The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-09-01
and were entireIy enEroaaed Wltl I'd

and were entirely engrossed with the
game
You gentlemen know the cards a
litter" Nine. Davezac had ventured,
with q charming and guileless belief
in their ignorance. well. we shall
teach you something new OF the game.
maybe"
'I'll be glad to learn something new
about it. Kirby replied. with gravity
and perfect truth.
Nine. Dave2ac. with sadly amateur
lsh fingers. assisted with many a -four
ish. intended 20 impress the presuma-
BILE tyros with fitting admiration for
her skill. proceeded to cut the deck,
while Bunce eyed her gloomily and
mentally criticised what he termed a
dirty rifle" His professional dignity
was outraged by the fact that she had
cut to the last card and then sereneIy
reunited the deck, and. forgetting him
self. he was about to assert his rights
and demand new shuttle when
warning kick from Kirby checked him.
'Ah. tits your DEAL Nine Davezac
at length exclaimed. rendering the
4
cards TO Bunce. First you must make
the cards welI-mix them. so-like
you saw me. See. you suf-fel, as they
call it. You think you can do that?'
"Yes'm. reckon can git that fur"
he ventured modestly. Taking the
deck, he promptly forgot his role and
proceeded to give very fine demon
| stratien OF the professional shuttle.
spreading the cards In the air between
his hands until he resembled an ex-
| pert bartender mixing drinks This
| completed TO his entire satisfaction. he
spouted out the pasteboards in a deal
of lightning Ike rapiditE, while Nine.
Davezae and the old Judge sat bolt
upright with astonishmept. Al length
an extra desperate and well executed
kick from Kirby checked the old gam.
bIer's stirring exhibition. and, covered
with confusions he dropped several
cards to the floor and. I'm order to hide
his flaming cheeks, stepped and began
TO miserably grope for them. ar
II "You see." exclaimed Kirby, ''ny
secretary is not so experienced ais he
might be. To speak confidentially,
would have let him 60 hast month If
It weren't that he is the only support
OF a wife and eleven children"
'I wish was in the lower regions
groaned Bunce soto voce.
"I'll see that you get your wish if
you don't sit up here" replied Kirby.
But soon it was Kirby's turn to gain
/ that state of observation-disclosures for
| which -bo ho1 naue,1roa bic, ~&roor Rov.
In the adjoining room Adele had COM
menced to sing. and all his thoughts
| promptly went out to her, his lips
mutely repeating the words of the
well remembered song, while his eyes
grew as dreamy and distracted
mind. AT length. when It was his turn
TO play. conscious only that he was
holding book Of cards and conSe-
quently inferring that he must be in
dulgtng in his bread and butter game
Of poker. he spread his hand face up
upon the table.
"Malheurr' exclaimed Nine. Davezac,
aghast at this startling innovation.
'fHe expose his hand"
81 fear" commented the judge, r1s-
ing and pushing back his chair, chat
Colonel Moreau ands it difficult to play
cards and listen to the voice OF a beau
tifuI woman at the same time"
@And YOU cannot say that he have
not good TASTE" commented Nine. Da-
vezac "Tiens! We adjourn. then, to
the music room, You will come, Colo
mel Moreau and monsieur the secre-
tar ?'
Adele was still singing. Miss Pleydell
accompanying her, and. drawn By the
soft harmony, NJ. Veaudry and Aaron
at length forsook the balcony and. as
had the others, proceeded TO make
their way toward the music room.
Their goal, however. was never attain
ed, for as they stepped through the
window into the deserted drawing
room they were, met by Poulette. one
OF the French niggers." She carried
a small bundle made of knotted spot
ted handkerchief. and her manner at
tested that she was evidently laboring
under the repressed excitement Incl
dent upon discovering business not in
tended for her cognizance. In fact, she
had but completed victory over old
Group, who had perslstently annoyed
her with his attentions and. when CEN
sured for so doing by his ample wife,
had promptly and quite untruthfully
charged Poulette with making his life
unbearable by her unreQuited affection
for his person. Since then Poulette,
smarting under the calumny, had ca
gerly sought some method Of assuag-
ing her outraged feelings. and new at
last she had secured It.
'tMiche Aaron" she whispered, pluck
ing Mr.. RandalPs sleeve as. he was
about to pass on-"Miche Aaron, dat
black man. Group, he have a secret.
Dat secret 1t is with Niche Moreau."
CHAPTER XII. /
"f%1YlHAT secret?' demanded