"What are they playing for?" I asked.
David rolled his eyes full upon me and regarded me steadily without blinking.
"A thousan' dollars a side," said he quietly.
"What?"
"Ay. Posted in the safe. Muster Small wanted to make it for two. It was a compr-romise."
"But, man, it's highway robbery! One thousand dollars!"
David continued to look at me fixedly.
"Do ye ken, Muster Bell," said he at last, "that's precisely what I'm thinkin' it is mysel'—juist highway robbery."
"What handicap is he giving Small?"
"None. Muster Small wouldna listen to it. He said the Cur-rnel was a'ready handicapped wi' auld age, lumba-ago, an' cauld feet. His remarks were quite personal, ye'll understand, an' he counted down the notes on the table an' blethered an' howled an' reminded the Cur-rnel that he had lost three hunder to him the last week. The auld gentleman was fair be-damned an' bullied into makin' the match, an' he was in such a towerin' rage he could scarce write a check.... Ay, I'm thinkin' it will be a divertin' match to watch."