Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 29: what you’re looking at

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TIP TOP WEEKLY. 27 erately given him the “top hand.” They had not expected he would call, but had fixed it so he would win heavily from Folansbee, while they would lose very little. Thus Frank would be “baited” at little expense to them. The game continued with changing luck. Occasionally somebody would break out with an expression of surprise that Frank had called with the four queens given him on the first deal. The real secret was that Merry was not there to beat Folansbee, and he had given up the moment Lockwell “dropped.” Merriwell was very cautious, but he lost steadily after the first pot. At last, in ap- parent disgust, he called for another pack of cards. A new pack was brought, and the game went on. Both Lawrence and Lockwell were dis- gusted, for they did not seem able to draw Merriwell in when they wanted him. Frank would lay down three aces without betting on them at all; but he did it when he knew they had been given him. by Lawrence or Lockwell. He made no mistake, for, on every occasion, one of the two rascals had the cards to beat him. At last the rascals seemed to resolve on chancing everything on one hand. Frank got two aces on the deal and two more on the draw. Folansbee was: given four queens. 30th Lawrence and Lockwell stayed in. Lockwell took one card. Lawrence drew three... Then there was hot betting. At last Frank protested that he was reach- ing the bottom of his pile, and Folansbee seemed to begin to worty. The “angel” was wondering if it were possible somebody could beat him. But Lawrence and Lockwell continued to raise. Frank saw they were. pushing the thing for all there was in it. Merry knew what was going to happen, and he borrowed a hundred dollars of Folansbee. A+ttast Lawrence threw down his cards in apparent disgust, crying: “Tt’s no use! I’m a fool to try to deceive “Ts no use! I’m a fool trying to drive anybody with a full house!” “T'l] bet twenty-five dollars you can’t turn those cards and show a full house!” cried Merry quickly. Lawrence turned red, showed confusion, and then said: “Oh, well, I suppose I have a right to bluff!’ “What kind of a. bluff were you trying with a five-dollar limit and four in the pot, three others making good and raising every time? You are not a fool, Mr. Lawrence. Somebody was to get the benefit of your con- stant raises.” “What do you mean?” “T have said what I mean. do, Lockwell?” “T raise five dollars,” sharply. “T call,” said Frank, pushing up five, “So do I,” nodded Folansbee. “My, what a beautiful pot! One of us gets a haul.” “What have you, Lockwell?” asked Merry. “A straight flush—three, four, five, six and seven of hearts. I reckon that wins. But you must have something good.” “Four aces,” said Frank. “Four queens!” groaned Folansbee. ‘And the pot is mine,” said Lockwell. “No!” Frank Merriwell shot to his feet, catching the hand that started to rake the pot in. “No!” he thundered, his eyes flashing, his manner“accusing. ‘‘The pot is not yours! You cannot win a dollar of my money in such a crooked way!” Then Lawrence seemed ready to jump at Frank. « “Keep that fellow off, Mr. Folansbee,” advised Merry. “I will show you how you have been cheated! This is a robbers’ game!” “Curse you!” grated Lockwell, blue with passion. “Do you dare accuse me of x “Ves, you cheated! That hand is not the hand dealt you by your partner in crooked- ness, Leslie Lawrence! Look under the edge of the table, Mr. Folansbee, just in front of Lockwell’s chair, and you will find a table hold-out, which contains the cards dealt to this fellow. He has been picking up this straight flush a card at a time, and he re- served it for use on just this occasion. He changed the hand given him in the deal for this hand. That is the game. Look!” Frank swung Lockwell aside, and Folans- bee, although somewhat dazed, looked as di- rected: He found a hold-out attached to the table and containing five cards. Lawrence and Lockwell were exposed in their game. They were ready to do almost anything desperate, but somehow the look on Frank Merriwell’s face held them in check. “Go!” commanded Frank, pointing at the door. ‘The best thing you can do is get out. Go!” “When Mr. Folansbee says so,” said Law- rence, faintly. “I can explain all this “Go!” cried Folansbee, flourishing his arms. “Gof Get out of here! You scotn- drels! You have been cheating me! Get out!” What do you said Lockwell, If Clif Had Used a New Diseuise Something Else Might Have Happened. See No. 30 of True Blue. Gomileboo