_ CHAPTER VIII
PLAYING TO CATCH A WEASEL--A SHARP'S SCHOLAR--OPENING UP OF THE GAME--TWO BIG HANDS--A CRISIS.
"I can't go, but I'd like to; but you give me your address, and some day you will see me in York. I feel like the man who said, 'See Venice and die;' I want to see New York. Say, they tell me there are a great many sharpers in that wonderful city."
"Yes, it's full of them."
"Well, wouldn't I have fun beating those fellows, especially on the race track, eh? They tell me these sharps are as thick as mosquitoes in August 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 an orphan?"
"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 away up. They say he is a great man. I reckon he is, but I am no shakes; you see I care more for fun than lands. Now, see here; I'll teach you some tricks. Would you like to learn?"
"Yes, I would."
"Good enough, and when you get back to York you can punish some of those sharps there, for my occupation is gone out here; they won't let me play against them or I'd beat them every time--yes, I beat their game and then give the money away to some poor person who needs it; but they don't know you, and before we get to the end of the route some of those fellows may get aboard, and as I said, they don't know you, and we'll have 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 one I ever will teach it to; you are honest. But if I were to teach the game to some fellows who claim to be honest they would start in as gamblers right away."
"I never will."
"No, I can see that in your eye; you've got an honest face; I like you clean 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 the singular expression upon his face, but he was playing for great fun. He held in reserve a great surprise for the senator's son, a grand climax and tableau was to close the scene, or rather, as Desmond classed it in his mind, grand comedy. He did not know just how the fellow intended to work his game; he believed the method would be a novel one, but he was ready--yes, permitting himself to be led on to the grand climax.
The wizard tramp was an expert gambler and he had taught Desmond a great many tricks in order to put the youth on his guard, and also for amusement during their lonely hours together. All there was to learn about the trick Desmond already knew, but he pretended ignorance, and let the sharp go ahead. He proved an apt scholar, however, for the senator'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. I wonder if they will give me a chance at them; if they do I'll show you some fun, if they don't you are up to the trick, you are my pupil, and you can show me the fun."
"That's so."
"Lay low, my friend, don't go too fast or these fellows will become suspicious. I want to catch them good, and we will if you play it right."
Desmond was on to the trick; he saw how the game was to be played, and he appreciated that it was indeed a neat little trick. They were working to fleece him differently from any little game he had ever seen or had read about.
The "gambs," as the sharp had called the newcomers in the car, did not betray their game at once. They took a seat a little distance off and commenced playing among themselves "only for fun," as they said loud enough 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 case there 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 a bluff on?"
"Yes, plenty."
"Make believe you are making a bet with me and show a roll, then we will bait 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 some needy person--that is, you can--and you'll meet many a poor cuss before you 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 whole manner 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, and suddenly 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 the sight of the roll, for it looked like a big pile of money, and the sharp appeared to feel, as indicated in his face, that the pile was already his 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 take it 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 see that; 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 had been a little premature, but it was only a fuse that flashed, and the sharp said, speaking in a very low tone:
"I'll go in the next car, but I'll be on hand at the right moment. I want to enjoy the laugh when you catch these fellows. You are sure you are 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 came over and took a seat alongside of Desmond, and in a jolly, familiar tone, 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 sand too, but you bucked him."
"Yes, I did."
"We're having a little game here to pass the time--it's awful dreary these long rides. You see, we are salesmen and we've had some of these fellows out here trying to rope us in, and we are trying to learn the game."
"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 the rogues, and the game was played amid a great deal of laughter, until one of 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 lost apparently a ten-dollar bill.
"All right; I was beat that time. Who'll take a second hack at it? I've got 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 because when properly played the exposure would have shown the game. The second man 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 time that way as any other."
A game of faro commenced and Desmond went into the game, and in a little time the original sharp came in the car and wanted to take a hand, and it 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 of poker was proposed. The latter was a game that all hands could play in for a trick; even the senator's son was permitted to enter the game, and winking in a knowing manner to our hero he did get in the game, and the four proceeded up to a crisis where, as usual, two men held hands of value, and as it chanced, the original sharp was the man who held a hand against 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 I always 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 betting heavy on this hand, but I've warned you, remember."
"Yes, but you can't bluff me," said Desmond. _