"Well, don't you think Small ought to be warned?" Archie laughed. "Warned about what?" "Don't be more of an ass than usual, Archie. The Colonel has got him out there, telling him about Chicago. You know what that means, and a fellow that bets as recklessly as Small does----" "I can't do anything," said Archie. "Small is of age." "But you wouldn't let him go up against a cinch?" "Small has been up against cinches all his life. That's how he made his money." "That's how he'll lose it, too. I'll put a flea in his ear if you don't." "Bill," said Archie, "I've made it a rule never to open my mouth in any gambling game unless my money was on the table. Understand? Then, whatever happens, there's no come-back at me. Think it over." "But the man is your guest!" "Exactly. He's my guest. If you see fit to warn him----" Archie shrugged his shoulders. Well, what could I say after that? I took my shower bath and dressed. Then I went into the lounging room. Small was, if anything, a trifle noisier than ever. "Any game that I can bet on is the game for me," said he, "but I hate a piker. Don't you hate a piker, Colonel?" "A man," said Colonel Jimmy, "should never bet more than he can afford to lose--cheerfully." "Cheerfully. That's the ticket! You're a sport, Colonel. I can see it in your eye. You don't holler when you lose. Now, Colonel, what would you consider a good stiff bet, eh? How high would you go? This kindergarten business wouldn't appeal to either one of us, would it? You wait till I go around this course a few times and I'll make you a _real_ bet--one that will be worth playing for, eh? What's the most you ever played for, Colonel?" It was like casting pearls before swine and he wasn't my guest, but I did what I could for him. "Mr. Small," said I, "if you're going in to town there's room in my car for you." "Thanks. I'm stopping here at the club. Archie fixed me up with a room. The Colonel is going to stay and have dinner with me, ain't you, Colonel? Surest thing you know! He's met a lot of friends of mine out West. Small world, ain't it? Going, eh? Well, behave yourself!... Now then, Colonel, gimme a few more days of this cow-pasture pool and I'll show you what a real bet looks like!" I left the wolf and the lamb together, and I don't mind admitting that I liked one as well as the other. Business took me out of town for ten days, and when I returned home I was told that Archie had been telephoning me all the morning. I rang him at his office. "Oh, hello, Bill! You're back just in time for the big show.... Eh? Oh, Colonel Jimmy is due for another attack of lumbago this afternoon.... Small telephoned me last night that he was complaining a little.... The goat? Why, Small, of course! The chinless boy is playing alone these days; better pickings elsewhere.... Yes, you oughtn't to miss it. See you later. 'Bye." IV