gesture he chose a shell and Phillips felt a glow of satisfaction
at the realization that the man had once more guessed aright.
Drawing forth a wallet, the fellow laid it on the table.

"I'll bet the lump," he cried.

The dealer hesitated. "How much you got in that alligator valise?"

"Two hundred dollars."

"Two hundred berries on one bush!" The proprietor of the game was
incredulous. "Boys, he aims to leave me cleaner than a snow-bird."
Seizing the walnut-shell between his thumb and forefinger, he
turned it over, but instead of exposing the elusive pellet he
managed, by an almost imperceptible forward movement, to roll it
out from under its hiding-place and to conceal it between his
third and fourth fingers. The stranger was surprised, dumfounded,
at sight of the empty shell. He looked on open-mouthed while his
wallet was looted of its contents.

"Every now and then I win a little one," the gambler announced as
he politely returned the bill-case to its owner. He lifted another
shell, and by some sleight-of-hand managed to replace the pellet
upon the table, then gravely flipped a five-dollar gold piece to
one of his boosters.

Phillips's eyes were quick; from where he stood he had detected
the maneuver and it left him hot with indignation. He felt
impelled to tell the victim how he had been robbed, but thought
better of the impulse and assured himself that this was none of