Evening star., 1921-09-05
on a bluff and proudly displayed hii
opening pair Of aces

on bluff and proudly displayed his
| opening pair of aces.
f.! Cad, I'm thirstyw Waverly ran a
fat finger around his collar as though
! it were choking him. Tell Gregory
to get some water, will you. old
! MANI"
The man-servant was at his elbow
| in an instant with a slender crystal
carafe and glass upon a mirror-lined
tray. and the inspector made room for
it between them as he picked up the
cards to deal. Waverly drank deep
| and cleared his throat, but his voice
! seemed thicker than ever as he ad-
| dressed a remark to their host.
| McCarty looked down at the cards
in Inspector Druet's hands.
odd design. aren't they?" Cutter
| had followed his gaze from across the
table. "They were made especially
for me in Austria some years ago. and
| laid in good supply. ] must have
hundred or more fresh packs identi-
/ cal to them lying around the house v
them" Mccarty studied the grotesque
purple and gold upon the backs of
those he held in his hand. and then
! raised his eyes to Cutters. They
must have cost lot of MONEY!"
| I've forgotten. I believe I paid
around twenty five dollars a pack for
| them," the other responded absently
You couldn't get them now at any
| price, of course"
Think of that now" marveled Nc
Carly. Il lost a hundred and sixty
| five dollars one night on trip from
Kansas City to Milwaukee and the
| deck I played with only cost fifty
cents"
"If you're opening. Mac. say the
/! word" Dennis admonished. embold-
L.
holding UP the game"
waverly's chair creaked. Mrs. Kip
| dropped her gloves and retrieved
| them quickly before 'O'Rourke could
stoop for them. and even Cutter stirred
in his seat. The tensity which for a
again with almost tangible force and
the hand was played out in a strained
] silence broken only by the monocyl-
Liable utterances of the bettors.
| Waverly won with full house. but
his only comment was grunt. The
mottIed flush had deepened on his face
and a pulse throbbed perceptibly in
| his temple.
| It was McCarty's deal. and as he
picked up the cards Dennis drew a
| deep. convulsive breath. one about
| to plunge into cold water. and started
a lengthy post mortem about his last
hand, which strangely enough seemed
| suddenly to interest Terhune and the
| inspector also. They promptly took
| issue with him. and as the discussion
| waxed one of McCarty's hands stole
in a lightning movement to his pocke,
asd back to the deck of cards which
he held just at the edge of the table
He proffered them to Inspector
I,ruet. who cut eravely. and as he
started to deal the argument diet
down as swiftly as it had arisen
Mrs Kip stiffened suddenly and Ter
hume. glancing across, at her. followed
her gaze to the man at his side Wav
erly's head had fallen forward on his
thick neck and his chin lay in fold:
over his collar
'Your cards Mr.. Waverly."- Ter.
hume touched his arm.
! Pardon" Waverly mumbled. jerk
ing his head back. "Confoundedly ho
in here, Cutter. old man. you needn'
be afraid Of a ray of light or breatl
Of air. now we have the majesty o.
the law on our side!"
| He grinned lopsidedly up at Inspec
tor -Druet as McCarty picked up hi:
hand and scrutinized it. He held thu
seven. eight. nine and ten of clubs ant
the eight of hearts.
who opens?"
I'm by" O'Rourke regarded hi
hand critically and Dennis reluctant.