Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-15
A GAME
OF BLUFF
BY MARGARET BARR
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By MARGARET BARR

lOE IL.
Worselcy thought. Mrs. Helen Dana.
widow, who dotted on her son, was
his fianccc. He knew what sums she
had given George to pay gambling
debts already. Finally worseley said
TO her:
Give me the check. / will give 1t
To Shapiro"
What good will that dor
Il don't know that 1t will do any
good"
She wrote the check and made Il
payable TO Shapiro. as worseley sug-
gested. He put 1t in his pocket and
left her.
This scene took place In New Or
leans near the middle OF the last CEN
fury. The best people Of that gay city
gambled, fought duels and did n great
many other things that are now obso-
lete, though most OF them have sur
vlvcd In some other form except duel
Ing. which is thing OF the past even
In the Crescent City.
Worselcy went to tho - club, where
he expected to lind Shapiro. and he
did. Shapiro was not playing at the
time, and Worscley beckoncd him 10 a
room where no one else was present
and handed him Mrs. Dana's check.
saying:
"a man who will win money from n
boy and accept tho winnings from that
boys mother deserves to be expelled
from respectable society"
Shaplro's brows contracted. He
stood with the check I'm his fingers
scowling at Worseley
cit seems TO me. Mr.. Worseley, that
you have deprived me OF the power OF
declining this check by your words.
Therefore / shall hold II while / am
considering what to do I'm the mat.
ter"
You can't present It till bank hours
tomorrow morning; meanwhile shall
consider for you.n
'IndeedT
Eyes. Go into the coffee room and
order n glass OF wine. I will be with
you directly"
And suppose 1 decline to do your
bidding7"
ut will do no good. My purpose IL
to make a pretext for what Is TO take
place between us in order that mel.
Their young Dana nor his mother will
be brought into the affair"
Shapiro, seeing that he was In for a
meeting with Worseley, yielded to the
plan OF concealing the true cause.
went into the coffee room. took seat
at table and called for wine. In
few minutes Worseley passed him,
pretended TO stumble on Shaplro's foot
and, selling the glass on the table
threw the contents in Shapiro's face.
saying. "I'll teach you TO trip me-"
Then Worseley walked away.
There was nothing for Shapiro TO
do but send a 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 a professional
duelist, but was known 10 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 baked worseley's the
| distance and received the reply, over
a handkerchief" This he reported to
Shapiro, who saw that It meant death
to both principals.
After a conference between Shapiro
and his second the latter asked II
there was any way by which the mat
ter could be settled in honor to both
parties.
Tell him." said Worseley, that II
he Will return the check / gave him
this evening with a receipt in full for
the debt for which It was intended
will apologize 10 him for what / have
done on the ground that his tripping
me was unintentional"
Shapiro was disposed to regard tho
whole affair a blum by which to regain
possession OF Mrs. Dana's check and
that by standing firm Worseley would
withdraw ut 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 blur.
and not TIL the two seconds, each
holding a corner Of handkerchief.
instructed their principals to advance
with weapons extended TIN the muzzles
were on line with what separated
them did he throw up the sponge.
Then he accepted Worselcy's terms.
The check and a receipt for the
amount Of it's face passed, and Worse
ley intimated that be would state at
the club that be had been mistaken IN
shapiro's intention and had apologiz-
cd to him. But Shapiro said he might
spare himself the trouble, since ne
would leave New Orleans that day
and such q statement would be OF no
uoo IN him