The gambler stirred, but stopped as the Colt leaped like a flash of light to the edge of the table. "Tin-horn," said the puncher, softly, "you ain’t slick enough. I did n’t stop you when you wanted that queen an’ ten because I wanted you to go on with th’ crookedness. Yaller cats is more unlucky to you than they are to me. But when I saw that last play I lost my temper; an’ I stopped you. Now if you ’ll cheat with me, you ’ll cheat with a drunk boy. So, havin’ cheated him, you really stole his money away from him. That bein’ so, you will dig up six month’s wages at about fifty per month. I ’d shoot you just as quick as I ’d shoot a snake; so don’t get no fool notions in yore head. Dig it right up." The gambler studied the man across from him, but after a moment he silently placed some money on the table. "It was only two forty," he observed, holding to three double eagles. The puncher nodded: "I ’ll take yore word for that. Now, in th’ beginnin’ I only wanted to get th’ boy his money; but when you started cheatin’ against me I changed my mind. I played fair. Now here’s your short-five," he said as he slid the gun across the table. "Mebby you might want to use it sometime," he smiled. "Now you vamoose; an’ if I see you in town after th’ next train leaves, I ’ll _make_ you use that shoulder holster. An’ tell yore friends that Hopalong Cassidy says, that for a country where men can tote their hardware in plain sight, a shoulder layout ain’t no good: you gotta reach too high. Adios." He watched the silent, philosophical man-of-cards walk slowly toward the door, upright, dignified and calm. Then he turned and approached the piano. "Sister," he said, politely, "yore gamblin’ friend is leavin’ town on th’ next train. He has pressin’ business back east a couple of stations an’ wonders if you ’ll join him at th’ depot in time for th’ next train." She had stopped playing and was staring at him in amazement. "Why didn’t he come an’ tell me himself, ’stead of sneakin’ away an’ sendin’ you over?" she at last demanded, angrily. "Well, he wanted to, but he saw a man an’ slipped out with his gun in his hand. Mebby there’ll be trouble; but I dunno. I’m just tellin’ you. Gee," he laughed, looking at the snoring youth in the chair, "he got _that_ quick. Why, I saw him less ’n two hours ago an’ he was sober as a judge. Reckon I ’ll take him over to th’ hotel an’ put him to bed." He went over to the helpless Sammy, shook him and made him get on his feet. "Come along, Kid," he said, slipping his arm under the sagging shoulder. "We’ll get along. Good-by, Sugar," and, supporting the feebly protesting cub, he slowly made his way to the rear door and was gone, a grin wreathing his face as he heard the chink of gold coins in his several pockets. XII SAMMY KNOWS THE GAME