ay Stevens played; but each
time he was not quite sure. On the third occasion one of the trappers
glanced at him, smiled grimly, and nodded at the hard-pressed gambler.

"Th' fur trade ain't th' only skin game, young feller," he softly said.
"Ol' man a friend o' yourn?"

Tom nodded and watched more closely, and a moment later he stiffened
again.

"Why, h--l!" growled the trapper, sympathizing with one of his own
calling. "Go fur him, young feller, an' chuck him inter th' river! I'll
hold off his pardner fer ye!"

An older trapper sauntered over and seated himself at Tom's side. "Been
watchin' them fer quite a spell," he said in a low voice. "Ain't that
ol' feller St Louis Joe?"

Tom shrugged his shoulders, and saw a great light. Who hadn't heard of
St. Louis Joe? His new friend's love of gambling, and his success
against Stevens and his crowd would be accounted for if the trapper was
right. He glanced at the speaker and replied: "Don't know. I never saw
him till I crossed th' levee at St. Louis jest afore we sailed."

"Looks a heap like him, anyhow," muttered the newcomer. "Fair an' squar,
_he_ war. I seen him play when I war goin' down to N'Orleans, ten year
ago. Never fergit a face, an' I shore remember _his_, fer he war playin'
that time fer 'most all th' money in th' Mississippi Valley, I reckon.
Consarn it, I _know_ it's him! Fer ol' times' sake, if he gits inter
trouble with that skunk, I'm with him ter th' hilt." He started to leave
the table, thought better of it and slid forward to the edge of his
chair. "He's bein' cheated blind. I saw that skunk palm a card!"

Tom nodded, his hand resting on his belt, but he did not take his eyes
from the game. He suspected that Uncle Joe was pretty well informed
about what was going on and would object when it suited him.

The first trapper leaned over the table and whispered to his friend.
"This young feller is watchin' the cheat, an' I'm watchin' th' pardner.
You might keep an eye on that Independence hoss-thief over thar--that
feller with th' raw meat face, that _this_ youngster gave him. From th'
way he's lookin' thar ain't no tellin' how this hyar party is goin' ter
bust up."

The second plainsman nodded and after a moment dropped his pipe on the
floor. He shifted in his chair as he reached down for it and when he sat
up again he was in a little different position, and not a thing at
Schoolcraft's table escaped his eyes.

"I'll take th' greaser 'longside him