The warden at the state penitentiary was a great adherent to modern ideas of correctional reform. He had instituted a number of programs which showed great promise, including having some of the inmates train service dogs, encouraging the arts by sponsoring several drama clubs, and setting up trade schools within the cell blocks to teach marketable skills to his charges.

One day while perusing the latest issue of Modern Incarceration he came across a fascinating article. A prison in South Dakota had a great success with a billiards tournament they ran every year. The prisoners could hone their skills in patience while learning practical geometry and the benefits of fair play. He decided to try the same thing at his prison.

Quite a number of inmates were interested. Many of them grew up around pool halls and were very good at the game. Signup for the tournament opened and a half dozen pool tables were ordered to be set up in the recreation area. The inmates all chose favorites and began making wagers on who would win the contest. There were two favorites: Rufus Kohl, a bunco artist and a bank robber named Joachim Fernandez. Both were very skilled players and handily defeated all of their opponents. As each progressed he found a particular pool stick that fit them perfectly and they made a point of using it every game. 

At last the championship round was at hand. Speculation on the outcome sparked a renewed frenzy of wagering by the prison populace. Each of the competitors spent the night before the match differently: Fernandez paced his cell, thinking of the best strategy to use to rattle the cool and collected Kohl. Kohl slept like a baby, his years of scamming people haven given him nerves of steel. 

The next day dawned and the two competitors entered the rec room and approached the table. Fernandez picked up his favorite stick, but when Kohl looked for his it was nowhere to be found! In fact, the only one in the rack was a short, twisted cue that no one had wanted to use. There was quite an uproar as the Kohl supporters accused the Fernandez fans of unsportsmanlike conduct and tampering with the outcome of the match. The warden was in a panic; if he didn't have a solution to this soon there could be a full-scale riot! He was there with the chief of security and the prison physician and relayed his fears.

"Wait! I think I have an idea!" the doctor exclaimed and rushed out of the building. In a few minutes he returned carrying an ebony case. He opened it and there was an beautiful pool stick, inlaid with ivory on the handle and quite expensive by its obvious quality. The doctor removed it and proceeded to screw the two pieces together.

"Where did you get that?" the warden inquired.

"All this talk about billiards got me interested in it myself so I bought this stick and have been playing with it in town pretty regularly. I don't mind if Kohl borrows it for the match today since there has been an attempt to throw the match."

The warden agreed and he and the doctor approached Kohl. His eyes lit up when he saw what they were bearing. They explained the situation to both players. Fernandez couldn't think of any reason to object since he had chosen his cue already, so the game began.

The match proceeded in a most exciting fashion. First one then the other took the lead, leaving his opponents with nearly-impossible positions, but each played spectacularly. When all was done, Kohl emerged the victor to the universal acclaim of the inmates. All bets were settled amicably and the inmates returned to their cells for the night.

On the way out to their cars the doctor congratulated the warden on his successful tournament and the way that the men in his charge behaved. It was apparent the program was working better than anyone had hoped.

The warden, however, lavished praise on the doctor. "Your quick thinking saved the day," he said. "I can't thank you enough for all you did to prevent a disaster!"

The doctor shook his head. "No, no. I don't need your thanks. After all, it's not every doctor who gets tell everyone he's found a cue for the con-man Kohl."