"That's too bad. Where'd he go?"

"Don't know. You might ask the boss." He raised his voice: "Hey, Dewing!
Gentleman here to speak to you."

At the summons, Something Dewing appeared at the side door; he gave a
little start when he saw Pete at the bar.

"Why, hello, Johnson! Well met! This is a surprise."

"Same here," said Pete. "Didn't know you were in town."

"Yes; I bought Rhiny out. Tired of Cobre. Want to take a hand at poker,
Pete? Here's two lumberjacks down from up-country, and honing to play.
Their money's burning holes in their pockets. I was just telling them
that it's too early to start a game yet."

He indicated the other two men, who were indeed disguised as lumberjacks,
even to their hands; but their faces were not the faces of workingmen.

"Cappers," thought Pete. Aloud he said: "Not to-day, I guess. Where's
Rhiny? In town yet?"

"No; he left. Don't know where he went exactly--somewhere up
Flagstaff-way, I think. But I can find out for you if you want to
write to him."

"Oh, no--nothing particular. Just wanted a chin with him."

"Better try the cards a whirl, Pete," urged the gambler. "I don't want to
start up for a three-handed game."

Pete considered. It was not good taste to give a second invitation;
evidently Dewing had strong reasons for desiring his company.

"If this tinhorn thinks he can pump me, I'll let him try it a while," he
reflected. He glanced at his watch.

"Three o'clock. I'll tell you what I'll do with you, Dewing," he said:
"I'll disport round till supper-time, if I last that long. But I can't go
very strong. Quit you at supper-time, win or lose. Say six o'clock, sharp.
The table will be filled up long before that."

"Come into the anteroom. We'll start in with ten-cent chips," said
Dewing. "Maybe your friend would like to join us?"

"Not at first. Later, maybe. Come on, Frankie!"

Boland followed into the side room. He was a little disappointed in Pete.

"You see, it's like this," said Pete, sinking into a chair after the door
was closed: "Back where Boland lives the rules are different. They play a
game something like Old Maid, and call it poker. He can sit behind me a
spell and I'll explain how we play it. Then, if he wants to, he can sit
in with us. Deal 'em up."

"Cut for deal--high deals," said Dewing.

After the first hand was played, Pete began his explanations:

"We play all jack pots here, Frankie; and we use five aces. That is in
the Constitution of