An exclamation broke from the interested group. Tim Nolan, who was the nearest, leaned forward and turned over the three on the board. They were the eight of diamonds and two tens of spades.
“That's how the thing is worked nine times out of ten,” announced Newmark. “Once in a while you'll run against a straight game, but not often.”
“But you showed us the jack every time before you throwed them!” puzzled Johnny Simms.
“Sleight of hand,” explained Newmark. “The simplest kind of palming.”
“Well, Charlie,” said big Tim, “looks to me as if you had just about as much chance as a snowball in hell.”
“Where'd you get onto doing all that, Newmark?” inquired North. “You ain't a tin horn yourself?”
Newmark laughed briefly. “Not I,” said he. “I learned a lot of those tricks from a travelling magician in college.”
During this demonstration Orde had sat well in the background, his chin propped on his hand, watching intently all that was going on. After the comment and exclamations following the exposure of the method had subsided, he spoke.
“Boys,” said he, “how game are you to get Charlie's money back—and then some?”
“Try us,” returned big Tim.