The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-03-19
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the ingenuity of generations Of card
lsharks there have been evolved multi
t0de Of devlc o with which to fleece the
uAsuspecting These are so carefully
mksked that lone but the Initiated may
know them. while the freemasonry OF
the craft is strong and discovery un-
usual.
Instead Of using a familiar arrange
ment like the ''needle-tell," wherein an
invisible needle pricks the dealers
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 a
straight box" but a 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. This
roughness would likewise enable him
to detect the hidden presence Of
marked card by the falntest scratching
sound when he dealt. In this manipu-
lation 1t would be necessary also to
shave the edges Of some Of the paste
boards trife, 30 that when the deck
was forced firmly against one side Of the
box there would besexposefra fraction
Of the small figure In the left hand
corner Of the concealed cards. Long
practice In the. art of jusSlery lends
such proficiency as to bafile discovery
and rob the game Of Its uncertainty as
surely as the player Is robbed Of bis
money. 1t is. Of course, vital that the
confederate case keeper be able to in
terpret the dealers signs perfectly In
order to move the sliding ebony disks
90 correspond. else trouble will accrue
at the completion Of the hand when
the cases come out wrong.
Having completed his instructions.
the proprietor went forward. and Cher
~ wormed her way toward the roulette
wheel. She wished to watch Glenister.
but 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 1t 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 by
the breath Of Chance.
Cherry gathered that Glenister was
still winning. for glimpse Of the
wheel rack between the shoulders Of
those ahead showed that the checks
were nearly out Of 1t.
Plainly it 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 It's colorless mask Of Indifference;
his long white hands moved slowly
with the certainty that betokened abb
solute mastery Of his art. He was
waiting. The ex-crap dealer was keep
Ing cases.
The group left the roulette table In
few moments and surrounded her,
Glenister 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 till 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. Ee 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 be won or lost. so assumed
reckless disregard for the laws oc prob
ability. thinking that he would shortly
lose the money he had won and then
go home. He did not want 1t. When
his luck remained the same. he raised
the stakes. but 1t did not change-he
could not lose Before he realized 1t.
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 the crowd had grown
In size and enthusiasm so that its fever
crept into him. imperceptibly at frst.
but ever increasing till the mania mas
tered him,
He paid no attention to Cherry as he
took his seat. He had eyes for moth
ing but the layout" Sine c!lnched her
hands and prayed for his ruin.
"What's your limit, KldT' he in
quired.
zone hundred and two" the Kid an
swereA which In the vernacular means
that any sum up to $500 may be laid
on one card save only on the last turn,
when the amount Is lessened by half.
Without more ado they commenced.
The Kid handled his cards smoothly,
surely, paying and taking bets with