Evening star., 1918-02-03
By McDoNNELK BoDkN
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Mr.. Rondel lifted the cards enN
glanced at him. For a moment no ID
peared bewildered. Then the neml
around the table saw his broWS meet
and his eyes light with a sudden wratn
which quickly passed.
This is bad business" he said. SLOW"
ly. at last and laid his cards face up
ward on the table.
them,
Lord CiaverIy's face went white as
a sheet.
tically. Bu. he got no further. There
were strong hands on his shouioers
He was flung into a chair and neid
there while the coat was roughly toFfh
from his back.
Yes, There in shallow pocket. =
kind of ledge in the silk lining OF ms
coat sleeve. was a pack OF the ciuo
playing cards. They were caught ano
held together by a neat spring cnP;
and to the clip was attached tnre1n
of strong elastic, fastened higne, w
in the sleeve. close to the snouioef'
Their use was plain.
Curses and CRIES of anger were heard.
and men might have disgraced tnelr
manhood by violence to the neLpes
wretch that lay there with 1sar aho
wonder on his CHASTITY face. but the
calm. strong voice of Mr.. Rondel was
heard dominating the rising tumuit-
Gentlemen" he said. fair play. even
for a cheat Lord Claverly has an
must not detain him. Make way thefe
for his lordship. If you please:
The titled cheat took the mnt ana
skulked from the room. with D. grin
and snarl like a hunted FOX.
Il suppose ] may as well resume
possession" said Mr. Rondel. coclly, as
his lordship valves his cfafn Ana
he replaced the notes in his capacfous'
pocket book.
some one handed him the pack Of
cards found in Lord Claverly,s efseVes-
@ with the appliances stu attacne0:
lie examined them with unanecssd
You see how II works. lre saad C.
the men around. with the air Of . pro-
fessor addressing his class. Tho 0ovee
cards are curved at the edges 30 e1fght-'
" that only the most delicate to0cn
could detect il. His loroenap WS1
plainly clever at his work. The 6ake
genuine pack went up by the cAp and
elastic into his sleeve. It waS0 clever
trirk-a very clever trick
While the men gathered rounQ 20 &eo
the cards Harcourt crossed to- Wnefo>
Arthur Dariey stood by himself b :
wildered. hardly realizing what had'
chanced.
Il congratulate you, Artie.- he sid :
your good resolution has brouGhe you
good luck Your ]. o. US are wa9o us =
per in the pocket of the.convictod cheaf.
Let me introduce you to the man tnes
pulled you through. Mr.. RondeL ne
1uiet bit of supper with me to wind up
this entertainment. Here's a young
friend of mine who wants to thank you.
He's forty-five thousand the better 1op
this nights work.
Your health. Mr.. Beck" said Ar
thur barley, when they were comforts .
bly, seated al supper at taoo oy
, themselves. You saved me from rum
, when you caught his lordshfp cheats
! ing.
But l didn't catch his slordship-cheat-
ing
Harcourt and barley put down their
glasses and stared at him in amaze.
nent.
l II don't mean TO say he didn't mean
70 cheat. mind YOU" Mr.. Beck went on
niacidiy He came with his ammuni-
tion ready, but he played quite fair to-
night"
Then he told them how he had rec.
: ognized the card-sharp waiter ana
caught him warning Lord Ciaverly.
You must get rid of that water. MI.
1 Harcourt." he wound up. he is an ex'
pericnced card sharper
.All right" echoed Harcourt. abstract"
adIy. But, I say. Beck, cannot unoer-
stand the thing at all. II Claverly was
warned. why did he give himself away
'.He didn't give himself away
.why did he cheat, I mean.
..Don.t tell YOU he didn't cheat
nonsense, man. Luck never dealt
man such hands as Claverly held to-
no. I dealt them to him. can do
little that way
Yes. but where did the second king
2 of diamonds come from
from my sleeve
; iCopyricht 1918. by the Mcclure Sewspeper
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