"You must a' picked up what I throwed away," said Dailey. "Havin' felt yore pulses I'm buildin' a house right out there in th' middle, where you all can see it, an' get covetous." "Th' coyote that wins this pot," said Slim, "will shore have to get Ol' Buffalo an' his freight waggin' to haul----" A roar of laughter burst from Johnny and he pushed back from the table, lying back in his chair so his lungs could have plenty of room. Dailey put his hand over the pile of chips he had just shoved in, Slim jumped and stared at the roaring puncher, the others manifesting their astonishment each according to his own manner. There was a resounding _whack!_ from the bar and Dave, holding the top of his head with both hands, moaned as he looked wildly about, and then, glaring at the convulsed puncher, he made several pointed, pertinent, profane, and personal remarks and slowly went down again to finish his task. Slim scratched his head. "Well," he drawled, "I allus knowed I was bright an' witty, but I never knowed that I was _that_ good. I likes a man that pays me a compliment like that." "Th' loud an' screechin' roarin' of th' wild jackass is heard nightly over th' land," observed Sage. "It has scared me plumb cold--I'm layin' down as fine a pair of four-spots as I've ever held. I ain't got th' nerve to give 'em the backin' they deserves. Will somebody lend me their gun?" "I cussed near shot," said Wilkes. "What's that?" demanded Dailey. "Don't you do nothin' like that! He's a part of my profits. Now, if somebody will stuff a hat in that cave, I'll proceed from where I left off. I've raised her till she sags in th' middle--who's got any props?" "I allus play poker by th' weather," said Thompson. "When it's dry an' hot, I calls, an' when it's hot an' dry, I raises. Bein' dry an' hot, I hereby calls. Dave, bring me a box to put it in." "Don't you bother Dave," chuckled Dailey. "He's puttin' hoss liniment on his bald spot--from ear to ear, an' eyes to spine. I can tote this home in a couple of trips." Johnny, weak and tearful, drew up to the table. "I was just a-thinkin'," he said. "Where are we now?" "Was you?" queried Fanning. "Then don't you never do no thinkin' nights after I've gone to bed." Dave emerged again, grinning. "Beats all," he muttered, "how our sins foller us around. Pore Squint; I reckon his mem'ry's with us. I won't rest till I knows what was done with him." In the middle of the next game Johnny broke out again and Dave reached for the mallet. "I ain't what you'd call superstitious," said Dailey, "but I lost that last pot to a man who didn't even know where he was. Every time I hears a jackass warble I has bad luck. I'm obeyin' th' warnin' an' gettin' out of this game while I have th' holes left in my belt. What's more, I'm goin' home; I know when it's time to let go." "Pore Dailey," moaned Fanning, "we all got a little of it tonight--an' I'm sleepin' with a gun under my piller, you bet!"