The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-10-09

presence seemed to be absolutely ig-
nored by everybody excepting the
two darkies, but assuming an ease
which be did not feel he sauntered on
toward the group of men around the
table.
When he reached them he saw
that Ryder was taking seat, having
bought a stack Of chips, and was
already joining in the play that was
going on and apparently blind and
deaf to everything else. Still no one
spoke to or even looked at him, and
he stood with the others who were
watching the game that some seven
or eight were playing at the table.
What the game was he did not
know. He saw the dealer give each
player three cards. one at time,
| and he saw the cards played, trick
going to one or another after each
round, but he could not even deter
mine the value of the cards as they fell, /,
nor tell the winner till he took in his
trick. Hardly a word was spoken,
and what little was said, being in the
language of the game, he did not
understand.
After some moments he touched
Ryder's shoulder and said:
Good evening, Dick
The young fellow started nervously
and looked up as if apprehensively,
but seeing who it was that spoke he
merely nodded and said Hello,
Aleck," and drawing away from the
latter's touch he turned back to his
game.
"What are you playing?" asked
Hurd, pleasantly, after another pause,
LOO" said Ryder, curtly.
How do you play it?' continued
Hurd.
"Why don't you buy some chips and
find out?" said Ryder, impatient at
being disturbed.
The unexpected rudeness of reply
stung the inquirer, and seeing that
one or two of the bystanders and the
dealer as we'll glanced at him some
what curiously and as if more or less
amused he pulled out his money and
taking $40 bill from the roll asked
for chips.
Room was made for him immedi-
ately at the table and in the next
deal he too received three cards.
These he played at random, one at a
time when his turn came, not know
ing whether he played correctly or
not, but to his surprise each of the
three tricks was pushed over to him
and at the conclusion of the deal the
pot, to which he had contributed as
the others did, was also showed over
to him.
"Do I win this?" he asked in
considerable surprise.
"Sure," said the banker, and Hurd
saw that some of the others smiled
openly.
Then" he said not a little EN-
barrassed, but trying to pass it off
with jest, II think I'll quit. It's
the only game I'm ahead of and 1
reckon it wouldn't be bad idea to
stay ahead"
This time there was no smile, but
the banker paid him over S35 in
money for his chips without the
slightest hesitation and Hurd rose
from the table more embarrassed than
ever. AS he stood irresolutely consider
ing whether to walk out as he had
come in, three of the bystanders
walked over to the roulette wheel
and two, buying chips, placed bets,
while the third spun the wheel and
threw little ivory ball upon it.
Not suspecting that the game was
started for his benefit, Hurd followed
them and looked on till the ball fell
in 27 and the dealerraked in the money
on the table. Then it occurred to him
that this would be good way to get rid
of the winnings which he already re-
GREETED having made and he threw
$40 bill on the table, not caring where
it fell.
The croupier looked puzzled, for
the bill lay across several lines and
touched several numbers. "What is
your bet, sir 7" he asked, politely,
and Hurd said, "Oh, I'm not particu-
lar" Then bethinking himself that
the same number was not likely to
core twice in succession he added
"Put it on ~"
This was done, and the ball fell
again in 27. Thereupon the croupier
placed thirty-6ve blue chips on his
bill and again raked in the chips the
other two had placed.
Clocks like it was your night out,
SIR" he said pleasantly, and at the
word several others left the loo table
and came over to the wheel. Among
these was young Ryder, who had lost
every bet he had made and was ours
ing his luck.
Seeing him, Hurd drew down his
pile, but leaving it on the table turned
away and drew Ryder to one side.
"Dick," he said in an undertone.
"this is devilish disagreeable. I
don't mind telling you that followed
YOU in here to do the elder brother
act and try to get you to come out.
l was fool enough to allow myself to
be bantered into playing a game /
never saw, and then when tried to
get rid of my winnings I won l don't
know how much more. How can /
get out of this gracefully?"
"It's easy enough to get out, said
Ryder laughing, "but don't know
about the graceful part. Cash in
and leave if you don't want to play"
"I certainly don't want to play,
said Hurd, "but 1 don't feel like tax
ing the money. tell you came in
10 try to stop you from gambling,
and here am setting you horrible
example.
"Don't be fool" said the young
er man, impatiently. Either take
your money and go or back your
luck. l know what I'd do quick
enough"
st suppose you'd play on" said