VII
THE Saint was standing at his little table, in the center of a crowd, advising them not to play his game; taking their money, when they insisted. Duke Steele had elbowed his way to a point just beyond the Saint, and was watching the crowd.
Loper shoved men aside and stepped in front of the table, looking curiously down at the two shells. Duke had seen Sleed signal Loper in the saloon, and he knew that Loper was the one who had killed Ace Ault. Loper was Sleed’s man, and this was their first move against the Saint.
“Don’t waste your money, friend,” warned the Saint, as Loper took out some gold. “You can’t win.”
“Can, if I pick the right shell, can’t I?”
“That’s the trick, friend, but it can’t be done.”
The Saint rolled the little black pea on the table, covered it with a shell and shuffled the shells slowly.
“Fifty dollars,” declared Loper.