“Well, just to keep the pikers out,” announced Hooker, “I’ll give it another lift.” And he did. Cooper whistled. “That’s about all I can do for my little measly ante,” he remarked. “I’ve got a small pair, but you chaps are making it too stiff for me. I’ll drop out.” “Well, really,” murmured Osgood, who had placed his cards face downward before him, “this begins to look like some poker game. I’ll raise ten.” Piper swallowed and hesitated again. “What do you fellows think you’re doing before the draw?” he inquired, with a touch of whimsicality. “I’ve just _got_ to come in.” “You don’t raise, eh?” questioned Shultz. “No, I’m satisfied.” “I’m more than sus-satisfied,” faltered Springer. “This is ruinous, but I suppose I’m partly to blame. I’ll stay.” He put in the amount needed to make himself level. “Wait a minute, Hooker,” said Shultz, perceiving that Roy was nervously fingering his chips. “It’s my turn. You boosted me, and now I’m coming back with another limit raise.” Hooker found that he did not have enough chips, and so before betting he procured another dollar’s worth from Osgood. Then he raised Shultz. “Oh, my!” sang Cooper. “I’m glad—I’m glad I staid out. It cost me only my little snow-white ante.” “H’m!” said Osgood, picking up his cards and glancing at them. “It seems that it’s going to cost me more than that. There’s a pair of Indians sitting over at the other side of the table. Well, fellows, I’m coming. I’m playing on your money, and you’re welcome to take it away from me if you can.” At this point Piper, suddenly getting cold feet, dropped his two pairs. “I’m out,” he said. “This sort of raising before the draw makes it too stiff for me.” Springer seemed to be perspiring freely, and his hands were not quite steady. “If it’s a game of dud-dud-drive out,” he said, “I’m going to stick to the last gug-gasp. Here I go. That makes me level.” Without saying a word, Shultz pushed out two blue chips. “Do you raise again, Charley?” asked Osgood. “Money talks,” was the answer; “I put in two blue ones.” Hooker immediately raised again, whereupon Cooper chuckled still more gleefully over his cleverness in declining to be drawn in to defend his ante. Osgood and Springer met the raise, and Shultz, after giving Hooker a slantwise glance, pushed out a final blue one and announced that he was “content.” “Very well,” said Roy, picking up the pack. “Call for your cards.” “I’ll take one,” said Osgood. Springer called for two, and, glancing over Phil’s shoulder, Piper saw what he held. “Why, he had me beat,” thought Sleuth. “What can those other fellows hold?” “How many do you want, Shultz?” asked Hooker. “I’ll play these,” was the announcement. “And I’ll play mine without drawing,” said Roy, a touch of excitement creeping into his voice in spite of himself. “Fine! fine!” laughed Osgood. “I had a fine chance, didn’t I! You’ve got all of my chips that you’ll get. I’m going to drop.”