"Just wait," said O'Neil.
VI
THE DREAMER
Unobserved the two friends watched the poker game, which for a time proceeded quietly. But suddenly they saw Appleton lean over the table and address the man with the derby hat; then, thrusting back his chair, he rose, declaring, in a louder tone:
"I tell you I saw it. I thought I was mistaken at first." His face was white, and he disregarded the efforts of his right-hand neighbor to quiet him.
"Don't squeal," smiled the dealer. "I'll leave it to the boys if I did anything wrong."
"You pulled that king from the bottom. It may not be wrong, but it's damned peculiar."
"Forget it!" one of the others exclaimed. "Denny wouldn't double-cross you."
"Hardly!" agreed Mr. Denny, evenly. "You're 'in' a hundred and eighty dollars, but if you're sore you can have it back."
Appleton flung his cards into the middle of the table and turned away disgustedly. "It's a hard thing to prove, and I'm not absolutely sure I saw straight, or—I'd take it back, fast enough."