Captain Clancy and Mr. Simmons walked about the larger room for a while, gazing upon the players as they won or lost in the vicissitudes and fortunes of the games. The men in the room viewed Mr. Simmons with ill-concealed hilarity. His carpet bag seemed to create a vast deal of merriment, and every man in the room, while betraying much amusement, still gazed upon him with longing and hungry eyes, as upon some choice tit-bit upon which they fain would feast. One fat man with a dyed mustache nudged Captain Clancy in the side and said: "Gad! Jimmy, can't you let me in on it?" The captain frowned and the fat man moved away with a sigh. Mr. Simmons was interested almost to excitement. Presently he said: "Say, I don't know how it will strike you, cap'n, but I guess I must have some sportin' blood in me. Now, I don't gamble, but I'm the darnedest checker player in Southwest Texas. Let's go in that other room, and I'll play you some checkers and the man what loses buys a glass of beer for both of us." "Now, Mr. Simmons," said the captain, raising a warning finger and smiling. "Remember our mutual protection society. I don't like this place at all. We had better be out of it. However, I used to be the crack checker and croquet player in our Young Men's Christian Association--just a game or two, now." They played a game or two, and then they played half a dozen more. The captain won every game. Mr. Simmons was much vexed. He grew very red in the face as his reputation as a checker player began to vanish. "Confound it," he said, "I'm out 70 cents. Gimmie a chance to get even. I'd give it to you if I was ahead." "Why, certainly," said the captain, "but checkers is rather tiresome. Some other way suit you? Let's have in a deck of cards and play a few hands until you get even." "Any way," said Mr. Simmons. His hat was on the back of his head; his light-blue eyes were blinking and somewhat unsteady. His red and green spotted tie was almost under one ear. He sat with the black carpet bag in his lap, and his checked trousers had drawn half way up to his knees. "What, oh, what," said the captain softly, to himself, "have I done to deserve this manna descending to me in the wilderness; this good thing dropping into my hands as if it were greased; this great big soft snap coming my way without a ripple. It's too good to be true." The captain struck a little bell and a waiter brought a deck of cards. "Let's call it poker," said the captain. Mr. Simmons rose to his feet. "That's a gambling game," he said severely. "I ain't no gambler." "Neither am I, Mr. Simmons," said the captain with a sudden dignity and a trifle of a frown. "A game of poker for insignificant stakes between gentlemen is entirely allowable in the circles in which I have moved, and any institution--" "Oh, dang it all," said Mr. Simmons, "I didn't mean anything. I've played some on the ranch with the boys of nights for grains of corn. Deal 'em out." * * * * *