Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Man with the Watches
"’Gentlemen,’saidI,’areyouawarewhomyouareplayingwith?’
"’What’sthattoyou?Youmindyourownbusiness!’saidhe,withanoath.
"’Whoisit,anyway?’askedoneofthedudes.
"’He’sSparrowMacCoy,themostnotoriouscard-sharperintheStates.’
"Uphejumpedwithabottleinhishand,butherememberedthathewasundertheflagoftheeffeteOldCountry,wherelawandorderrun,andTammanyhasnopull.Gaolandthegallowswaitforviolenceandmurder,andthere’snoslippingoutbythebackdooronboardanoceanliner.
"’Proveyourwords,you——!’saidhe.
"’Iwill!’saidI.’Ifyouwillturnupyourrightshirt-sleevetotheshoulder,IwilleitherprovemywordsorIwilleatthem.’
"Heturnedwhiteandsaidnotaword.Yousee,Iknewsomethingofhisways,andIwasawareofthatpartofthemechanismwhichheandallsuchsharpersuseconsistsofanelasticdownthearmwithaclipjustabovethewrist.Itisbymeansofthisclipthattheywithdrawfromtheirhandsthecardswhichtheydonotwant,whiletheysubstituteothercardsfromanotherhidingplace.Ireckonedonitbeingthere,anditwas.Hecursedme,slunkoutofthesaloon,andwashardlyseenagainduringthevoyage.Foronce,atanyrate,IgotlevelwithMisterSparrowMacCoy.
"Buthesoonhadhisrevengeuponme,forwhenitcametoinfluencingmybrotherheoutweighedmeeverytime.EdwardhadkepthimselfstraightinLondonforthefirstfewweeks,andhaddonesomebusinesswithhisAmericanwatches,untilthisvillaincameacrosshispathoncemore.
