CHAPTER XI.CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS.
Hanks stared at the cards displayed by Arlington, and then he swore.
“Where did you get them?” he finally demanded.
“Harmford dealt them to me.”
“And Harmford is a friend of yours!”
“No insinuation, I hope?” murmured Chester, an ugly flash in his eyes.
“Don’t you think it mighty strange you got a hand like that against this ace full of mine?” rasped Hanks.
“Well, it was rather odd,” admitted Chester. “But still, I must repeat that I hope you’re not insinuating. To begin with, I wish you to understand that Harmford is not a particular friend of mine. I met him for the first time in my life to-day at Meadwold. We have never played cards together before. If you’re not satisfied, Mr. Hanks——”
“I am!” snapped Hanks, picking up the cards and pushing them across the table. “The pot is yours, Arlington.”
“Thank you,” said Chester suavely, as he raked in the chips.
“Now give me fifty dollars’ worth of those chips,” said the defeated chap, as he flashed his money once more. “I want you to understand that I’m after you, Arlington. I’m going to even up for this devilish streak of yours.”
“Forewarned is forearmed,” laughed Chet, counting out the chips. “Here you are.”
“And here’s your money,” said Hanks, tossing it over.
“Why, I won’t dare breathe in this game,” murmuredHarmford. “I certainly didn’t know what I was getting into.”
“If you want to get out,” said Hanks, “Mr. Arlington and I can continue alone.”
“Don’t get out, Harmford,” entreated Chester. “That would spoil the game. Mr. Hanks will feel better after he’s won a pot or two. He seems to be easily disturbed over a little matter like that.”
“I suppose you’ve seen plenty of games opened with hands just like those,” sneered Hanks. “If you have, you began playing with a cold deck. The cards were stacked.”
“You can’t mean such was the case in this game,” said Harmford, “for you shuffled the cards before we cut for deal.”
“I’m not making any claims whatever. Let’s forget it.”
Three or four hands were played without any further excitement. Harmford won two small pots, which put him slightly ahead. Hanks sat grimly glowering from beneath his shaggy eyebrows. He was biding his time, feeling determined to get back at Arlington by hook or by crook. Finally, on an interesting jack pot, all three players remained, Hanks having opened. Hanks won this pot with three kings, Harmford having three trays, and Arlington two pairs.
“That’s just a flea bite,” observed the Harvard man.
“Well, it leaves me about even,” said Harmford. “Guess I’ve got a couple of dollars of somebody’s money here, but that’s all.”
On Arlington’s next deal things happened. Harmford discovered three sixes in his hand and made a bet. Chester stayed in without taking up his cards. Hanks raised Harmford. Those three sixes looked good, and Fred came back with another raise.
By this time Arlington had examined his hand. Henow added to the excitement by raising a blue chip. Hanks studied his hand a few moments.
“I think I’ll stay right with you people,” he observed. “I’ll have to see you.”
“But you don’t raise?” inquired Chester.
“No.”
“Nor I,” said Harmford, making good.
Hanks took one card. Harmford took two, but failed to better his hand.
“I think one will be enough for me,” said Chester.
The card Chet drew would have improved Harmford’s hand, for it was the fourth six spot. It did not improve Arlington’s hand, for Chester already held four eight spots.
Harmford bet a dollar. Arlington raised a dollar. Hanks pushed out three blue ones. Harmford began to look disgusted.
“One or both of you fellows filled your hands,” he observed, glaring at the three sixes he held. “What’s the use for me to stick?”
“We may be bluffing,” grinned Hanks.
“If you’re both bluffing, I’ll let you fight it out between you!” snapped Harmford, flinging down his cards. As he tossed them on the board one of those cards was faced, but he quickly covered it with his hand and turned it down.
“It’s up to you, Mr. Arlington,” nodded Hanks.
“In that case I shall have to give you another boost,” said Chester.
They continued to raise each other until Hanks had exhausted his supply of chips. Plunging down into his pockets, he raked up all the money he possessed.
“Here’s twenty-two dollars,” he said. “Give me that amount in ivories. That’s my last dollar.”
“In such a case,” said Arlington, “I should adviseyou not to press the betting any further. You may need some money to-morrow.”
“Don’t worry about me,” said Hanks. “I have you beaten this time.”
Chester accepted the money and counted out the chips. While he was doing this Jack Randall and Casper Steele wandered into the room and paused near the table.
“How’s the game going?” inquired Steele.
“Too hot for me,” confessed Harmford. “I just dropped threes to let these two crazy chaps buck each other.”
“What threes did you hold?” inquired Casper, leaning over Harmford.
Harmford whispered the answer in Steele’s ear. Having secured more chips, Hanks resumed betting, quite unaware that Jack Randall stood directly behind him. Chester followed Hanks up until the fellow had pushed in his last chip and was compelled to call.
“I’d never call in the world if I could borrow some money,” he said. “I’ve got you beaten, Arlington, old fellow. You’re trimmed this time.”
“Can you beat four eights?” inquired Chester, as he spread out his hand.
“Easy,” laughed Hanks. “Here’s a beautiful straight flush. Just take a look at that dusky array of spades.”
The cards exposed by him were the three, four, five, six, and seven of spades.
“That looks pretty good,” said Chester; “but what card was it you picked up out of the discard?”
Instantly Hanks flew into a rage.
“What do you mean?” he snarled. “Do you accuse me of cheating?”
“I saw you steal a card from the discards,” declared Arlington grimly.
“It’s a lie!” snarled Hanks fiercely. “It’s a trick to beat me, but I won’t stand for it! I’ve won that money fairly, and I’m going to have it!”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute!” exclaimed Harmford, who had just made a startling discovery. “Arlington holds four eight spots and a six, doesn’t he?”
“Yes,” nodded Hanks; “but I hold a straight flush, and that wins.”
“Wait,” repeated Harmford. “Let’s examine this pack. There must be too many cards in it.”
“Too many cards? What do you mean?”
“You have the six spot of spades in your hand.”
“What of it?”
“I started the betting on three sixes. When I quit I threw them into the discards. That makes it seem that there are five sixes in the pack, or, as Arlington claims, you secured one of mine from the discards.”
“Harmford just informed me,” said Steele, “that he had dropped three sixes. Let’s take a look at the discards, gentlemen. If there’s cheating here, we want to know it.”
In spite of himself, Hanks turned pale, for he realized that he was trapped. He sought to hide his dismay and alarm by a great amount of bluster, but Steele sternly commanded him to be silent. The discards were inspected, and only two six spots were discovered among them.
“That settles it,” said Steele, his eyes fastened on Hanks. “This fellow came here without invitation, and he has remained without invitation. He’s a card sharp and a cheat.”
“It isn’t true,” protested Hanks. “There’s a mistake somewhere.”
For the first time Jack Randall spoke.
“That’s right, Hanks,” he said. “There’s a mistake, and you made it. You tried your old trick of cheating,but you overstepped yourself. Gentlemen, this fellow is known at Harvard as a crook. He’s likewise a contemptible blackmailer. Shall we kick him out, Steele? I’d like the pleasure of booting him myself.”
“Let him get out as quietly as possible,” urged Casper. “We don’t wish to raise a disturbance. We don’t wish to alarm the girls.”
“You’re getting off mighty easy, Hanks,” said Randall. “Hereafter, I think you’ll find Cambridge a most disagreeable place for you. Perhaps you hadn’t better remain there longer than to pack up your belongings and depart quietly.”
Hanks had risen to his feet, and he faced Jack defiantly.
“I’ll go back to Cambridge and stay as long as I please,” he declared. “You can’t drive me out. If you try it, you know what will happen to your freshman friend, Mr. Sparkfair.”
“Do urge him to go hastily, Steele,” implored Randall, “for if he doesn’t, I’ll certainly have to kick him.”
Hanks was followed down the stairs by the entire party. His hat and coat were handed him at the door, and he passed out into the night without a dollar in his pocket and with rage and longing for revenge filling his heart.