carousal of the line-up at the bar
furnished appropriate accompaniment. Through the smoke he could see
another room farther back, in which were a number of pool tables; loud
voices and loud laughter and occasional awe-inspiring rips of profanity
betokened deep interest in the game, and he allowed himself to drift in
that direction. Soon he was in a group watching a gaudily dressed
individual doing a sort of sleight-of-hand trick with three cards on a
table.

"Smooth guy that," said some one at his side. The remark was evidently
intended for Dave, and he turned toward the speaker. He was a man
somewhat smaller than Dave; two or three years older; well dressed in
town clothes; with a rather puffy face and a gold filled tooth from
which a corner had been broken as though to accommodate the cigarette
which hung there. He blew a slow double stream of smoke from his
nostrils and repeated, "Smooth guy that."

"Yes," said Dave. Then, as it was apparent the stranger was inclined
to be friendly, he continued, "What's the idea?"

The stranger nudged him gently. "Come out of the bunch," he said, in a
low voice. When they had moved a little apart he went on, in a
confidential tone: "He has a little trick with three cards that brings
him in the easy coin. He's smooth as grease, but the thing's simple.
Oh, it's awful simple. It's out of date with the circuses in the
States--that was where I got wise to it--but it seems to get 'em here.
Now you watch him for a minute," and they watched through an opening in
the crowd about his table. The player held three cards; two red ones
and a black. He passed them about rapidly over the table, occasionally
turning his hand sideways so that the on-lookers could see the position
of the cards. Then he suddenly threw them, face down, on the table,
each card by itself.

"The trick is to locate the black card," Dave's companion explained.
"It's easy enough if you just keep your eye on the card, but the
trouble with these rubes is they name the card and then start to get
out their money, and while they're fumbling for it he makes a change so
quick they never see it. There's just one way to beat him. Get up
close, but don't say you're going to play; just pretend you're getting
interested. Then when you're dead sure of a card, crack your fist down
on it. Glue yourself right to it, and get out your money with the
other hand. When he sees you do that he'll try to bluff you; say you
ai