A Desperate Chance; Or, The Wizard Tramp's Revelation, a Thrilling Narrative

by Old Sleuth

  CHAPTER VIII.

  PLAYING TO CATCH A WEASEL--A SHARP'SSCHOLAR--OPENING UP OF THE GAME--TWOBIG HANDS--A CRISIS.

  "I can't go, but I'd like to; but you give me your address, and some dayyou will see me in York. I feel like the man who said, 'See Venice anddie;' I want to see New York. Say, they tell me there are a great manysharpers in that wonderful city."

  "Yes, it's full of them."

  "Well, wouldn't I have fun beating those fellows, especially on the racetrack, eh? They tell me these sharps are as thick as mosquitoes inAugust down on the race tracks."

  "Yes, they hover around there."

  "I like you, young fellow."

  "Thank you."

  "Yes, I do."

  "So you said."

  "You're honest; I like an honest young fellow every time. Are you anorphan?"

  "A half orphan."

  "Your mother dead?"

  "No, my father."

  "Well, I am just the other way--my mother is dead and my dad, he is awayup. They say he is a great man. I reckon he is, but I am no shakes; yousee I care more for fun than lands. Now, see here; I'll teach you sometricks. Would you like to learn?"

  "Yes, I would."

  "Good enough, and when you get back to York you can punish some of thosesharps there, for my occupation is gone out here; they won't let me playagainst them or I'd beat them every time--yes, I beat their game andthen give the money away to some poor person who needs it; but theydon't know you, and before we get to the end of the route some of thosefellows may get aboard, and as I said, they don't know you, and we'llhave some great fun; you can beat the game."

  "I'd like to do that."

  "You would?"

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  "I was beaten once."

  "You were?"

  "Yes."

  "At what game?"

  "Three card monte."

  "Well, well! and did they ever come the thimblerig on you?"

  "Yes, I had a taste of that also."

  "Then you've been through the mill?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, now, see here; I'll teach you the game, and you are the only oneI ever will teach it to; you are honest. But if I were to teach the gameto some fellows who claim to be honest they would start in as gamblersright away."

  "I never will."

  "No, I can see that in your eye; you've got an honest face; I like youclean through."

  "Thank you again."

  "Yes, and I am going to learn you a trick or two."

  "I'll be glad to learn."

  The man produced his cards and said:

  "I always carry an outfit with me just for fun."

  "Is that so?"

  "Yes."

  "That's fine."

  We cannot in words describe the peculiar tones of our hero or thesingular expression upon his face, but he was playing for great fun. Heheld in reserve a great surprise for the senator's son, a grand climaxand tableau was to close the scene, or rather, as Desmond classed it inhis mind, grand comedy. He did not know just how the fellow intended towork his game; he believed the method would be a novel one, but he wasready--yes, permitting himself to be led on to the grand climax.

  The wizard tramp was an expert gambler and he had taught Desmond a greatmany tricks in order to put the youth on his guard, and also foramusement during their lonely hours together. All there was to learnabout the trick Desmond already knew, but he pretended ignorance, andlet the sharp go ahead. He proved an apt scholar, however, for thesenator's son said:

  "Jiminy! I don't know but I am doing wrong."

  "Doing wrong?"

  "Yes."

  "You learn so quick you appear to be a natural gambler."

  "I am pretty quick at learning points, I will admit."

  "You are great."

  Our hero had just about mastered the intricacies of the game when, lo,three men entered the car, and the sharp whispered to the lad:

  "Great Scott! here are a lot of 'gambs' as sure as you are alive. Iwonder if they will give me a chance at them; if they do I'll show yousome fun, if they don't you are up to the trick, you are my pupil, andyou can show me the fun."

  "That's so."

  "Lay low, my friend, don't go too fast or these fellows will becomesuspicious. I want to catch them good, and we will if you play itright."

  Desmond was on to the trick; he saw how the game was to be played, andhe appreciated that it was indeed a neat little trick. They were workingto fleece him differently from any little game he had ever seen or hadread about.

  The "gambs," as the sharp had called the newcomers in the car, did notbetray their game at once. They took a seat a little distance off andcommenced playing among themselves "only for fun," as they said loudenough to be overheard.

  "We'll catch them," whispered the sharp.

  "I don't know; they do not appear disposed to let us into their game;maybe they are acquainted with you."

  "Never mind, they will go for you. Let me see, I'll go out of the car,see! and then they will make your acquaintance. I'll be at hand in casethere is a row."

  "Yes, I see."

  "We must catch these fellows and teach them a lesson."

  "We will."

  "We will have to blind them. Let me see; have you any money to make abluff on?"

  "Yes, plenty."

  "Make believe you are making a bet with me and show a roll, then we willbait them and they will go for you; and, oh, won't we give 'em a lesson?You bet we will; we'll just clean them out and give the money to someneedy person--that is, you can--and you'll meet many a poor cuss beforeyou get to New York."

  "You can meet them anywhere."

  "Have you got a roll?"

  "Yes."

  "A good sized one? for we want to give them a good bait."

  Desmond was playing his part of the game well--very well--his wholemanner was right up to the mark--indeed, he did a fine piece of acting.He pulled out a roll of bills, pretended to dispute with the sharp, andsuddenly exclaimed:

  "I'll bet you a hundred."

  "No, no, young fellow, I don't bet," said the sharp. "I know I am right,I'd only be robbing you."

  "I won't let you rob me; I am up to what I say."

  The youth put an emphasis on his words which the sharp did not notice;he thought he had such a sure thing, he was not looking for a false"steer." Desmond saw the glitter, however, in the sharp's eyes at thesight of the roll, for it looked like a big pile of money, and the sharpappeared to feel, as indicated in his face, that the pile was alreadyhis own.

  "By ginger!" he said, "you are a dandy; you can play this game right up,but don't be too anxious or you will scare those fellows off; just takeit easy, let them lead you on."

  "Oh, I know how to work; don't you forget I am a Yorker."

  "Yes, I see you Yorkers are smart fellows. You know a heap, I can seethat; but I did learn you some?"

  "Yes, and when we get through here, I'll teach you a trick."

  The sharp shot a keen glance at Desmond, and the lad saw that he hadbeen a little premature, but it was only a fuse that flashed, and thesharp said, speaking in a very low tone:

  "I'll go in the next car, but I'll be on hand at the right moment. Iwant to enjoy the laugh when you catch these fellows. You are sure youare on to the trick?"

  "I am."

  "You must keep your eyes well open."

  "You bet I will."

  The sharp left the car, and after a moment one of the confederates cameover and took a seat alongside of Desmond, and in a jolly, familiartone, he said:

  "You bucked the senator's son down, didn't you?"

  "Well, yes."

  "It takes a good man to buck him down; He's got lots of stuff and sandtoo, but you bucked him."

  "Yes, I did."

  "We're having a little game here to pass the time--it's awful drearythese long rides. You see, we are salesmen and we've had some of thesefellows out here trying to rope us in, and we are trying to learn thegame."


  "Don't you know the game?"

  "No; do you?"

  "Well, I know a little about it."

  "Come along and show us what you know."

  The party got together; Desmond appeared hale-fellow-well-met with therogues, and the game was played amid a great deal of laughter, until oneof the party said:

  "By Jove! boys, I am on to this thing."

  "You are?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "You daren't bet for fair."

  "Yes, I dare."

  "Oh, come off."

  "I'll bet for fair; I'll give every one of you a chance."

  "You will?"

  "Yes, I will."

  "Come off."

  "I am in earnest; who'll go first and bet me?"

  "I will," said one man.

  "All right."

  The cards were thrown and a bet made, and the dealer was beat and lostapparently a ten-dollar bill.

  "All right; I was beat that time. Who'll take a second hack at it? I'vegot it all right, and I'll catch some of you fellows."

  "Will you?"

  "I will, by thunder."

  The trick was being played in the most bungling manner, simply becausewhen properly played the exposure would have shown the game. The secondman bet and won, and the dealer said:

  "I give it up, let's play a little game we know something about."

  "What will it be?"

  "I'll deal you fellows a little faro; we might as well pass the timethat way as any other."

  A game of faro commenced and Desmond went into the game, and in a littletime the original sharp came in the car and wanted to take a hand, andit was then that the gamblers said:

  "No, we won't let you; you are a 'jack' player; we are only amateurs."

  The party played faro for a little while and then a regular game ofpoker was proposed. The latter was a game that all hands could play infor a trick; even the senator's son was permitted to enter the game, andwinking in a knowing manner to our hero he did get in the game, and thefour proceeded up to a crisis where, as usual, two men held hands ofvalue, and as it chanced, the original sharp was the man who held a handagainst Desmond, and he said:

  "Here, I'll only make a small bet; I don't want to win your money."

  "I'll bet you anything you want," said Desmond.

  "Hello! are you in earnest?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "Do you really want to get my money?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "Dead sure?"

  "Yes."

  "I've a big hand, I'll tell you that before you start in."

  "That's all right, I'm betting on my hand."

  "Now see here, young fellow, remember this is poker, and on principle Ialways claim when I win, so don't bet high on your hand."

  "I'll go as high as you choose."

  "And you know what you are doing?"

  "Yes."

  "I am in dead earnest."

  "So am I."

  "Everything is barred?"

  "Yes, everything," said Desmond.

  "All right; if you will have it so swing out your roll. I'm bettingheavy on this hand, but I've warned you, remember."

  "Yes, but you can't bluff me," said Desmond.