“Anybody else in?” Old Bill inquired, dropping the coin on the table; and all of the others again “came in.” Old Bill won again; but once more Charlie Loomis prevented him from putting the silver dollar in his pocket. “Come on now!” Mr. Loomis exclaimed. “Anybody else but me in on this for five dollars next time?” “I am,” said Collinson, swallowing with a dry throat; and he set forth all that remained to him of his twelve dollars. In return he received a pair of deuces, and the jubilant Charlie won. He was vainglorious in his triumph. “Didn’t that little luck piece just keep on tryin’ to find the right man?” he cried, and read the inscription loudly. “‘Luck hurry back to me!’ Righto! You’re home where you belong, girlie! Now we’ll settle down to our reg’lar little game again.” “Oh, no,” said Old Bill. “You wouldn’t let me keep it. Put it out there and play for it again.” “I won’t. She’s mine now.” “I want my luck piece back myself,” said Smithie. “Put it out and play for it. You made Old Bill.” “I won’t do it.” “Yes, you will,” Collinson said, and he spoke without geniality. “You put it out there.” “Oh, yes, I will,” Mr. Loomis returned mockingly. “I will for ten dollars.” “Not I,” said Old Bill. “Five is foolish enough.” And Smithie agreed with him. “Nor me!” “All right, then. If you’re afraid of ten, I keep it. I thought the ten’d scare you.” “Put that dollar on the table,” Collinson said. “I’ll put ten against it.” There was a little commotion among these mild gamesters; and someone said: “You’re crazy, Collie. What do you want to do that for?” “I don’t care,” said Collinson. “That dollar’s already cost me enough, and I’m going after it.” “Well, you see, I want it, too,” Charlie Loomis retorted cheerfully; and he appealed to the others. “I’m not askin’ him to put up ten against it, am I?” “Maybe not,” Old Bill assented. “But how long is this thing goin’ to keep on? It’s already balled our game all up, and if we keep on foolin’ with these side bets, why, what’s the use?” “My goodness!” the host exclaimed. “_I’m_ not pushin’ this thing, am I? _I_ don’t want to risk my good old luck piece, do I? It’s Collie that’s crazy to go on, ain’t it?” He laughed. “He hasn’t showed his money yet, though, I notice, and this old shack is run on strickly cash principles. I don’t believe he’s got ten dollars more on him!” “Oh, yes, I have.” “Let’s see it then.” Collinson’s nostrils distended a little, but he said nothing, fumbled in his pocket, and then tossed the one hundred dollar bill, rather crumpled, upon the table. “Great heavens!” shouted Old Bill. “Call the doctor: I’m all of a swoon!” “Look at what’s spilled over our nice clean table!” another said, in an awed voice. “Did you claim he didn’t have _ten_ on him, Charlie?”