and, what was most annoying, almost always he was beaten by

three Jacks, which topped Piper's three tens, and pulling in the chips. "These

ared Sleuth. "Give me another

of chips and received Billy's money, whi

he smiled. "You're a good loser. I realize t

ily, "should take his lo

hat?" snapped Shultz.

o disclaim, aware that the fellow's bad f

gamester, "you'd better cut it out. I d

d; "don't be so raw. I've seen you l

'm blowing too much geldt, anyhow. That's the worst of having a close-fisted father. If I were in y

ck runs that way occasionally, but it usually turns in time. Y

ation to force his luck, and doubtless he was waiting for his turn to come. Springer was also slightly behind, while Coop

was nothing underhanded about it. Moreover, he was falling beneath the subtle spell of the young fellow's influence, which had been so strangely felt by others. Surely Ned was a whole-souled, genial chap that an

picking up his hand, was surprised and delighted to find it contained two pa

Shultz. "What are you going to do?

d Sleuth, "and I think-

xclaimed Springer. "Sleuth is plunging! W

ltz, tossing several chips into the middl

out," announced Hooker, "I'll g

e measly ante," he remarked. "I've got a small pair, but

his cards face downward before him, "this begi

ws think you're doing before the draw?" he inquired, wi

ise, eh?" que

'm sat

is ruinous, but I suppose I'm partly to blame. I'll st

was nervously fingering his chips. "It's my turn. You boos

, and so before betting he procured another do

-I'm glad I staid out. It cost m

e more than that. There's a pair of Indians sitting over at the other side of the table. Well, fel

pped his two pairs. "I'm out," he said. "This sort o

ite steady. "If it's a game of dud-dud-drive out," he said, "I'm g

ord, Shultz pushed

again, Charley

the answer; "I pu

chuckled still more gleefully over his clevernes

er giving Hooker a slantwise glance, pushed out a

picking up the pack.

e one," s

, glancing over Phil's shoul

ought Sleuth. "What can t

u want, Shultz?

ese," was the

said Roy, a touch of excitement creepi

ne chance, didn't I! You've got all of my

he breathed. "I cuc-can't drop; I'v

me betting that caused S

u're a pup-pup-pair of robbers! Guess I'

a long, hard look. "I wonder if you

ut presently,"

ut I'm going to call, and her

for all to see. "My cards are better." He reached out

cards fiercely down upon the table. "I thought my flush w

hat? I hope you don't insinuate that there wa

d, but some

s going to play crooked. You haven't any right to think such a thi

if you guar

," said Hooker, his voice ha

Charley has had rotten luck, and he didn't really realize what he was saying. C

z, with apparent reluctance. "I wa

hat little pot sort of put me on my feet,

d somewhat, and the game was res

s generous in his willingness to overlook Shultz's innuendo. He beli

e betting. Eventually, however, four "fighting hands" were dealt, and Piper and Springer sat back to watch the othe

erious struggle, none of the players

l the cards were drawn

er, although Shultz and Hoo

ast, "and, as you're running wild, I'm

e some money, Ne

answer. "How m

o dollars' worth of c

u?" said Hooker. "You must thi

talk," s

talk, too,"

de seve

hand," muttered Hooke

. "You can bet all night if you wish, and I

have y

tz triumphantly, as he lay his

hat beats. I thought I had a pretty

r, his eyes bulging. "Just wait a m

m, Shultz savagely ask

iterated Sleuth. "Why, I-I'm sure I held

rled Shultz. "There are on

and, turning part of them face upwa