The second gambler pursed up his lips and shrugged his shoulders. "Suits me, too," he remarked good-naturedly, "I'll up you a thousand."
He contributed two brown chips with great deliberation. Steadman was giggling foolishly.
"Where would I have been?" he gibbered. "The tall grass wouldn't have hidden me."
The third gambler now came into the game. It appeared that he, also, thought highly of his hand, for he raised both his comrades by a brown chip.
"One, two—and back again!" he murmured. "I've got you pinched. Only six thousand in the pot—and four aces will take it all! Come right in, Mr. Sackett, the water's warm." They watched him covetously.
"Oh, I don't know," answered Ralston with deliberation. "I have one or two cards myself. They look pretty good to me! But then I'm not used to the game. I wonder if you'd stand a raise." He picked up four brown chips and counted them slowly. They eyed him, hardly breathing. Then Ralston laid the chips back on the table.
"No," said he regretfully. "It's too high for me. Here are my openers," and he threw down his hand face upward on the table.
"Four j-jacks!" stammered Steadman, rubbing his eyes. "Four j-jacks!"
The others, with the exception of Farrer, had arisen and stood glowering at Ralston.
"What's this?" exclaimed Farrer harshly.