"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 pass 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. "Hello! 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. 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."