Presently the
sallow-faced player called him Mull, and then Neale remembered him
well.
Several of the watchers round this table lounged away, leaving a
better vantage-place for Neale.
"May I sit in the game?" he inquired, during a deal.
"Certainly," replied the gambler.
"Naw. We gotta nough," said the sallow man, and he glanced from
Neale to the gambler as if he suspected them. Gamblers often worked
in pairs.
"I just came to Benton," added Neale, reading the man's thought. "I
never saw the gentleman in black before."
"What th' hell!" rumbled Mull, grabbing up his cards.
Fresno leered.
The gambler leaned back and his swift white hands flashed. Neale
believed he had a derringer up each sleeve. A wrong word now would
precipitate a fight.
"Excuse me," said Neale, hastily. "I don't want to make trouble. I
just said I never saw this gentleman before."
"Nor I him," returned the gambler, courteously. "My name is Place
Hough and my word is not doubted."
Neale had heard of this famous Mississippi River gambler. So,
evidently, had the other three players. The game proceeded, and when
it came to Hough's deal Mull bet hard and lost all. His big, hairy
hands shook. He looked at Fresno and the other fellow, but not at
Hough.
"I'm broke," he said, gruffly, and got up from the bench.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228