“That seems to be the general inference,” he admitted; “but I assure you, gentlemen, that I get my aces from where they ought to come--the regular pack. Shall I be blamed if the dealer throws them to me, when he would, perhaps, prefer to throw me something else? It is just gambler’s luck.” “It makes you a heap of a winner,” was Gopher Gabe’s dry comment. “It’s a fact that the winnings seem to come my way with astonishing regularity. But what would you? Shall I refuse to win, when I can? I play for money, you know--not for my health. The other gentlemen are doing the same; so if they lose it’s their lookout.” “Cards and minin’ ain’t your only line, I take it?” said Gopher Gabe, with a wink. “Idt is vhat brought us up here--ower obinion that you had somet’ing else up your sleeve,” White-eyed Moses added. “Several times, and in various ways,” said the saloon keeper, “you have given us to understand that.” Uncle Sam winked back at Gopher Gabe. “It may be so,” he admitted. “You know what we are drifting at?” said White-eyed Moses. “Usually, I’m a good guesser, gentlemen!” “Then, gettin’ right down to business,” said Gopher Gabe, “wouldn’t you like to go in with us?” “Getting right down to brass tacks, as you say. I’d like to do that very thing, if my understanding of your meaning is straight.” “You ain’t playing this game of assayer hyer without a mighty good reason,” urged Gopher Gabe. “You’re right, I ain’t!” “The gold you get out of this dirt hyer you put into it before you get it out?” Uncle Sam winked again, twisting his face in a comical smile. Then he lifted one eyelid. “See anything green under there, gents?” he asked. “Ve knowed all along that it was bluff,” said White-eyed Moses. Uncle Sam winked again, at the fiddler. “How much you makin’ out of it?” asked the saloon keeper. “All I can.” “How many hauls do you make in a week?” “In the time I’ve been here I’ve made just five--if that’s what you mean.” Gopher Gabe and White-eyed Moses looked at each other. The Fool of Folly Mountain leaned back on his stool, smiling. “There have been just seven hold-ups round here in that time, that we know about. We can account for two of them; that is, we know who worked ’em. You done the rest?” “I guess we understand each other, Gabie. So I reckon you might as well get down to business.” “You would go in with us?” “Kind gentlemen, I would, and be delighted. I believe I could clear up more money, in with you.” “What kind of a hole have you got back there?” asked the saloon keeper, looking at the assay room. “That’s my bluff assay room; but there’s space behind it.” “A secret place?” “Hide a man in there, and you couldn’t find him in a hundred years. I knew that hole was there when I bought out the tenderfoot. He worked back here in secret, thinking gold was to be found in great hunks; I’ve been using it secretly, too, but for another reason.” “You’ve got your winnings back there?” “And my stealings--some of them.”