The Dickinson press., 1906-02-17

VSS0SAonslAAy. Out uIS UIQ not la8t
long. and presently Mr.. De Lacy began
to gather in a rich harvest. I watched
closely, but could detect nothing to the
discredit of the suspected one II you
except a faculty for winning. Now
and again a half muttered imprecation
from Mr.. V. told that De Lacy had
once more scooped the pool.
The evening was unproductive Of
anything practical in the way Of dis
covering trickery, yet there was some
thing indefinable about this man De
Lacy which suggested fraud to me and
which made me more than ever deter
mined to solve the mystery of his won
derful "luck." l therefore arranged to
attend another night under similar cir
cumstances, but even then nothing of
moment occurred. I obtained, how
ever, a kind of vague idea, the accura-
cy Of which I was DESTROYS Of putting
to the test. At the close of play I
spoke to Sir George.
II notice that Mr.. De Lacy invariably
wears smoked glasses at the table," 1
said. elias he weak sightT'
II believe SO. He says that the glare
Of the gas troubles his eyes,"
II have an idea that those glasses
play some sort Of part in the trickery,"
I said thoughtfully. II don't know
how; but, coupled with a certain move
ment of one of his hands, they are sug-
gestive. I propose to make a test, and
I should like to make the following ar
rangement: I will take my place at
your table, as usual, another night.
After having played for awhile I 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 l make a discovery shall l
expose the man openly?"
"Certainlyw replied Sir George en-
{ phatically.
The appointed night arrived. The
room was full, as usual. AS before,
u 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 shufled 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 I gave up as ar
ranged, and, rising carelessly from my
seat strolled a few yards with the ap-
parent desire to "stretch my legs" I
worked round by degrees until 1 had
got directly behind De Lacy and
quickly donned a pair Of smoked
glasses, with which I had come prepar-
ed. He had just scored another "abun-
dance" when, gazing owe his shoulder
at the cards through my smoked
glasses, I discovered the secret of his
trickery.
There is no playing against such
luck" protested Mr.. Y. half angrily.
"There is. no playing against such
c~heating" l exclaimed, snatching
some cards from the table. Then, ere
De Lacy could make a movement, l
thrust several fingers into one of his
waistcoat pockets. With an exclama-
ton of anger he rose to his feet, but
staggered back when he perceived that
I also was wearing smoked glasses.
"Gentlemen," I exclaimed, ut is my
painful duty to inform you that you
have In your midst a professional card
sharperw
The whole room was Immediately in
an uproar. All the men left their ta-
bles and crowded around us. De Lacy
at first betrayed a trembling lip, but
presently, with an effort, he gained
control Of himself and thereafter main.
tanned an air Of logged defiance.
"This man." I continued, "has been
marking the cards with luminous paint,
a 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 is 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 MANI Look
at my fingers, too, which l just now
thrust into his waistcoat pocket"
Eagerly the clubmen crowded round
me, and al examination was made all
round. By the aid Of the glasses the
tiny paint marks Of the cards were
clearly detected, as we'll 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 i'll
gotten gains and then literally kicked
out Of the club.
MI. ", convinced at last that he had
been f1eeced by an INSCRIPTIONS rogue,
rendered an apology to his fellow men,
bers for introducing under a misappre-
hension such a disreputable individual
into the club, an apology that was, of
course, at once accepted. He also
thanked Sir George and myself.
I have not since heard or een any