n't in on it, but you just tell him that don't go, this is an open
game and he's got to come through, and the crowd'll back you up. I
stuck him one--a whole hundred first crack--and then he barred me.
Watch him."

Dave watched. Saw the black card go down at one corner of the board;
saw a bystander fumbling for a five dollar bill; saw the bill laid on
the card; saw it turned up--and it was red.

"That _is_ smooth," he said. "I'd 'a' sworn that was the black card."

"So it was--when you saw it," his companion explained. "But you were
just like the sucker that played him. You couldn't help glancing at
the jay getting out his money, and it was in that instant the trick was
done. He's too quick for the eye, but that's how he does it."

Dave became interested. He saw two or three others lose fives and
tens. Then his companion pinched his arm. "Watch that new guy," he
whispered. "Watch him. He's wise."

A new player had approached. He stood near the table for some minutes,
apparently looking on casually; then his left fist came down on one of
the cards. "A hundred on this one," he said, and began thumbing out a
roll with his other hand.

"You ain't playin'," said the dealer. "You ain't in on this."

"Ain't I? What do you say, fellows?" turning to the crowd. "Am I in
or not?"

"Sure you're in," they exclaimed. "Sure you're in," repeated a big
fellow, lounging forward. "If this guy ain't in we clean you out, see?"

"It's on me," said the dealer, with an ugly smile. "Well, if I must
pay, I pay. Turn 'er up."

It was black. The dealer paid out a hundred dollars to the new player,
who quickly disappeared in the crowd.

Dave had made his decision. It was plain his companion's tip was
straight. There was just one way to beat this game, but it was simple
enough when you knew how. He sidled close to the table, making great
pretense of indifference, but watching the cards closely with his keen
black eyes. The dealer showed his hand, made a few quick passes, and
the black card flew out to the right. This was Dave's chance. He
pounced on it with his left hand, while his other plunged into his
pocket.

"Sixty dollars on this one," he cried, and there was the triumphant
note in his voice of the man who knows he has beaten the other at his
own game.

"You ain't playin'," said the dealer. "You ain't in on this."

"That don't go," said Dave, very quietly. "You're playin' a public
game here, an' I