“By ginger!” he said, “you are a dandy; you can play this game right up, but don’t be too anxious or you will scare those fellows off; just take it easy, let them lead you on.”

“Oh, I know how to work; don’t you forget I am a Yorker.”

“Yes, I see you Yorkers are smart fellows.  You know a heap, I can see that; but I did learn you some?”

“Yes, and when we get through here, I’ll teach you a trick.”

The sharp shot a keen glance at Desmond, and the lad saw that he had been a little premature, but it was only a fuse that flashed, and the sharp said, speaking in a very low tone: 

“I’ll go in the next car, but I’ll be on hand at the right moment.  I want to enjoy the laugh when you catch these fellows.  You are sure you are on to the trick?”

“I am.”

“You must keep your eyes well open.”

“You bet I will.”

The sharp left the car, and after a moment one of the confederates came over and took a seat alongside of Desmond, and in a jolly, familiar tone, he said: 

“You bucked the senator’s son down, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes.”

“It takes a good man to buck him down; He’s got lots of stuff and sand too, but you bucked him.”

“Yes, I did.”

“We’re having a little game here to pass the time—­it’s awful dreary these long rides.  You see, we are salesmen and we’ve had some of these fellows out here trying to rope us in, and we are trying to learn the game.”

“Don’t you know the game?”

“No; do you?”

“Well, I know a little about it.”

“Come along and show us what you know.”

The party got together; Desmond appeared hale-fellow-well-met with the rogues, and the game was played amid a great deal of laughter, until one of the party said: 

“By Jove! boys, I am on to this thing.”

“You are?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You daren’t bet for fair.”

“Yes, I dare.”

“Oh, come off.”

“I’ll bet for fair; I’ll give every one of you a chance.”

“You will?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Come off.”

“I am in earnest; who’ll go first and bet me?”

“I will,” said one man.

“All right.”

The cards were thrown and a bet made, and the dealer was beat and lost apparently a ten-dollar bill.

“All right; I was beat that time.  Who’ll take a second hack at it?  I’ve got it all right, and I’ll catch some of you fellows.”

“Will you?”

“I will, by thunder.”

The trick was being played in the most bungling manner, simply because when properly played the exposure would have shown the game.  The second man bet and won, and the dealer said: 

“I give it up, let’s play a little game we know something about.”

“What will it be?”

“I’ll deal you fellows a little faro; we might as well pass the time that way as any other.”