Gordon Young

“ When I think of all the good courage that people waste in killing themselves, I come near to losing the laboriously acquired poise and calmness I have solicitously developed for nearly twenty years; and when I hear young, healthy men talking about “life being ruined” because something interferes with the paternal pocketbook, I do lose it; but when I hear of a man or woman rubbing their bellies on the ground before a blackmailer, I get angry and show it. ”

“ I made further remarks about people who tried to play in a man-sized game with only chicken-feed in their pockets.
Findley asked Watson to loan him money, and showed his hand on the side. Watson refused, but signalled me for heaven's sake to get out while I could, because I couldn't win.
I wasn't in the mood to get out of the pot. Watson thought I was playing a square game. I don't let every Tom, Dick and Harry know that I can manipulate the cards.
Findley showed the hand to Jones, and he started to loan the money, but a nudge from Watson changed his mind. ”

“ Nor did I play poker for my health. I wasn't hoggish about winning, and didn't attract attention to my consistent luck, but with the minimum of effort, and some enjoyment, I managed to have an income somewhat above the demands I made on it.
It wasn't every night or every week that I marked or held out cards. I knew and could practise about every trick that was ever devised to make the other fellow lose at poker; and many of them were what is called ethical. ”

“ The fact that extremely high stakes were the rule at the Bristol, it being a more pretentious joint than Johnny's, made him think as I did; that is, that it would help some in getting Findley into the game.
In the afternoon Norcross took me to meet Miss Rankine. She lived with an older, married sister; and they were obviously refined, comfortably wealthy, attractive people.
With my first glance at her I understood why the boy wanted to marry her though she did have a husband, and whether or not she got a divorce. I sympathized with him, too. ”

“ In poker, as in law, there are certain rules laid down by which you can cheat the other fellow. Some men use their face as a mirror and reflect into it the quality of the hands they hold.
The young aristocrat was not one of these. He was inscrutable as an oriental. He played his cards well but desperately. I went after him. I liked him, but I was determined to break him. I knew from the way he was playing that there was something back of the game, and I was interested.
Some people go to the movies for their excitement and amusement. ”

“ Before I left, I had Norcross repeat just what he had told Findley that morning about expecting to raise money to buy the certificate. Evidently Findley had believed him.
Crooks have an idea that there is absolutely no bottom to the purse of a millionaire, or a millionaire's son. With Findley expecting to receive a large sum, an enormously large sum of money in cold cash, within the next twenty-four hours, I calculated that he would be a little more reckless than usual in the four-handed game Watson was arranging for that evening. ”

“ My idea was to break Findley. I was willing to lose moderately if Findley would lose heavily. This would have been practically impossible if Watson had not stood in with me. I don't believe the man ever lived who could hold his own against three clever, crooked gamblers; but there have been many men who, with a capable and secret partner, can beat two other fellows.
I didn't play my game entirely with cards. As a usual thing I don't talk much while playing. But this time I showed a mean, insolent streak, and inside of ten minutes I had Findley's “goat;” ”

“ It was a stiff game, a big game even for Johnny's where the stakes were always high. ` I have seen honest men win up into four figures between sunset and dawn, and sometimes they did it in spite of all I could do. Even a gambler who uses art instead of science can't dictate to luck: he can only increase his percentage, or chance of winning. ”

“ Jones and Watson were house men. That is, they were men employed by the Bristol to sit in games and make sure that nobody got away with too much money. They could be crooked when necessary, and often thought it was. Findley was playing for himself, but counted on a kind of friendship with Jones and Watson which would permit him to cheat as much as he pleased providing I was the only one who lost by it—and he didn't get caught. ”

“ He was young enough to look askance at my glass of ginger ale, preferring a little neat brandy himself, tossing it down as men in trouble do when most in need of a cold, instead of a hot brain.
It made me impatient to hear him talking about his “life being ruined” if his parents found out the girl had a secret past, and that if her blackmailer wasn't bought off he might as well kill the fellow and then shoot himself. ”

“ You tell him—Findley—that you have explained the situation to a friend, and he is trying to help you out. But that Findley will have to part with the certificate. Sell out for a lump sum.”
“You wouldn't trust me——”
“No. Not even if I had that much money. But the fact that he keeps it stowed in the safe of William Bristol's palatial gambling joint has given me an inspiration. Poker players and diplomats have to use their heads. Most people simply use a checking account. You say this house man that tipped you off that Johnny Blix's was a square joint took a liking to you?” ”

“ It is not exactly natural in me to be suspicious, but I. have cultivated suspicion until it has become instinctive. I had no reason for not thinking the girl was all right, but it was just as well to make sure.
I told Norcross that if he could arrange for me to meet her I would try to get the certificate away from Findley.
”I'll pay you anything—anything—if you give me time.” He grasped at my offer of assistance as a falling man grasps at a spider's web.
“We'll discuss my fee after I see Miss Rankine.” ”

“ Earnest Norcross fumbling with his empty glass and gone back to Johnny Blix's except that I thought there must be a deeper streak of honor in him than was readily perceptible if he was willing himself to trust and marry a girl who evidently had made some kind of a desperate mistake that his family and friends wouldn't overlook. All interesting women have made mistakes ”

“ There was no question of her being dishonest—even if she was going to marry again without that divorce. A lot of crooked people go through life scrupulously keeping technically honest; and a lot of honest people have the misfortune to be technically at counter with the law. ”

“ A blackmailer can't last any longer without people are afraid of him than a banker can if people are afraid of him. The best way to deal with a blackmailer is to tell him to go to the devil or to the newspapers with his incriminating letters. ”

“ A more beautiful woman I have seldom seen. There are many who have perfect features, charming gowns, an abundance of wonderful hair, a graceful body, just as she had; but there are few so young as she who have had their emotions so strongly stirred ”

“ It's better to be wounded than to run away. If a community won't respect you, or a girl won't love you, or an employer won't have you because of some mistake in other years, well, there are other communities, other girls and other employers. ”

“ Watson and Mr. Jones had been delegated to trim me; and when Findley had been permitted to overhear the plan, he had insisted upon being allowed to sit in the game. He never overlooked a chance to pick up easy money. ”

“ Then by the contrast of the ugly expression, I became aware that he was handsome, and unsophisticated. Some boys have hard faces at ten, and wear a perpetual sneer, and have seen and know things that make the sneer fitting. ”

“ As for the fee—we'll discuss that later—after the 'success.' I believe Miss Rankine has covered the tracks about as well as is possible. But if we get the certificate, I suggest that you send rapidly as you can some wise legal friend out to Colorado to go over the ground again and make sure. Also he might investigate Findley's record thoroughly. Perhaps we can turn the tables and blackmail him into leaving the country. ”