"That's Red," replied Hough. "I hope he's not looking for one of you
gentlemen."
They laughed, but not spontaneously.
"I've seen his like in Dodge City," said one.
"Ask him to sit in the game," said another.
"No. Red's a card-sharp," replied Hough. "And I'd hate to see him
catch one of you pulling a crooked deal."
They lapsed back into the intricacies and fascination of poker.
Neale, however, found the game unable to hold his undivided
attention. Larry was there, looking and watching, and he made
Neale's blood run cold. The girl Ruby stood close at hand, with her
half-closed eyes, mysterious and sweet, upon him, and Beauty Stanton
came up behind him.
"Neale, I'll bring you luck," she said, and put her hand on his
shoulder.
Neale's luck did change. Fortune faced about abruptly, with its
fickle inconsistency, and Neale had a run of cards that piled the
gold and bills before him and brought a crowd ten deep around the
table. When the game broke up Neale had won three thousand dollars.
"See! I brought you luck," whispered Beauty Stanton in his ear. And
across the table Ruby smiled hauntingly and mockingly.
Neale waved the crowd toward the bar. Only the women and Larry
refused the invitation. Ruby gravitated irresistibly toward the
cowboy.
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