Сестра Керри

Chapter XXXVI. A Grim Retrogression: The Phantom Of Chance

           Itwasachangetoseethemandexchangeafewfriendlycommonplaces.

           Hehadoncebeenaccustomedtoholdaprettyfairhandatpoker.Manyafriendlygamehadnettedhimahundreddollarsormoreatthetimewhenthatsumwasmerelysaucetothedishofthegame—nottheallinall.Now,hethoughtofplaying.

           “Imightwinacoupleofhundred.I’mnotoutofpractice.”

           Itisbutfairtosaythatthisthoughthadoccurredtohimseveraltimesbeforeheacteduponit.ThepokerroomwhichhefirstinvadedwasoverasalooninWestStreet,nearoneoftheferries.Hehadbeentherebefore.Severalgamesweregoing.Thesehewatchedforatimeandnoticedthatthepotswerequitelargefortheanteinvolved.

           “Dealmeahand,”hesaidatthebeginningofanewshuffle.Hepulledupachairandstudiedhiscards.Thoseplayingmadethatquietstudyofhimwhichissounapparent,andyetinvariablysosearching.

           Poorfortunewaswithhimatfirst.Hereceivedamixedcollectionwithoutprogressionorpairs.Thepotwasopened.

           “Ipass,”hesaid.

           Onthestrengthofthis,hewascontenttolosehisante.Thedealsdidfairlybyhiminthelongrun,causinghimtocomeawaywithafewdollarstothegood.

           Thenextafternoonhewasbackagain,seekingamusementandprofit.Thistimehefollowedupthreeofakindtohisdoom.Therewasabetterhandacrossthetable,heldbyapugnaciousIrishyouth,whowasapoliticalhanger-onoftheTammanydistrictinwhichtheywerelocated.Hurstwoodwassurprisedatthepersistenceofthisindividual,whosebetscamewithasang-froidwhich,ifabluff,wasexcellentart.

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