Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-09-03

mathematical precision, and &c Is q
plain fact that he found IL completely
beautiful. He was aware that Mercer
was shaking him inarticulaEely. and
that Xorings rheumy eyes were open
ing wider on him with @ flame Of
triumph.
| And suddenly Kilgarry guffawed and
thumped the table.
Go to it." he said. Pick it up,
/ Yoring."
Yoring opened both his arms to en-
brace the pool.
Just a minute" said the Saint.
HIS voice was softer and gentler
than ever, but 1t stunned the room TO
another immeasurabis silence. Yoring
froze as he moved. with his arms al
most shaped into q ring. And the Saint
smiled very kindly
Certainly it had been a good trick,
and an education, but the Saint didn't
want the others to fall too hard. He
had those moments Of sympathy for the
ungodly in their downfall.
He turned over his own cards, one
by one. Aces. -Four OF them. Simon
thought they looked pretty. He had
collected them with considerable care,
which may have prejudiced him.
My pot, think" he remarked
apoiogetically.
Kilearry's chair was the first to CRATE
back.
Here" he snarled, that's not"
The hand ne dealt me?" The tex
ture OF Simons mockery was like gos-
samer. And he wasn't playing the
hand I thought he had. either. I
thought he'd have some fun when he
got used TO being without his glasses, .
he added graphically.
"a
the game for tonight" he murmured,
and his hand was in his side pocket
before Kilgarry's movement was half
started. Otherwise he gave no sign OF
perturbation, and his languid self
possession was as smooth as velvet. Il
suppose we'd better call Il q day" he
said, without any superflOus emphasis. /
Mercer recovered his voice first.
That's right" he said jerkily. you
two have won plenty from me other /
nights Now we got some of it back.
Let's get out Of here. Templar"
They walked along Ocean Drive. past
the variegated modernistic shapes OF
hotels. with the rustic Of the surf in
their ears.
How much did you win on that last
hand?" asked the young man.
About $4,000" said the Saint con-
tentedly
Mercer said awkwardly: That's iust
about what I'd lost to them before i
don't know how I can ever thank
you for getting It back. I'd never have
had the nerve to do It alone And
then when Yoring turned up that
straight flush-I don't know why-I
had an awful moment thinking you'd
made q mistake"
Il don't make a lot Of mistakes" the
Saint said calmly. That's where q lot
# people go wrong. 1t makes me rather
.ired sometimes suppose it's just
pride. but hate to be
S that with my reputation there are
always people trying It. I suppose they
hink that my reactions are so easy
o predict that 1t makes me quite q
etup for any smart business.
"Of course I knew that a switch like
hat was coming-the whole idea was
o make me feel so confident Of the
advantage I had with those glasses
hat I'd be an easy victim for any
card-sharping. And then, Of
curse. I wasn't supposed to be able
0 make any complaint because that
yould have meant admitting that
yas cheating too. It was q grand idea,
;ddie-at least you can say that for
Mercer had taken several steps be-
ore all the implications of what the
amt had said really hit him.
But wait a minute" he got out.
How do you mean they knew you were
caring trick glasses?"
why else do you imagine they
lanted that guy on the train to pre-
md he was J. j. Naskiil7" asked the
amt patiently.
THAT isn't very bright OF you, Ed
le. Now, I'm nearly always bright.
as so bright that I sme1t a rat di-
city you lugged that pack of marked
ards out Of your beach rohe-that was
ally carrying It a bit too far, to
ave them all ready to produce after
Ju'd got me to listen in on your little
It with Josephine. must say you all
aged your parts beautifully, other
ise, but it's little details like that
lat spoil the effect. told you at the