f drinks to press in among the
other kibitzers and watch the pay-off.

Lefty shucked out the last two cards carelessly, as if they
didn't really matter. His own fifth card made no difference--his
jacks already had a busted flush beaten. His smile was just a
little too sharp as he tossed me my last card face up and reached
for the pot with the same left-handed gesture.

I took the poker panetella out of my teeth. "All blue," I said,
turning up my hole card with the other hand.

Lefty threw the unused part of the deck to the center of the
table. "That does it, you snake!" he swore at me.

It took a second for his accusation to sink in. I started across
the table after him. If they hadn't stopped me, I would have torn
his lying throat out. Funny, but there were kibitzers on my
shoulders before I could rise an inch out of my chair.

"Down in Texas you could get shot for a crack like that, Lefty!"
I said. I guess I really yelled it.

"And in New York you can, and probably will, get your rotten
throat slit for a trick like the one _you_ just pulled," he
replied. He turned to the other gamblers, most of whom had their
hands on the edge of the table, ready to jump to their feet if it
got any rougher.

"I stacked the deck this last deal," he said coolly. He held a
palm up at their surprised mutter. "Tex's fifth card was stacked
to be a heart, gamblers. You saw him get a spade and take the
pot. I won't sit at the same table with a guy that can do that.
Telekinesis has no place in poker."

"Pretty near as bad as stacked decks," one of the gamblers
rasped. But the others weren't with him. I only had to take one
look at Nick's face.

I stood up slowly, and the hands on my shoulders didn't hold me
down any longer. "Lefty says he stacked the deck," I told them.
"I say he lies. You know there's nothing to choose between our
statements. Lefty is a cheap grandstander, and I'll settle with
him myself. Nick, I won't embarrass you tonight. This isn't your
fault. But I'll be here tomorrow night, and you had better be
glad to see me!"

"Sure, Tex," he said uncomfortably, rising with me. "Take my
seat, Shorty," he directed one of the kibitzers. He walked around
to grab me by the elbow and steer me as far away from Lefty's
truculent face as he could. At least the sharp-chinned little rat
had quit the game, too. Both of us had left our chips on the
table.

Nick wanted me to leave. "Pay me off," I insisted. He said yes a
lot qui