The gambler smiled grimly and shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, pshaw, sir. These are small stakes. You'll never get rich at that rate and neither shall I." "I reckon I can set my own limit," Jim grumbled. "Yes, sir. But let's have action. Who'll join this gentleman in his guess? Who'll back his luck? He's a winner, I admit that." The gray eyes dwelt upon face and face of our half circle; and still I, too, hesitated, although my dollar was burning a hole in my pocket. My Lady whispered to me. "All's fair in love and war. Here--put this on, with yours, for me." She slipped a dollar of her own into my hand. Another man stepped forward. He was, I judged, a teamster. His clothes, of flannel shirt, belted trousers and six-shooter and dusty boots, so indicated. And his beard was shaggy and unkempt, almost covering his face underneath his drooping slouch hat. "I'll stake you a dollar," he said. "Two from me," I heard myself saying, and I saw my hand depositing them. "You're all on this gentleman's card, remember?" We nodded. The bearded man tipped me a wink. "You, sir, then, turn the queen if you can," the gambler challenged of Jim. With quick movement Jim flopped the bent-corner card, and the queen herself seemed to wink jovially at us. The gambler exclaimed. "By God, gentlemen, but you've skinned me again. I'm clumsy to-night. I'd better quit." And he scarcely varied his level tone despite the chuckles of the crowd. "You must let me try once more. But I warn you, I want action. I'm willing to meet any sum you stack up against me, if it's large enough to spell action. Shall we go another round or two before I close up?" He gathered the three cards. "You see the queen--my unlucky queen of hearts. Here she is." He stowed the card between thumb and finger. "Here are the other two." He held them up in his left hand--the eight of clubs, the eight of spades. He transferred them--with his rapid motion he strewed the three. "Choose the queen. I put the game to you fair and square. There are the cards. Maybe you can read their backs. That's your privilege." He fixed his eyes upon the teamster. "You, sir; where's your money, half of which was mine?" He glanced at Jim. "And you, sir? You'll follow your luck?" Lastly he surveyed me with a flash of steely bravado. "And you, young gentleman. You came in before. I dare you." The bent corner was more pronounced than ever, as if aggravated by the manipulations. It could not possibly be mistaken by the knowing. And a sudden shame possessed me--a glut of this crafty advantage to which I was stooping; an advantage gained not through my own wit, either, but through the dishonorable trick of another. "There's your half from me, if you want it," said Jim, slapping down two dollars. "This is my night to howl." The teamster backed him. "I'm on the same card," said he.