Part 18 (2/2)
”Yes; of my last cent.”
”All at gamblin', mebbe?”
”No. Only a little, but that strapped me. The hotel had robbed me of practically everything else.”
”Had, had it? Wall, what's the story?”
I told him of the hotel part; and he nodded.
”Sh.o.r.e. You can't hold the hotel responsible. You can leave stuff loose in regular camp; n.o.body enters flaps without permission. But a room is a different proposition. I'd rather take chances among Injuns than among white men. Why, you could throw in with a Sioux village for a year and not be robbed permanent if the chief thought you straight; but in a white man's town--h.e.l.l! Now, how'd you get tangled up with this other outfit?”
”Which?” I queried.
”That brace outfit I found you with.”
”The fellow is a stranger to me, sir,” said I. ”I simply was foolish enough to stake what little I had on a sure thing--I was bamboozled into following the lead of the rest of you,” I reminded. ”Now I see that there was a trick, although I don't yet understand. After that the fellow a.s.saulted the lady, my companion, and you stepped in--for which, sir, I owe you more thanks than I can utter.”
”A trick, you think?” He opened his hairy mouth for a gust of short laughter. ”My Gawd, boy! We were nicely took in, and we desarved it. When you buck the tiger, look out for his claws. But I reckoned he'd postpone the turn till next time. He would have, if you fellers hadn't come down so handsome with the dust. I stood pat, at that. So, you notice, did the capper, your other friend.”
”The capper? Which was he, sir?”
”Why, Lord bless you, son. You're the greenest thing this side of Omyha. A capper touched him on the shoulder, a capper bent that there card, a capper tolled you all on with a dollar or two, and another capper fed the come-ons to his table. Aye, she's a purty piece. Where'd you meet up with her?”
”With her?” I gasped.
”Yes, yes. The woman; the main steerer. That purty piece who d.a.m.n nigh lost you your life as well as losin' you your money.”
”You mean the lady with the blue eyes, in black?”
”Yes, the golden hair. Lady! Oh, pshaw! Where'd she hook you? At the door?”
”You shall not speak of her in that fas.h.i.+on, sir,” I answered. ”We were together on the train from Omaha. She has been kindness itself. The only part she has played to-night, as far as I can see, was to chaperon me here in the Big Tent; and whatever small winnings I had made, for amus.e.m.e.nt, was due to her and the skill of an acquaintance named Jim.”
”Jim Daily, yep. O' course. And she befriended you. Why, d'you suppose?”
”Perhaps because I was of some a.s.sistance to her on the way out West. I had a little setto with Mr. Daily, when he annoyed her while he was drunk.
But sobered up, he seemed to wish to make amends.”
”Oh, Lord!” My friend's mouth gaped. ”Amends? Yep. That's his nature.
Might call it mendin' his pocket and his lip. And you don't yet savvy that your 'lady' 's Montoyo's wife--his woman, anyhow?”
”Montoyo? Who's Montoyo?”
”The monte thrower. That same spieler who trimmed us,” he rapped impatiently.
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