“The six-foot checkerboard--who, it turned out, answered to the hail of 'Mike'--seemed to be right at home with the gang. He called most of 'em by their first names and went sasshayin' around, weltin' 'em on the back and tellin' 'em how he'd 'put crimps in the bookies rolls t'other day,' and a lot more stuff that they seemed to understand, but was hog Greek to me and Jonadab. He'd forgot us altogether which was a mercy the way I looked at it, and I steered the Cap'n over into a corner and we come to anchor on a couple of rickety chairs. “'What--why--what kind of a place IS this, Barzilla?' whispers Jonadab, scared. “'Sh-h-h!' says I. 'Land knows. Just set quiet and hang on to your watch.' “'But--but I want to find Kelly,' says he. “'I'd give somethin' to find a back door,' says I. 'Ain't this a collection of dock rats though! If this is a part of your dream, Jonadab, I wish you'd turn over and wake up. Oh land! here's one murderer headin' this way. Keep your change in your fist and keep the fist shut.' “A more'n average rusty peep, with a rubber collar on and no necktie, comes slinkin' over to us. He had a smile like a crack in a plate. “'Say, gents,' he says, 'have you made your bets yet? I've got a dead straight line on the handicap,' says he, 'and I'll put you next for a one spot. It's a sure t'ing at fifteen to three. What do you say?' “I didn't say nuthin'; but that fool dream was rattlin' round in Jonadab's skull like a bean in a blowgun, and he sees a chance for a shot. “'See here, mister,' he says. 'Can you tell me where to locate Mr. Kelly?' “'Who--Pete?' says the feller. 'Oh, he ain't in just now. But about that handicap. I like the looks of youse and I'll let youse in for a dollar. Or, seein' it's you, we'll say a half. Only fifty cents. I wouldn't do better for my own old man,' he says. “While the Cap'n was tryin' to unravel one end of this gibberish I spoke up prompt. “'Say,' says I, 'tell me this, will you? Is the Kelly who owns this--this palace, named Jimmie--James, I mean?' “'Naw,' says he. 'Sure he ain't. It's Pete Kelly, of course--Silver Pete. But what are you givin' us? Are you bettin' on the race, or ain't you?' “Well, Jonadab understood that. He bristled up like a brindled cat. If there's any one thing the Cap'n is down on, it's gamblin' and such--always exceptin' when he knows he's won already. You've seen that kind, maybe. “'Young feller,' he says, perkish, 'I want you to know that me and my friend ain't the bettin' kind. What sort of a hole IS this, anyway?' “The rubber collared critter backed off, lookin' worried. He goes acrost the room, and I see him talkin' to two or three other thieves as tough as himself. And they commenced to stare at us and scowl. “'Come on,' I whispered to Jonadab. 'Let's get out of this place while we can. There ain't no Jimmie Kelly here, or if there is you don't want to find him.'