"Son, give it to me. I'll put
three hundred with it, an' that'll make a roll of five hundred
dollars. With a careful man like me to deal, she shorely oughter be
enough."
"'"Whatever does these yere fiscal bluffs of yours portend?" I asks.
"'"They portends as follows," says Peg-laig. "This yere Rock Island
outfit is plumb locoed to play faro-bank. I've got a deck of kyards
an' a deal box in my pocket. Son, we'll lay over a day a' break the
village."
"'Thar's no use tryin' to head off old Peg-laid. He's the most
invet'rate sport that a-way, an' faro bank is his leadin' weakness.
They even tells onct how this Peg-laig is in a small camp in Iowa
an' is buckin' a crooked game. A pard sees him an' takes Peg-laig to
task.
"'"Can't you-all see them sharps is skinnin' you?" says this friend,
an' his tones is loaded with disgust. "Ain't you wise enough to know
this game ain't on the squar', an' them outlaws has a end-squeeze
box an' is dealin' two kyards at a clatter an' puttin' back right
onder your ignorant nose? Which you conducts yourse'f like you was
born last week!"
"'"Of course, I knows the game is crooked," says Peg-laig, plenty
doleful, "an' I regrets it as much as you.
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