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.

CHAPTER IX.

ALMOST A BREAK--A NOVEL GAME TO ROB--OUR HERO'S
ARTISTIC ACTING--A TABLEAU AND A GRAND SURPRISE.

Again the sharp fixed his eyes upon our hero, but it was not a
give-away; Desmond was playing his game too well. He appeared like an
excited gambler, an amateur, who apparently believed he had a sure
thing.

"I'll warn you once more," said the sharp.

"To the dogs with your warning, you daren't bet."

"Oh, yes, I dare bet, but I like you; I've a dead sure hand, you can't
beat me."

"That's my lookout."

"Then you know just what you are doing?"

"Yes, I do."

"These men can bear witness that I want to throw up my hand."

"You needn't."

"And you will really bet?"

"Yes, I will."

"With your eyes open?"

"Dead sure."

"All right; what is your raise?"

Desmond gave a lift and the sharp raised back, and so the play went on
until the stake was a thousand dollars on the two hands, and the sharp
said:

"See here, young follow, five hundred is enough for you to lose."

"No, no, I am not losing."

"You ain't?"

"No."

"Suppose you are mistaken."

"I can stand it."

"You can?"

"I can."

"All right; no use for me to attempt to stand against a young fellow
like you. I begin to suspect you've been playing innocent, and I will
teach you a lesson; I raise you a hundred."

"I see it and go two hundred better."

Each time a bet was made the money was laid on the table, and it was a
very exciting scene and moment. The sharp looked puzzled; he had laid
out for a dead sure thing, but there had come a complete change over
Desmond, and it was the latter fact that scared the sharp. He
hesitated, but at length, in a slow tone, said:

"I'll see you a call," and he laid down his cards. He held four jacks, a
great hand, but one that is often beaten, of course, and it was beaten
on this occasion, for, strange to declare, Desmond held four kings.

Right here let us offer an explanation. Our hero was playing against a
false deal; the man who was leading him made the fatal mistake that he
was working with a gudgeon on his hook, consequently he was not
watchful. The wizard tramp