The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-19

tnSths 0eA AttkhuNtS NNt Fsatiht
solo. and the luek appeared to be due
tuating good deal Mr., V, winning
occasionally. But this did not las
hong. and presently Mr., De Lacy begar
to gather in rich harvest I watched
closely. but could detect nothing to the
disceiit OF the suspected one IL yol
except faculty for winning. Now
and again half muttered lmprecatior
from Mr.. V. told that DE Lacy had
once more sccoped the pool
The evening was unproductlve OF
anything practical In the way OF dis.
covering trickery. yet there was some.
thing indeinable about this man DE
Lacy which suggested fraud 10 me and
which made me more than ever deter.
mined TO solve the mystery OF his won.
derful luck" therefore arranged 70
attend another night under similar cir.
cumstances. but even then nothing Of
moment occurred. I obtained. how.
ever. kind Of vague idea, the accura.
cy Of which was deslrous OF putting
TO the test. At the close Of play /
spoke to Sir George.
u notice that Mr.. De lacy Invariably
wears smoked glasses at the table"
said. Has he weak sightf'
Il believe 30. He says that the glare
Of the gas troubles his eyes"
Il have an Idea that those glasses
play some sort OF part in the trickery..
l said thoughtfully. Il don't know
how: but, coupled with certain move
ment Of one OF his hands, they are sug.
gestlve. propose TO make test. and
l should like to make the following ar.
rangement: l win take my place at
your table. as usual. another night.
After having played for awhile shall
ask to be allowed to give up on the
score OF being tired. You win agree
and take no further particular notice
OF me. II | make discovery shall 1
expose the man openlyy'
Certainly replied Sir George EN-.
phatically.
The appointed night arrived. The
room was full, rs usual. As before.
our table was situated close to that at
which sat lie Lacy and others. The
man wore his customary look OF Inn
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 shuffied and dealt. |
Two passed" Mr.. V. ''propped," but
De Lacy called. Abundance"
again" calculated Mr.. V. In amaze
ment.
De Lacy smiled lndulgently. He had
l splendid hand aud got home easily.
At this juncture | gave up as ar
'anged, and. rising carelessly from my
'eat strolled few yards with the APP
parent desire to stretch my legs" I
worked round by degrees until I had
sot directly behind De Lacy and
quickly donned a pair Of smoked
glasses, with which had come prepar-
d. He had just scored another "abun.
lance" when. gazing over his shoulder
It the cards through my smoked
,lasses, l discovered the secret Of bis
rickery.
There is no playing against such
uckr' protested Mr.. v. half angrily.
There is no playing against such
heatingT exclaimed. snatching
ome cards from the table. Then. ere
De Lacy could make movement.
hrust several fingers into one OF bis
pockets. With an exclama-
lon OF anger be rose to his feet, but
back when be perceived that
also was wearing smoked glasses.
Gentlemen" exclaimed, ut Is my
ainful duty to inform you that you
ave In your midst a professional card
larperr'
The whole room was Immediately In
n upruar. All the men left their Ia
les and crowded around Us. De Lacy
/ first betrayed a trembling lip, but
resently, with an effort, he gained
Dntrol Of himself and thereafter main
tined an air OF dogged defiance.
This man" continued, has been ;
Iarklng the cards with luminous paint,
small quantity OF which be keeps in
IS wastcoat pocket and conveys 10 the
irds with his finger nails. The paint.
ute invisible In this brilliantly Hight.
! room. be Is able to see by means OF
Is smoked glasses VIII some Of you :
indly examine these cards through
le glasses brought with me for the
lrpose or unmasklng this MANI Look
! my fingers. too, which just now
rust into Lis walstcoat pocket"
Eagerly the clubmen crowded round
e, aud an examination was made all
,umd. by the aid Of the glasses the
ny paint marks Of the cards were !
early detected. as we'll as the smear .
] my fingers. The fraud was fully {
.pOsed. with cries Of Indignation the
ubmen advanced upon the trickster,
ld things tegan 10 look ugly for the 7
genious lie Lacy He was very
,ughly handled. denuded Of his III
,tten gains and then literally kicked
II Of the club. :
Mr. v. convinced at last that he had
zen neeeed by an unscrupulous rogue.
ndered an apology to his fellow MEM
srs for introducing under mlsappre-
.-..lu1. .I1..I. q .ll.rnnlll Lie lndl ullllnl