The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-01-14
nd were entirely engrossed with the

and were entirely engrossed with the
game.
"You gentlemen know the cards a
little?" Mime. Davezac had ventured,
with charming and guileless belief
in their ignorance. swell, we shall
teach you something new Of the game,
maybe"
"1'll be glad to learn something new
about it." Kirby replied, with gravity
and perfect truth.
Nine. Davezac. with sadly amateur
ish fingers, assisted with many -four
ish, intended to 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 serenely
reunited the deck, and, forgetting him
self. he was about to assert his rights
and demand new shuttle when a
warning kick from Kirby checked him.
"Ah, tits your DEAL" Nine. Davezac
at length exclaimed, rendering the
cards to Bunce. "First you must make
the cards well-mix them. so-like
you saw me. See. you suf-fel, as they
call it. You think you can do that?"
"Yes'm, reckon l can git that fur"
he ventured modestly. Taking the
deck. he promptly forgot his role and
nC0nan6n6 fn riX Snn Il
straticn, 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 deal
Of lightning-like rapidity, while Nine.
Davezac and the old judge sat bolt
upright with establishment At length
an extra desperate and we'll executed
kick from Kirby checked the old gam
blers stirring exhibition, and, covered
with confusion, he dropped several
cards to the floor and, in order to hide
his flaming cheeks. stopped and began
to miserably grope for them.
"You see,' exclaimed Kirby, "my
secretary is not so experienced US he
might be. To speak confidentially,
would have let him go last month If
it weren't that he is the only support
of wife and eleven children"
II wish was in the lower regions"
groaned Bunce soto voce.
"Ill 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 he had censured his partner, for
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
we'll remembered song, while his eyes
grew as dreamy and distracted as his
mind At length. when it was his turn
to play. conscious only that he was
holding a book Of cards and conse-
quently inferring that he must be in
dulging in his bread and butter game
of poker, he spread his hand face up
upon the table.
'Malheur" exclaimed Nine. Davezac,
aghast at this startling innovation.
"He expose his hand"
II fear" commented the Judge, ris-
ing and pushing back his chair, "that
Colonel Moreau finds it difficult to play
cards and listen to the voice of beau
tiful woman at the same time"
"And you cannot say that he have
not good TASTE" commented Nine. Da-
vezac. 'Ticns! 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, M. Veaudry and Aaron
at length forsook tho 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 Roulette. one
of the "French niggers." She carried
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 ill.,
tended for her cognizance. In fact, she
had but completed victory over old
Group, who had persistently 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 now at
last she had secured it.
"Miche Aaron" she whispered. pluck
ing Mr.. Randall's sleeve as he was
about to pass on--"Miche Aaron. dat
black man. Group. he have secret
Dat secret it is with Niche Moreau."