Lynch stepped close to Du Boise, to whom he spoke in a low tone.
“Got to have some more money, Hal,” he said.
“We’ve got to put a plaster over that man’s mouth. Cough up.”
“Now, hold on,” protested Hal, after reaching into his pocket. “Seems to me you’re inclined to push this thing too far. I’ve coughed up enough already. I’ve been paying your bills for the last three days.”
“Ever since I caught you skinning a bunch of easy marks with marked cards,” said Mike. “I saved you from exposure by getting away with those cards and substituting another pack when I found two of the fellows were planning to make an investigation. You ought to be grateful, Du Boise. You’re not as clever as you were once. There was a time when you didn’t have to use ordinary markers to win at poker. The pace you’ve been hitting has proved too much for you. But you made a fine haul off those suckers, and when they insisted on examining the cards not a thing could be proved against you, thanks to me. It was lucky I had a pack in my pocket with backs almost exactly like those markers. The resemblance was sufficient to fool the most of those chaps. Why, you thought you were cornered yourself until you picked up one of the cards and examined it closely.”
“That’s right,” nodded Du Boise. “Even then I wondered if I wasn’t dreaming. I didn’t know how it happened until you got me alone and explained. I think I’ve shown my appreciation. It’s cost me over a hundred dollars already.”
“I tell you I’ll square with you when I’m flush again. I went broke on that Providence game, and I had to raise money by hook or crook. You came like a delivering angel, Hal. I’ve got to pay Berger twenty-five dollars before we leave him this evening. Hand it over, old chap.”
With a sigh, Du Boise drew forth his money, and, holding it close to his eyes, separated four bills from the roll, three fives and a ten.
Lynch took this money and gave it to Berger.
“There it is,” he said, in a low tone. “Now let that keep your tongue still. If you don’t, you’re liable to find yourself in a nasty scrape. You were doing the steering, and, therefore, you were the one most responsible.”