And the fourth was a short, but very thick man, usually known as Stumpy, because of his figure. His hair was of a vivid and gorgeous red colour, and he had no quarrel on the ground of nationality with either Gallagher or Long Mike. The game was not a big one. People seldom played for very large stakes in Brownsville, except on occasions when strangers came to town, when sometimes there would be real gambling, for Long Mike had sporting proclivities, as well as means, and the one-eyed man had never been known to decline any sort of proposition involving a game of chance. This afternoon they were playing a dime limit, but with as much spirit as if the game was for blood, and they had just called on Sam, the bartender, for a new deck of cards. “I’ll have time to take in about three more pots,” said Long Mike, “afore the boat lands, so I’ll make ’em as large as I can,” and he opened the jack-pot for the limit. “Well, ye may take three pots,” said Stumpy, who came next, “but I’m thinkin’ ye’ll not take this wan. Av ye do, ye’ll get more than that.” And he boosted it the limit. The one-eyed man said nothing--he never wasted words--but he put up thirty cents. “Here’s where I get a chanst o’ pickin’ up money,” said Gallagher, who was dealing. And he put up forty cents. “Once more,” said Long Mike. And he raised again. “As often as ye like,” said Stumpy, and his forty cents went in promptly. The one-eyed man also raised it, and Gallagher fairly whooped with joy at the opportunity he had to make it ten more to play. “I reckon it’s no good givin’ yez b’yes good advice,” said Long Mike as it came his turn again. “The best thing I can do for yez’ll be to take your money. Yez may learn that way, when to lay down.” And once more he raised it the limit. “It’s all right y’ are,” said Stumpy. “Sure it’s downright dishonest to be lettin’ thim play furder. Let’s kape thim out.” And he raised again. But the others wouldn’t be kept out. The one-eyed man raised, and Gallagher, getting his turn again, said: “I’ll give yez all warnin’. I’ll raise this pot ivery toime it cooms to me. Kape on now. Ruin yersel’s av ye loike.” And his money went in with a bang. Long Mike looked puzzled. “Sure yez ahl must have straights or flushes or such trash, an’ guns wudn’t kape yez out. Wudn’t it be best to take off the limit? We’re losin’ time this way and th’ boat’ll be in soon. What d’ yez say?” “That’d suit me fine,” said Stumpy. “I have yez all bated a mile, an’ the sooner I get th’ money the betther for me.” “Take it off,” said the one-eyed man, and Gallagher, who had been growing more and more excited, declared that his pile would go on his hand in one bet. “Well,” said Long Mike, “it’s five dollars more I’ll make it.” And he put up the money.