room, he IL able to see by means OF
his smoked glasses. VIII some OF you
kindly examine these cards through
the glasses I brought with me for the
purpose of unmasking this man7 Look
at my fingers, too, which / just now
thrust into his waistcoat pocket"
Eagerly the clubmen crowded round
me, and an examination was made all
round. BY the aid OF the glasses the
tiny paint marks Of the cards were
clearly detected, as well as the smear
on my fingers. The fraud was fully
exposed. With cries OF indignation the
clubmen advanced upon the trickster,
and things began to look ugly for the
ingenious De Lacy. He was very
roughly handled, denuded Of his III
gotten gains and then literally kicked
out OF the club.
Mr.. ", convinced at last that he had
been fieeced by an unscrupulous rogue,
rendered an apology to his fellow MEM
bers for introducing under a misappre-
hension such q disreputable individual
into the club, an apology that was, OF
course, at once accepted. He also
thanked Sir George ana myself.
1 have not since heard or seen any
thing of Mr.. De Lacy, under that or
any other name. He doubtless con-
sldered 1t expedient to seok fresh
woods and pastures new after his dis
concertlng experiences, but his trick
was n smart one, perhaps the smartest
l have ever encountered.-Wide World.
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