The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-03

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masked that none but the initiated may
know them, while the frccmasonry OF
the craft Is strong and discovery un-
usual.
Instead of using familiar arrange
ment like the ''needle-tell." wherein an
Invisible needle pricks the dealer
thumb. thus signaling the presence OF
certain cards. the Bronco Kid had de-
termined to use the "sand-tell.' In
other words, he would employ
straight box" but deck of CARDS,
certain ones OF which had been rough
ened or sandpapered slightly. so that
by pressing more heavily ON the top
or exposed card, the one beneath would
stick TO its nelghbor above and thus
enable Him TO deal two with one mo-
ton IL the occasion demanded. Ihls
roughness would likewise enable him
to detect the hidden presence of
marked card by the faintest scratching
sound when he dealt. In this manipu-
lation II would be necessary also 10
shave the edges of some of the paste
boards trifie, so that when the deck
was forced firmly against one side of the
box there would be exposed fraction
OF the small figure In the left hand
corner of the concealed cards. Long
practice in the art of jugglery lends
such proficiency as 10 battle discovery
and rob the game of its uncertainty as
surely as the player is robbed OF his
money. 1t Ia, Of course, vital that the
confederate case keeper be able TO IN
terpret the dealers signs perfectly In
order 10 move the sliding ebony disks
to correspond. else trouble will accrue
at the completion of the hand when
the cases come out wrong
Having completed bis instructions.
the proprietor went forward, and Cher
nv wormed her way toward the roulette
wheel She wished to watch GlcniSter.
hut could not get near him because of
the crowd The men would not make
room for her. Every eye was glued
upon the table as though salvation
lurked in its rows OF red and black.
They were packed behind IL until the
croupier had barely room TO spin the
ball, and although he forced them back.
they pressed forward again inch by
inch. drawn by the song Of the ivory.
drunk with its worship, maddened 10y
the breath of Chance.
Cherry gathered that Glenister was
still winning. for q glimpse of the
wheel rack between the shoulders Of
those ahead showed that the checks
were nearly out of IT,
Plainly ii was but question of min
utes, so she backed out and took her
station beside the faro table where the
Bronco Kid was dealing. His face
wore its colorless mask OF Indifference;
his long white hands moved slowly
with the certainty that betokencd alb
solute mastery OF his ART. He was
waiting The ex-crap dealer was keep
Ing cases.
I The group left the roulette table in a
few moments and surrounded her.
Glenlster among the others. He was
not the man she knew In place OF
the dreary hopelessness with which he
had left her. his face was flushed and
reckless, his collar was open. showing
the base OF his great. corded neck.
while the lust OF the game had coars-
ened him TIL he was again the violent,
untamed. primitive man Of the frontier
His selfstraint and dignity were gone.
He had tried the new ways. and they
were not for him. He slipped back,
and the past swallowed him.
After leaving Cherry he had sought
some mental relief by idly risking the
silver in his pocket He had let the
coins lie and double. then double again
and again. He had been Indifferent
whether he won or lost. SO assumed a
reckless disregard for the laws of prob
ability. thinking that he would shortly
lose the money he had won and then
go home He did not want H. When
| his luck remained the same he raised
the stakes. hut It did not change-hc
could not lose Before he realized It.
other men were betting with him. ami
mated purely by greed and craze Of
| the sport. First one. then another
| Joined till game after game was closed.
and each moment tie crowd bad grown
IN size and enthusiasm so that It's fever
crept into him. imperceptlbly at first.
but ever increasing, till the mania mas
tered him.
CONTINUED In next issue.)