Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-08


They showed you where the Jack was
before they throwsd. and 1t surely
looked like a picnic. but It wasn't"
Three card monte" said Newniark.
How much?" asked Simnis.
About $50" replied the boy.
Orde turned on the disgruntled cook
"And you had fifty In your turkey
camping with this outfit Of hard citi
sens! he cried. You ought to LOSE
t."
Johnny Challan was explaining to
his companions exactly how the game
was played.
At this point Newmark broke into
the discussion.
"Have you pack Of cardsT" he ask
ed In bis dry. incisive manner.
An old deck was produced.
Newmark cleared cracker box OF
drying socks and drew It to him.
"Thess three are the cards" he said
speaking rapidly. There Is the jack
of hearts. pass my hands-so. Pick
the jack. one of you" be challenged
ANY of you" he urged. You. North
The foreman leaned forward and
rather hesitatingly laid blunt fore
finger on one of the cards. 1t was the
ten of spades. LET me try" inter
posed Tim Nolan. II bet can pick
her."
"Oh, yes. you betv' shrugged New
mark. "And that's where the card
sharps get you fellows every time
He deftly dipped the cards.
Nolan. who had watched keenly. In
dicated one without hesitation. Again
1t proved to be the ten Of spades.
Everybody was ambitious. and the
young man. with inexhaustible pa
tience. threw out the cards. the cor
ners Of bis mouth twitching sardonir'
ally at each wrong guess. At length
he called a halt. by this time I'D
have had all your money" he pointed
out. Now I'll pick the jack" He
made bis swift passes and Distributed
the cards. Then. quite calmly. withou'
disturbing the three on the crnckeI
box, he held mp the jack Of hearts.
An exclamation broke from th'
group. Nolan leaned forward and turn
ed over the three on the board. The!
were the eight Of diamonds and two
tens of spades.
THAT'S how the thing is worked
announced Newmark. "Once In awhile
you'll run against straight game. but
not often"
"But you showed US the jack ever!
time before you throwed them" puz
zled Johnny Simms.
"Sleight Of hand" explained New
mark. 1.-THE simplest kind Of palming.'
"Where'd you get on to doing al
that. Newmark?" inquired North. "Yo'
ain't a tin horn yourself?"
Newmark laughed briefly. mot l.
said he. "I learned lot OF those
tricks from a travelling magician ir
college,"
Orde had sat well IN the back
| ground. watching intently all that was
going on. After the exclamations FOL
lowing the exposure had subsided. h'
spoke.
Boys" said be. ''how game are yor
to get Charles money back-and ther
someY'
"Try u.s." returned big Tim.
"This games at McNeill's. and Nc
Neiirs is tough hole" warned Orde
Maybe everything will 90 peaceful
and maybe not. And you boys tha
20 with me have got to keep sober
There isn't going to be any row unless
| I say 80. and I'm not taking any con
tract to handle a lot Of drunken rive
hogs as well as 60 against game"
The thirty men Of the rear crew
significd their intention to stay BY tn
procession.
"You can't make those sharps dis
rorge." eounseled Newmark. AT th'
FIRST look of trouble they will ligh
nut. They have 1t all fixed. Force
won't do you much good and may &c
some Of you shot"
"I'm not going to use force" deniet
Orde. "I'm Just going to play thei
game. But bet can make It CO."