"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 pa.s.s 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.

"h.e.l.lo! 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.