روز چهارم

THE DOUBLE CROSS

Many incidents that took place aboard his ship are re-told by Twain.

One has to do with a wealthy cattle man who was approached by three gamblers. The cattle farmer had let it be known that he had a great deal of money, and the gamblers were trying to wheedle him into a card game. He protested that he knew nothing about cards.

His rustic appearance confirmed that fact. On the last night before landing the three gamblers got him drunk.

When the first hand was dealt, a jubilant expression came over his face.

The betting became furious. All of the proper decorum was put aside, and ten thousand dollars soon lay on the table.

With the last wager one of the gamblers showed a hand of four kings.

His partner was to have dealt the sucker a hand of four queens. At this point the victim, the charlatan, removed the veneer of respectability, and showed a hand of four aces! One of the three professional gamblers was a clandestine confederate of the “rich cattle farmer.”

They had been planning this duplicity for many weeks.

s.