u ain't been trying to show any tinhorn gamblers the error
of their ways by ruining 'em financially," said the old man, one
drowsy eye upon the Kid's face. "That's one of the things what just
naturally can't be done. Steady growth is the thing to fat a bank
roll, Frank. I'm about to tell you how you can multiply yours
considerable. Last time you was here you had two hundred dollars,
spoiled Egyptian money----"

"Oh, I guess it wasn't so darn badly spoiled at that!" interrupted
the Kid. "I didn't have any trouble getting rid of it." He grinned
sheepishly. "Your friend Solomon called the turn on the
get-rich-quick stuff. 'He that maketh haste'--what's the rest of it,
old-timer?"

"'He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent,'" quoted Old
Man Curry, rolling out the syllables in sonorous procession. "But I
reckon not being rich is worrying you more than not being innocent.
Who took the roll away from you?"

"Squeaking Henry got a piece of it," admitted the Kid. "Did you ever
play twenty-one--Black Jack, old-timer?"

Old Man Curry shook his head.

"I never monkeyed much with cards," said he, "but I've seen the game
played some--when I was younger."

"Well," said the Kid mournfully, "Squeaking Henry and a couple of his
friends rung in some marked cards--on my deal. Of course those
burglars could take one flash at the top of the deck and know just
when to draw and when not to. I sat up there like a flathead and let
'em clean me. What tipped it off was that when I was down to my last
smack, with a face card in sight and a face card in the hole, Henry
drew to twenty and caught an ace. The mangy little crook! Oh, well,
easy come, easy go. I'd have lost it some other way, I guess. But,
say, what was this proposition of yours about fattening the bank
roll? I've got seven dollars between me and the wolf, and he's so
close that I can smell his breath."

"Seeing that you ain't got any more judgment than that," was Old Man
Curry's comment, "I don't know as I ought to tell you."

"Oh, all right," said the Kid, "if that's the way you feel about
it--but maybe I've got some information I could trade you for it."

"I never swapped hosses blind," said Old Man Curry.

"I won't ask you to," said the Bald-faced Kid. "It's no news that
Engle's bunch is out for your scalp, is it?"

"No-o," said the old man. "I kind of suspicioned as much."

"They're after you strong, old-timer. First you walloped 'em with
Elisha, then y