“Now don’t you fly off the handle, Roy, old fellow,” entreated Osgood. “You see, Charley has had rotten luck, and he didn’t really realize what he was saying. Come on, let’s play the game like gentlemen. You didn’t mean it, did you, Charley?”
“No, I guess I didn’t,” said Shultz, with apparent reluctance. “I was half-joking. Forget it, Hooker.”
“All right,” agreed Roy readily enough. “That little pot sort of put me on my feet, and I’m not anxious to make a disturbance.”
The tension of the moment relaxed somewhat, and the game was resumed, Cooper giving out the cards.
Piper was heartily glad that Hooker had won, and he felt that Roy was generous in his willingness to overlook Shultz’s innuendo. He believed that an encounter between the two boys had been narrowly averted.
For some ten or fifteen minutes the game went on smoothly, nothing but small hands coming out, which produced little betting. Eventually, however, four “fighting hands” were dealt, and Piper and Springer sat back to watch the others, dropping their cards. There were a number of raises before the draw, in all of which Hooker and Shultz took part.
As if they felt that it was to be a serious struggle, none of the players ventured to jest or make many comments.
Cooper remained in until the cards were drawn and then he dropped out.
Osgood hung on a while longer, although Shultz and Hooker kept raising alternately.
“You each took one card,” said Ned at last, “and, as you’re running wild, I’m going to quit. Fight it out between you.”