Nick noticed that two muscular fellows kept near the door.
The confidence man bought several drinks, and then began talking about a little game that was going on upstairs.
“I’m going up and play a few stacks,” he said. “It’s dull down here. You may come along and look on if you want to. Don’t get into any game with strangers, however,” he added, “for there are some pretty tough chaps here to-night. If you want to play a small game, I’ll get you a seat at my table after a while.”
Nick was not ready to leave the lower room, so he put the crook off and sat with his eyes on the door.
Presently four men entered the place, drank at the bar, and then started up the staircase. Nick saw that they were strangers there, judging by the attitude of the others in the room. They were tall, broad-shouldered men, and all wore full beards. It was plain that they were armed.
One of the men behind the bar called to the men as they started up the staircase.
“Where are you going?” he asked, stepping toward them.
“To the wine room,” was the reply.
“Those are private rooms,” said the attendant. “You can’t go up there to-night.”
The muscular fellows who had been watching at the door now advanced to the foot of the stairs. As they did so, four roughly dressed men entered and stepped back to the inner end of the bar.