Part 16 (1/2)
”You hear me, and there's my dollar.” He coolly waited.
”Not yours; ours. Will you make it five?”
”One is my limit on this throw. You named it.”
”Oho!” With a dart of hand she had turned up the middle card, exposing the ace spot, as I had antic.i.p.ated. She swept the two dollars to her.
”Adios,” she bade.
He smiled, indulgent.
”So soon? Don't I get my revenge? You, sir.” And he appealed to me. ”You see how easy it is. I'll throw you a turn for a dollar, two dollars, five dollars--anything to combine business and pleasure. Whether I win or lose I don't care. You'll follow the lead of the lady? What?”
I was on fire to accept, but she stayed me.
”Not now. I'm showing him around, Bob. You'll get your revenge later.
Good-bye. I've drummed up trade for you.”
As if inspired by the winning several of the bystanders, some newly arrived, had money in their hands, to stake. So we strolled on; and I was conscious that the youth's brown eyes briefly flicked after us with a peculiar glint.
”Yours,” she said, extending the coins to me.
I declined.
”No, indeed. It is part of my tuition. If you will play I will stake.”
She also declined.
”I can't have that. You will at least take your own money back.”
”Only for another try, madam,” I a.s.sented.
”In that case we'll find a livelier game yonder,” said she. ”Bob's just a lazy boy. His game is a piker game. He's too slow to learn from. Let us watch a real game.”
CHAPTER VIII
I STAKE ON THE QUEEN
Jim had disappeared; until when we had made way to another monte table there he was, his hands in his pockets, his cigar half smoked.
More of a crowd was here; the voice of the spieler more insistent, yet low-pitched and businesslike. He was a study--a square-shouldered, well set-up, wiry man of olive complexion, finely chiseled features save for nose somewhat cruelly beaked, of short black moustache, dead black long wavy hair, and, placed boldly wide, contrastive hard gray eyes that lent atmosphere of coldness to his face. His hat was pulled down over his forehead, he held an unlighted cigar between his teeth while he mechanically spoke and s.h.i.+fted the three cards (a diamond flas.h.i.+ng from a finger) upon the baize-covered little table.
Money had been wagered. He had just raked in a few notes, adding them to his pile. His monotone droned on.
”Next, ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. That is my business. The play is yours. You may think I have two chances to your one; that is not so. You make the choice. Always the queen, always the queen. You have only to watch the queen, one card. I have to watch three cards. You have your two eyes, I have my two hands. You spot the card only when you think you can. I meet all comers. It is an even gamble.”
Jim remarked us as we joined.
”How you comin' now?” he greeted of me.