ell me which shell it's under! I don't believe you can,
I think my young friend can do so."

"All right," agreed Hynard.

"Which shell is the ball under?" asked Mr. Baker, drawing back, and
leaving the three shells in a row; they all looked alike, yet Roy was
sure the ball was under the middle one.

"It's under there!" exclaimed Hynard, putting his finger on the end
shell nearest Roy.

"Is it?" asked Mr. Baker with a laugh, as he raised it up, and showed
nothing beneath. "Now let Mr. Bradner try."

"I think it's there," spoke the boy, indicating the middle shell.

"Right you are," came from Mr. Baker, as he lifted the shell, and
disclosed the ball.

"Well, it's easier to pick the right one out of two, than out of
three," remonstrated Hynard.

"All right. I'll give him first pick this time," and once more Mr.
Baker manipulated the shells and ball.

"Now where is it?" he asked Roy quickly. The boy, who was quite taken
with the new trick, was eagerly leaning forward, watching with eyes
that little escaped, the movements of Mr. Baker's fingers.

"It's there," he said quietly, indicating the shell farthest away from
him.

"What did I tell you?" asked Mr. Baker, lifting the shell and showing
that Roy was right.

"He's got you beat, Hynard," said Sutton.

"Well, I'll bet he can't do it again."

Roy did, much to his own amusement.

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Hynard suddenly. "I'll bet you five
dollars I can do it this time, Baker."

"Very well, I'll go you."

The money was put up, the shells shifted, and Hynard made his choice.
He got the right shell.

"There's where I lose five dollars," said Mr. Baker, with regret,
passing the bill to Hynard.

"You try him," whispered Tupper to Roy. "You can guess right every
time. Bet him ten dollars. You can't make money easier."

All at once the real meaning of what had just taken place was revealed
to Roy. The men wanted him to gamble, under the guise of a trick. And
he was sharp enough to know that once he bet any money, the shell he
would pick out would have no ball under it. In fact, had he taken the
bait and bet, Mr. Baker, by a sleight-of-hand trick, would not have put
the ball under any shell so that, no matter which one Roy selected, he
would have been wrong, and would have lost, though they might have let
him win once or twice, just to urge him on. Understanding what the
trick was, he exclaimed:

"I don't think I care to bet any mon