"That is where you were right. That is an old swindling trick, called the 'shell game'. If you had bet any money you would have lost."
"I thought as much," said Roy. "I'm not so green as I look, even if I spent all my life on a ranch."
"Indeed you are not, I am glad to see. I would advise you not to have anything more to do with those men."
"Do you know them?"
"No, but they have the ways and airs of professional gamblers."
"They tried to rope me up, I guess," said Roy. "But they didn't have rope enough to tie me. Now I know their brand I'll sure be careful not to mix in with 'em."
"I don't exactly understand your terms. I—"
"I beg your pardon," said Roy. "I suppose I talk, more or less, as I do on the ranch. I meant they tried to get me into one of their corrals and take my hide off. Hold me up, you know."
"I'm afraid I don't exactly know," went on the gentleman with a smile, "but I gather that you mean they would have robbed you, after getting you into their power."
"That's it," said Roy. "I'm on another trail now, and they want to be careful," and he looked as though he could take care of himself, a fact that the gentleman noticed.