“As much as you choose,” said Chester, “only it’s understood that the chips are paid for when I hand them out. There’ll be no credit business done by the banker this evening.”
“And if the banker loses I suppose we’re to have some assurance that he also will make good,” said Hanks.
“I’ll do precisely as you do,” assured Chester. “I’ll pay for my chips and put the money in the card box when I take them.”
“Well, that’s all right,” said Hanks, producing his roll. “Here’s a yellow-backed twenty and a fiver.”
“Gee whiz!” grunted Harmford, as he reluctantly counted out twenty-five dollars. “This is plunging for a little game to pass away the time. I’m liable to get skinned to the bone.”
“If you get broke,” said Chester, “I’ll loan you money.”
“That is, if you don’t get busted, too,” grinned Hanks. “Of course, that’s not likely to happen, but still, in a three-handed game I’ve noticed that, as a rule, one man is the winner and the other two are the losers. I hope it’s my evening to win.”
He was skillfully rippling the cards as he spoke. Having done this, he placed them on the table for the cut.
“Lowest deals,” he said, “and ace is low.”
“Then I think I’ll deal,” laughed Harmford, turning up an ace.