"Tunwell kept his nerve like a major after this heavy fall, and we couldn't see the slightest sign of faltering in his style of play. The game went back to the $100 basis, and was comparatively uninteresting for an hour or so. In the course of the play during this time Tunwell caught four queens pat—a very remarkable thing—and got 50 only out of the hands. But unlike what most poker players would do under such circumstances, he didn't throw down the hand face upward on the table with an oath. He wasn't that kind of poker player.
"Just about midnight both men simultaneously decided upon a bluff—and it's not often that men happen to do this in a two-handed poker game; when they do, something always drops. Both men stood pat. There wasn't a pair in either hand. It was a choice experience to note the offhand way with which Burbridge made the first bet on this pat hand of his.
"'Ten thousand dollars,' said he, and his backer, the contractor, went to the window, raised it, and poked his head out for air.
"'Same, more than you,' said Tunwell, scanning his hand as if it was the real thing.
"Burbridge raised him another $10,000 and flicked a bit of ashes off his collar. Now Tunwell felt that his man was bluffing.
"'I call you,' said he.
"'Ace high,' said Burbridge.
"'Ace high here,' said Tunwell.
"'Queen next.'
"'Queen next here.'