long with Hell on Wheels. Had a
layout in Omyha, and in Denver. They're not the only double-harness outfit
hyar, either. You can meet a friendly woman any time, but this one got
hold you fust."

I writhed to the words.

"And that fellow Jim?" I asked.

"He's jest a common roper. He alluz wins, to encourage suckers like you.
'Tisn't his money he plays with; he's on commish. Beginnin' to understand,
ain't you?"

"But the bent card?" I insisted. "That is the mystery. It was the queen.
What became of the queen?"

"Ho ho!" And again he laughed. "A cute trick, shore. That's what we got
for bein' so plumb crooked ourselves. Why, o' course it was the queen,
once. You see 'twas this way. That she-male and the capper in cahoots with
her tolled you on straight for Montoyo's table; teased you a leetle along
the trail, no doubt, to keep you interested." I nodded. "They promised you
winnin's, easy winnin's. Then at Montoyo's table the game was a leetle
slack; so one capper touched him on the shoulder and another marked the
card. O' course a gambler like him wouldn't be up to readin' his own
cards. Oh, no! You sports were the smart ones."

"How about yourself?" I retorted, nettled.

"Me? I know them tricks, but I reckoned I was smart, too. Then that capper
Jim led out and we all made a small winnin', to prove the system. And
Montoyo, he gets tired o' losin'--but still he's blind to a card that
everybody else can see, and he calls for real play so he can go broke or
even up. I didn't look for much of a deal on that throw myself. Usu'ly it
comes less promisc'yus, with the gudgeon stakin' the big roll, and then I
pull out. But you-all slapped down the stuff in a stampede, sartin you had
him buffaloed. On his last shuffle he'd straightened the queen and turned
down the eight, usin' an extra finger or two. Them card sharps have six
fingers on each hand and several in their sleeve, and he was slicker'n I
thought. He might have refused all bets and got your mad up for the next
pass; but you'd come down as handsome as you would, he figgered. So he let
go. 'Twas fair and squar', robber eat robber, and we none of us have any
call to howl. But you mind my word: Don't aim to put something over on a
professional gamblin' sharp. It can't be done. As for me, I broke even and
I alluz expect to lose. When I look to be skinned I leave most my dust
behind me where I can't get at it."

Now I saw all, or enough. I had received no more than I dese