The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 324: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

318 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. a Everywhere Gale went, gambling was going on at a furious rate, Whether for large ‘or ‘small sums, it was all the same ; those standing around seemed to be un- usually excited at the losses'‘or winnings of their friends or acquaintances. Roulette, hazard, wheels of fortune, and other games of chance seemed to be greatly patronized, and whenever a secluded spot could be obtained for the game so as not to be seen by the ;police, “thimble rigging” was in full sway. Gale, with a sharp eye, soon detected one of these spots, and walked up towards the players in a cool, unconcerned manner and looked on. His simple attire and moré simple manner threw the gambling gentlemen off their guard. ‘Who lifts the thimble that kivers the pea this time ?’’ was the everlasting question of the proprietor of the pea, the three thimbles, and the small com- mon deal table wpon which the game was played. And, as hethus challenged the company to “‘ try their luck,” he moved about the pea and {the three thimbles with ‘almost marvellous dexterity. But what surprised Gale most of all was that the owner of the gambling apparatus was none other than the person he was in search of, namely, Bandy Bob himself. Gale looked about among the crowd, but could nowhere see Alf Green. “ Who'll make a bet? Who'll make a bet?” said Bob, shuffling the pea about. “‘ Who’ll make a bet ? Anything you likes, gentlemen, from a ‘ tanner” to a ‘quid,’ ” “I knows which thimble it’s under,” says a greenhorn, in a half-whisper, to a friend, “ Are you sure?” ‘* Certain, could swear to it.” ‘“Then what a fool you are not to bet.” Thus appealed to, the greenhorn stakes half-a- crown. Bandy Bob lifts the thimble which the greenhorn had chosen, when, strange to say, no pea was there ! The countryman was thunderstruck. He could have staked his life that the pea had been under that thimble a moment before. And yet it had vanished’! “Try again, gentleman, try again:; it’s all the fortune of war, You can’t expect to win every time ; try again ; better luck next time.” In a moment afterwards a stranger pushed his way towards the table, and laid five shillings, The thimble was raised. It was there ! ‘‘Here’s the money, my gallant friend,” ‘said Bob, throwing down a five-shillifg-piece ; “I'm always willing to pay when I loses, but would rather win, of course.” The “gallant friend” tried his hand once or twice more, and to the amazement of all won each time, and more than before. The yellow, shining, gold-looking pieces, however, which Bandy Bob threw down, were not sovereigns or half sovereigns either, as Gale quickly perceived. hey were only “dummies,” yet they looked go much like genuine coin, that few would have de- tected the difference by candle-light, save Gale, But the detective was as sharp as a hawk. He understood all the tricks of the trade as well as the gamblers themselves. “So that’s your little game, eh, is it, Bandy?” he thought. “ Well, I won’t disturb you yet awhile, but bave some fun out of you,” He cast his eyes round, and perceived Alf Green, who had joined the crowd that moment, Alf was dressed very stylishly, and seemed to be TEL CD CIE IIT I COT en tatty rare = in league with the person who had won several times before. | ‘“T’ll try the metal of' these gentlemen,” thought Gale. 5 COs “Won't you have ‘a ty?” said Bandy Bob, ad- dressing Gale ; “it is all fair here, I assure you.” Gale did not answer, but rattled a handful of silver in his pockets, as if in hesitation whether to play or not. Silk Alf Green and his friend heard the sound of the money, and it made them very uneasy, | Alf approached Gale, and said, ; “Suppose you and I go halves and have a try; we can’t lose it; I’m always very lucky at that. game.” “JT dare say you are,” said Gale; ‘but I always like to play alone.” With that he advanced towards the table and staked a crown. He lifted the thimble. The pea was under it, an “ Suppose you go half a sovereign next time,” gaid Bob. “T don’t mind,” said Gale. And he staked his money and won. This surprised Master Bob and all present. But Bandy was satisfied to lose a trifle in order — to draw on the»stranger to play for ‘still higher stakes. Suppose we go higher,” said Bob, ‘ With all my heart,’ was the reply. Gale now staked five sovereigns, and, despite all he could do to the contrary, Bob lost, He rose from the table as if shot. “Why, how the devil is this?” he:growled. “‘The © pea wasn’t under that thimble at all,” ‘Yes it was, yes it was,” ‘’ We saw it,” “ All fair, governor, all fair,” said the crowd. “Go on, and win all he’s got,” said many ; “ he’s won enough from us ; now let him lose a little.” “T say it isn’t fair,” said Bob, striking the table, “The pea wasn’t under that thimble at ‘all !” ‘Yes it was ! yes it was !” ‘We saw it !”” shouted the crowd. ‘“Then, which thimble is it under?’ said Gale, laughing. ‘Let some one in the crowd lift the other two thimbles and see.” “ Aye, aye, that’s fair enough !”’ “Nothing could be fairer |”’ r ‘‘T object !”’ said Bob, ; But before he could perceive it the other two thimbles were raised, but the pea was under neither, a Bob knew this well enough, for when he had raised the first thimble he very cleverly extracted the pea from under it without being perceived b any one, , But Gale knew the trick of old, and quite as cleverly had placed another one under it. ’ Tt was this that alarmed Bandy Bob. He knew that he had extracted the pea himse in the first instance, and at the moment that Gale — had made his five pound bet there was no pea under either of them, for he himself had it that moment in the palm of his right hand, But he did not dare to tell the crowd of ‘it, or they would have smashed his ‘table, and, perhaps, have half killed him, | He looked and stared at Gale, but could make nothing more of him, for the detective had won every shilling he had, Mi tala At that moment Bob winked at Alf Green, and at the same moment, slapped his pocket, telling him in plain words that he was short of money, va Gomicbooksreom