The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-11-23
A GAME
OF BLUFF
By MARGARET BARR
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association

/ SudplrO. nave just urdWH cueck
for it."
Worseley thought. Mrs. Helen Dana,
a widow, who dotted on her son, was
his fancee He knew what sums she
had given George to pay gambling
debts already. Finally Worseley said
to her:
"Give me the check. l will give it
to Shapiro"
"What good will that do?'
81 don't know that it will do any
good"
She wrote the check and made 1t
payable to Shapiro, as Worseley sug-
gested He put it in his pocket and
left her.
This scene took place in New Or
leans near the middle of the last cen
tury. The best people of that gay city
gambled, fought duels and did great
many other things that are now obso-
lete, though most of them have sur
vived in some other form, except duel
ing, which is thing Of the past even
in the Crescent City.
Worseley went to the - club, where
he expected to find Shapiro, and he
did. Shapiro was not playing at the
time and Worseley beckoned him to a
room where no one else was present
and handed him Mrs. Dana's check,
saying:
"a man who will win money from a
boy and accept the winnings from that
boys mother deserves to be expelled
from respectable society"
Shapiro's brows contracted. He
stood with the check in his fingers
scowling at Worseley.
at seems to me, Mr.. Worseley, that
you have deprived me of the power Of
declining this check by your words.
Therefore I shall hold 1t while 1 am
considering what to do in the mat
ter"
"You can't present It till bank hours
tomorrow morning; meanwhile shall
consider for you"
"Indeed?"
"Yes. Go into the coffee room and
order a glass of wine. I will be with
you directly"
"And suppose I decline to do your
bidding"
"It will do no good. My purpose Is
to make q pretext for what is to take
place between US in order that nei-
ther young Dana nor his mother will
be brought into the affair"
Shapiro, seeing that he was in for
meeting with Worseley, yielded to the
plan of concealing the true cause,
went into the coffee room, took a seat
at table and called for wine. In
few minutes Worseley passed him,
pretended to stumble on Shapiro's foot
and, seizing the glass on the table,
threw the contents in Shapiro's face,
saying, "Ill teach you to trip me"
Then Worseley walked away.
There was nothing for Shapiro to
do but send challenge at once, the
affair having been witnessed by half
dozen men. Worseley accepted,
chose Derringer pistols, appointed the
time at sunrise the next morning, in
wood where the duels were usually
fought.
Worseley was not professional
duelist, but was known to be a man
of wonderful nerve. Shapiro, who
made his living at cards, had recently
appeared in New Orleans with letters
sufficient to secure his admission
among gentlemen and had not yet
been detected for what he was. When
the two parties were on the ground
Shapiro's second asked Worseley's the
distance and received the reply, "Over
a handkerchief" This he reported to
Shapiro, who saw that 1t meant death
to both principals.
After conference between Shapiro
and his second the latter asked If
there was any way by which the mat
ter could be settled in honor to both
parties.
"Tell him." said Worseley, that If
he will return the check l gave him
this evening with a receipt in full for
the debt for which it was intended 1
will apologize to him for what 1 have
done on the ground that his tripping
me was unintentional."
Shapiro was disposed to regard the
whole affair bluff by which to regain
possession of Mrs. Dana's check and
that by standing firm Worseley would
withdraw at the last moment. But
his second warned him that Worseley
did not bear any such reputation. New
ertheless Shapiro, who was anxious to
retain the money, concluded to bluff,
and not till the two seconds, each
holding corner of handkerchief,
instructed their principals to advance
with weapons extended till the muzzles
were on line with what separated
them did he throw up the sponge
Then he accepted Worseley's terms.
The check and receipt for the
amount of its face passed, and Worse
ley intimated that he would state at
the club that he had been mistaken in
Shapiro's intention and had apologiz-
ed to him. But Shapiro said he might
spare himself the trouble, since he
would 1aova Nno OrIoopo tbot dow