“I did better my hand,” confessed the man; “but I swear you have a queer method of playing poker! I don’t understand it.”
“My method suits me,” laughed Darleton, fingering his chips.
“It is a successful one, all right; but I never lay down two pairs after opening a jack pot, especially if the only player who stays in with me draws three cards.”
“You lose oftener than I do.”
“No question about that.”
“Then my judgment must be better than yours. Let it go at that.”
Frank had listened to all this, and he, likewise, was puzzled to understand why Darleton had decided not to risk a bet after the draw. It happened that Merry had stood where he could look into the other man’s hand. The man held up a pair of kings on the deal and drew another king when cards were given out. His three kings were better than Darleton’s two pairs; but Darleton knew he had the man beaten before the draw. How did he come to believe the man had him beaten after the draw?
Frank found an opportunity to look round for mirrors. There were none in the room.
Darleton was not working with an accomplice who could look into the other man’s hand. Merry was the only person able to see the man’s cards as he picked them up.
“I don’t believe he’ll suspect me of being Darleton’s accomplice,” thought Frank.