Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 28: what you’re looking at

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26 TIP TOP WEEKLY. queens. He stayed for fifty cents. Folansbee found two pairs, with aces at the head, and he made it a dollar. Lawrence came in, and Lockwell cracked it up another dollar. “This is getting pretty swift on the first pot,” laughed Frank; “but I think Ill have to make good and raise it two dollars.” Folansbee came in-for the needed amount, as did Lawrence; but Lockwell raised five dollars. Frank knew his three queens were good for another raise, and he pushed it the limit, although protesting that it was too much and showing signs of apparent excitement. Lawrence and Lockwell were watching him, and both looked satisfied, for it seemed that Merriwell was easily excited. Everybody made good, without a raise, and Lawrence requested them to call for their cards, , Lockwell took two, and Merry asked for the same. “Well, that’s pretty good!’ exclaimed Folansbee. “That’s first-rate for a man with two pairs, like me! This is swift!” Then he discarded his small pair, held his aces, and called for three cards, hoping to get another ace. Instead, he got three trays, which made him a full house. He lay back in his chair, satisfied, and lighted a cigar. Lawrence took one card, glanced: at it languidly, then lay his hand face downward on the table. ~ “Vour bet, Mr. well. “Well, I’ll drop ina V,” said Frank. “T’ll have to raise it the limit,” declared Folansbee, finishing lighting his cigar. “And I will drop out,’ said Lawrence. “I couldn’t fill my four flush.” “Now this is a nice mess!” muttered Lock- well, again looking his hand over.’ “I won- der, Merriwell, if your threes are better than mine?” “You will find out if you stay long enough,” smiled Frank. “But there is an- other person in the game.” Lockwell made good and called, but Mer- riwell raised Folansbee’s raise for the limit. Folansbee, confident that his full house must Merriwell,” said Lock- win, came back with another five without hesitation. Lockwell growled. “How long are you fellows going,to keep this up?” he asked. “Hard to tell,” answered Frank. “Well, I guess I’m beaten. If I’m bluffed, you are welcome. I'll drop three nines.” Immediately Merry .made good with money, and called. “I was hoping you would raise again,” said Folansbee, as he displayed his full house. How was that for:a draw to a pair of aces?” “That was splendid!’ declared Frank, looking the hand over with admiration. “T though you would say so,” said the “angel,” starting to rake the pot in. “Wait a minute,’.urged Merry. ‘splendid,’ but I didn’t say ‘good.’ ”’ “You don’t mean that you can beat it?” “Well, I have tour soubrettes here,” *-b Saad mur- mured Frank, displaying four queens. “Had three of them to start with, and the fourth joined them on the draw.” There were exclamations of astonishment as Frank gathered in the pot. “Well, you are lucky!” cried Lawrence, in evident admiration. “Is this what we’re up against?” gasped Lockwell. ‘Why, my three little nines were not any good at the start!” ‘Remember the old saying about the first hand,” said Frank. ‘“‘The man who takes the first pot always loses.” 3 | “Oh, that is nonsense!” cried Lawrence and Lockwell together. Folansbee was so flabbergasted that he did not have voice enough to call “come” when — there was a rap on the door. Lawrence did it for him, and the boy brought in the drinks. “Just what I need,” gurgled the “angel,” as he grasped the whiskey. “That hand took the wind out of me.” All drank, Frank taking his seltzer lemon- ade and insisting on paying for the round. When the boy was gone, the game was re- sumed. Frank Merriwell had not been deceived in the least. He knew the cards had been stacked on him, and Lawrence had delib- The Smaller the Hole the Easier Faraday Gets Through It. See No. 30 of True Blue. m boo