"Tin thousand?" he gasped. "Tin thousand dollars? Ye don't mane it!"
"That's jest what I bet. Dad bim me for a fool!"
"Howly saints! It's crazy ye were, Ephie!"
"Call me anything yeou want to."
Barney was completely overcome. He realized that Gallup had spoken the truth, and now he understood why his old comrade had appeared so worried and broken up.
"Oi don't blame yez for wearing a face a yarrud long, Ephie," he said. "Tell me how it happened, me bhoy."
Gallup related the particulars. As he told how Silence had sneered and mocked, the young Irishman began to grow warm.
"It's roight Frankie is about betting," said Mulloy; "but divvil a bit different could Oi have done mesilf, Ephraim. It's wake and feeble crathers we are. Gallup, me bhoy, Oi'm your side parthner. We're going to do our bist to win thot game to-morrow. But if we lose, so help me, Oi'll nivver spake to yez again unless we take half the money Oi have in the Wellsburg Bank! Oi'll divvy with ye to me last cint. Now do brace up, Ephraim. It's not broke ye'll be. Ye'll have plenty av time to think what a thunderin' fool ye've made av yersilf. But let's not cry over it now."
"I couldn't take half of your money, Barney. That wouldn't be right. No, sir, I'll never do that."
Gallup clenched his fist and pushed it up under Ephraim's nose.