“No, it isn’t all,” said Dale. “How the dickens do you happen to know so much about this business?”
“I won’t keep you guessing any longer,” said Chet, and he told Sparkfair how it was he happened to know so much.
“But how did you get the money from him? How did you force him to give it up?”
“That was easy,” chuckled Chester. “Hanksy thinks himself clever at poker, but he has lots of tricks to learn. I’ve played the game from Fardale to Mexico. I’ve been up against all kinds of crooks, and I’ve learned some tricks never dreamed of by Hanksy. It didn’t hurt my conscience a bit to work some of those tricks on him this evening. I inveigled him into a little three-cornered game, Fred Harmford serving as the dummy most of the time. Most of the fighting was between Hanks and myself. Harmford broke about even. I had luck at the very start, for the first deal gave me a top hand over a full house by Hanks. This enabled me hastily to relieve him of about half the money you had handed over to him a short time before. That made him ugly.
“He was bound to get at me somehow, but he overstepped himself by stealing the six spot of spades from the discards. The stolen card gave him a straight flush against four eights held by me. But you see, Steele and Randall had dropped in on us, and I was able to prove that Hanks stole the card. That was his finish. He had bet his last red cent, and a few moments ago he was quietly escorted outside by Steele. He didn’t make any fuss about it, for he was afraid to do so. He’s gone, Sparkfair. You have the hush money he squeezed out of you, and you needn’t worry about being bothered by him again to-night. There’s June still waiting for you, and the orchestra is starting another waltz. So long, old chap. Enjoy yourself.”
Refusing to hear any words of thanks, Arlington turned away, and Dale hastened back to June.
In spite of herself, June could not help wondering what had become of Dick. After dancing again with Dale, she listened to his suggestion that they should stroll out onto the veranda. There were other couples outside, and, having paused near a corner, June’s keen ears detected the sound of a faint familiar voice. Dick was near at hand, speaking earnestly with a girl.