“Only an ace can beat thet!” muttered Jesse Smith into the silence.
Gulden reached for the deck as if he knew every card left was an ace. His cavernous eyes gloated over Kells. He cut, and before he looked himself he let Kells see the card.
“You can't beat my streak!” he boomed.
Then he threw the card upon the table. It was the ace of spades.
Kells seemed to shrivel, to totter, to sink. Jim Cleve went quickly to him, held to him.
“Kells, go say good—by to your girl!” boomed Gulden. “I'll want her pretty soon.... Come on, you Beady and Braverman. Here's your chance to get even.”
Gulden resumed his seat, and the two bandits invited to play were eager to comply, while the others pressed close once more.
Jim Cleve led the dazed Kells toward the door into Joan's cabin. For Joan just then all seemed to be dark.
When she recovered she was lying on the bed and Jim was bending over her. He looked frantic with grief and desperation and fear.
“Jim! Jim!” she moaned, grasping his hands. He helped her to sit up. Then she saw Kells standing there. He looked abject, stupid, drunk. Yet evidently he had begun to comprehend the meaning of his deed.