ON THE WAY TO THE RACES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 126, 13 May 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

ON THE WAY TO THE RACES.

COMPLETE SHORT STORY.

BY

BASIL TOZER.

Every seat in our compartment was occupied. A man of middle age, rather over-dressed, sat spread out in one corner. Opposite him a clean-shaven young man in quiet ‘ dittoes” assiduously studied a race card. Beside th? latter, and alongside me, a clergyman manned a copy of the “Standard.” The two remaining occupants, well-groom-ed, very young men with race glasses slung about them, exchanged commonplace remarks about sport. “Can you oblige me with a light, gentlemen?” asked the smart, middleaged man. “The course should be in fairly good condition after all,” he continued, handing back the matchbox to the parson. “Not going to the ra-es? Ah, pardon mo. sir, but we do sc? clergymen sometimes on the course,” and he smiled exceedingly pleasantly. “Do any of you gentlemen play cards?” h<? resumed suddenly, after a pans:? spent in gazing out of the wincow and puffing his big cigar. The well-groomed young men cxchangcd a significant glance. “Not- much,” one of them chuckled iri an undertone. “Ah, then you do plav a little?” the smart man cut in quickly. “Gome now, a little game of German poker or bridge will do us all good. You will join us, sir?” The clean-shaven man, to whom t'ie last question was addressed, slowly folded his race card. “If the stakes are merely nominal I will.” he said quietly. “Oh yes. of course, merely nominal. Penny. points, halfpenny poipts, anything just to give the thing an interest. We only want to kill time.” But the well-groomed young men were obdurate. They said they would not play. They looked quite annoyed at being asked. When the parson was appealed to lie looked rather disconcerted . “Won’t you take a hand, sir?” Ho said he should be delighted to. but he didn’t understand cards. ‘‘There's a trick I’ve seen a cardsharper do. he robbed me of half-a-sovereign the villain.” the smart man continued presently, instinctively shuffling the cards he had produced whilst speaking, “a trick mavbe some of .you may have seen done.' I thought I’d practice it for a bit of fun, and really I think I’ve come to it rather well for an amateur, of course. I sometimes practice it before a looking-glass and try to cheat nivself. Don’t you think that an original idea?” The clean-shaven man thought it quite cute ” “Ah, you are American?” The clean-shaven man said, ' That’s so.” “I’ve been only once in the States myself. My word, yours is a great nation. sir - a great nation. I say. until tn Englishman’s been in Chicago he lon t know what ‘hustle’ is.” The clean-shaven man looked gratified. “Shecawgo’s my birthplace,” he said. “And a very fine birthplace, too None better, I should say. Now, as 1 expect vou are. -how do you put it. tarnation smart’? That’s right, eh?” he smiled with great good humour, “1 should like just to see if yen can best me in this trick I flatter myself I’ ve almost, if not quite, mastered it.” He spread a folded newspaper across Ins knet-s

“You see ” he said. “I take three cards—-so. Two are plain cards—look, the five of spades and the ten of diamonds The third is a picture card there you see it, the queen of hearts. I hold the three cards in mv finn-ors so I give them a flourish and a”littl<lerk—so, and there they are spread out before you on the newspapei, face downwards. Now all you have to de 1,..*? S"ess which is the picture card V\ Inch of those three should vou sav was the picture card?” One of the well-groomed young men nudged his companion. The’other »av<a knowing wink.' They “knew a bit.” “Why, that is the picture card,” the clean-shaven man said with conviction. "Certain ?” "Positive.” M oubl you care to back your opin,o.n t° bet. say, a half-crown it’s the picture card?” The cltGn-shaven man hesitated an instant Then seeing that the eyes of all were u-on him l-e answered with assumed bravado. “Why certainly, I bet you half-e-erown the middle one’s the court card.” “Pick it. up for yourself and see.” He did so. It was the queen of liearts. “There, didn’t I toll yon?” he exclaimed holding up the card so that all might see. The smart man smiled pleasantly and handed over his half-crown. "I’ll trv again,” ho said. “J’d forgotten vou come from Chicago.” Ho r-'peated the performance, and aoain the throe cnrdsjar ; n a row f ace Ownwards on tl-e folded newspaper spread acrn«s his knees. ,vT, ’ r ''' the picture card?” v~n *l4l hef. p 1 half-sovpreiori it

“Done Turn it up.” The clean-shaven man turned it up and won again. The smart man gave a low whistle. “Seems I’m not quite the trump I thought I was ” he said modestly with a rather forced smile. “Seems not.” the other answered, elated at his success. “I’ll play you once more, anyhow,” the smart man exclaimed recklessly. Again the cards were spread. “I should say it was that one.” It was tho parson who spoke this time, and he spoke with some diffidence. Ho had folded up his 'Standard” and was evidently growing interested in the proceedings. Now he glanced with a look of baiting inquiry ;it his fortunate left-hand neighbour. The' latter looked him full in the face and nodded “What’ll you bet, gentlemen?” said the smart man. “I’ll go a sovereign this time,” exclaimed the clean-shaven man. “And you, sir?” Tho nervous clergyman looked round again at his fellow passengers whyly, almost awkwardly, in mute appeal for either help or guidance, Clearly he knew he was succumbing to temptation. ‘‘Anti if that is the court card,” he said with some terpidation, “what do you give mo?” “If it isn’t the lady what will you give me, sir?” “If it isn’t the picture card I will agree to give you five shillings on the understanding that if you arc in the wrong you will give me a like amount.” “That’s_ quite right, sir. and I agreed to it. Now please turn up the card for yourself, sir ” With trembling hand the clorg.yman turned it up. It was the court card! Tim smart man said nothing but looked rather glum. He produced a sovereign and two half-crowns and paid his losses in silence. “T thought, too, that was the court card,” one of the well-groomed young men murmured to his companion. “I knew it was all along.” the other replied with conviction. “I’ve seen the tiick done scores of times. That fellow’ can’t do it for nuts.” “Not confederates, are. they?” in a whisper. "No fear!’’ aloud. “Ought to get before his lookingagain!” in an audible undertone. Tire smart man heard the contemptuous comment and glowered for an instant at the two young ‘bloods.” The clean-shaven man also heard it, for he gave a low guffaw. Even the parson smiled “Gentlemen. I’ll take you both on again, the smart man exclaimed, evidently piqued. “I won’t be beaten by you or anybody e!s?. Now then, are you ready?” Another quick flourish and the cards lay spread out a fourth time. “There, there, that’s it!” the cEans ,?T n n “ VI exe ’ a ' me( l excitedly. les, that’s the one,” said the parson. “That’s in for a sovereign—the riglit.land card is the queen,” cried the well-groomed young man in the corner. “I’ll bet a sovereign too. it is!” echoed his companion. “Now then, keep quiet, please.” exclaimed the smart man, addressing himself more particularly to the two previous winners. “Now you, sir, what do you say? You bet the right-hand card is the picture card?” Tlie clean-shaven man said he would kiy an even two sovereigns. “And you, my reverend sir?” “I will agree to pay vou half-a-Fcroreign if the right-hand card isn’t tl/t Con, M catc * on the understanding

"Yes that’s all right. And you two young fellows said a sovereign between yon. Now then, one of you four <r Pn _ tiemen please pick up ?” y* <■ said a sovereign each,” cried one or the well-groomed youths, nettled at being called a "young fellow.” “Let’s mase it two sovereigns, each, Algy.” Right you are —we bet two pounds each the rkht-hand card is tho court-card-Ahe queen of hearts. Now turn it up.” "All nut your money on the card you mean, please, before we proceed to turn it up Then there can be no mistake,” said the smart man. The clean-shaven man put two sovereigns upon it. t Hie nervous clergyman put down •lalt-a-.sovereign. Tho. two ‘houng fellows” put two sovereigns apiece on the card. Then the parson slid all the gold off t.ie card on to the newspaper and with a look of confidence this time turned the card up. It was the five of snades. Tho smart man nicked up the gold nd slipped it into his pocket. Almost as he did so the train began to slow down. “Good morning, gentlemen,” he said pleasantly as he alighted. "Ta-t*. lads.” remarked the "parson with a wicked wink, risiim to follow him. “M hat price l ooking Glasses?” queried the clean-shaven man jestinn--Iv “But you’ll win it back presently in the ring no doubt. So lonm—-•-heffield Meekly Telegraph.”