Evening star., 1920-04-25

said the new American, !
would back these men against
any full-sight poker players!
Its a game where you get a sigh
for your money"
Not always-not at the Blinded He.
roes Club of Belgium"
What is the matter with theiI
faces"
There ought to be a give-away-
they're out of practice watching eacf
other and being watched. l don't say
that 1t Is. but it ought to be SO. Facial
expression, in their poker playing
does not count. A man with his eyes
ought to be at an advantage among
them. Should they consent to try q
little game in highwaymen's masks
know lad who really needs a trim
ming"
The Brussels American laughed.
He might get it-anyhow. They
have cleaned out sight players every
time they have met" he said. Cards
and music are their strong pleasures
They do not forget their blindness
but for once it seems to add a new
xest to the game
X 4
It'll bring that party" said the new
American.
II it were fiction, here would be the
opportunity to describe the great
game, leading up to an instructive
showdown-showdow between light
and shadow, going far to justify the
ways OF God to men. But it did not
happen.
Nothing doing" said the man OF
Brussels. Once, a full-sight sport
being vacuum-purifed. almost said
things that made them suspect that
he suspected.
dealers fingers might by habit read
the cards as they were dealt, or not be
able not to-
To accused blind man.
sure. It's interesting. So. now, were
But. say" said the new American
7 notice that they deal invariably
from the middle of the top card"
O1 course, replied the other 'but
they are ferocious for their honor, and
the mere thought. coming to them. was
suhctent. Thenceforth, they refused
to admit into the game any player
who has his eyesight. and they sell
dom admit spectators. For example,
we ought not to stay long. They must
have taken fancy to you" he con-
cluded, grinning.
The blinded heroes grinned sympa-
thetic. How did they know that Joe
was grinning? It is wrong to call
them blind men-but blinded. They
wereardent, swift, athletic young TEL
lows. clear-eyed. joying in the beauty
to the defense Of women. children,
manly Independence; then, as sud
denly, their light was put out by a
cloody-handed trespasser for gain.
And yet they grin.
None have been blinded over FIVE
years" he continued in low tone.
That one. dealing. got his at Char
leroi. Yet each would notice the
changed rhythm in dealers move
ments. should his fingers 4or his eyes,
for that matter) be occppted in read
Ing the cards and his mind be charged
With remembering them"
A very unsual crowd.
Blinded Heroes Poker Club" is not
at all the printed name over the lodge
gate ct Boitsfort. Every one has
able. ready. Some have learned pro-
fessions, after. Some are successful
business men. They are aH htd ddi as
together. This is their place, in the
ancient fowery park, cool peace Of
woods and dreamy heat OF sumner
stay In long visits. Any one can earn
his keep here. The queen stands by
them. The king stands by them. The
aristocracy-they're it!
+ y y
A special mentality, nerves, souls.
senses, intuitions. So
The majority were blinded in the
early days OF the war. before steel
helmets came in. Fired to frenzy by
invasion. they came to this blaekness
in a day. without any loss but eye
sight. and with some strange gain.
Being keyed up to the highest pitch
virgin from wasting, fretting and too
behold taut harp-strings, resonant.
responsive. supersansitiye to waves of
mystery in adventurous Limbo.
There are too many cards in this
deck. said the young count Of nine
chateaux to the former grocery clerk
who acquired eighty three notches to
his gun. AS a fact, the Joker and an
advertising card were stiH in their
habitual American makers pack, but
the advertising card was new TO them.
They had never seen" one. This he
told by feel and weight"
They are ordinary poker packs. but
with embossed points added in the up
per 1eft-hand and lower right-hand
corners; but when these two con-
sumnate blind men (or the assistant
dhe 32-card deck. from sevens to
aces). 1t Is their fad to play with un-
pricked cards-their intelligent fin
gers feel the print forms.
Half the club members. it would
seem. can distinguish the feel Of pic
ture card; many can call OF the de-
nominations of pip cards; feeling the
suits is more delie tie. and calling suit
and value of a picture card is said to
be the acme of this sight unseen"
stunt.
Regularly using the embossed indi-
Gators. they read by touch as they
pick up each card-before you or
could see 1t in our hand.
Six other blind Be1gians-older men,
and very wise from old-time pa
tience-taught the lads fbecause they
deemed them worthy the fascination
of this poker in the abyss.
They call themselves the Elder
Brothers, dress with meticu1ous CO.
auetry and put up glorious front
Of seeming to see everything. 1t is q
gle eyegiass. glance round as II say
ing. AWho the deuce are your" and
pat their paid guides gayly on the
shoulder-not to have the look of be-
ing ledt
Six blind players handled their cards
with smiles OF satisfaction or frowns
Of impatience.
They use their voices for deception,
or keep silence.
All the same, I'm not sure that I'd
like to bet stack OF reds against
those frowns.
One tall. bronzed plunger (scion of
a Jewish family of high fnance) re-
ceiyed ace high on the deal. His face
lit up with humorous purpose, as the
others drew four. one and three cards
and two dropped out. In a monotone
he raised three hundred" (what they