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be all quiet and private。 Just you and Shorty and us。 What do you say？〃
〃I think it's the other way around；〃 Smoke answered。 〃It's up to you
to come and see me。 I'll be playing in the bar…room of the Elkhorn to…
night。 You can watch me there just as well。〃
VIII。
That night； when Smoke took up his customary place at the table； the
keeper shut down the game。
〃The game's closed；〃 he said。 〃Boss's orders。〃
But the assembled game…owners were not to be balked。 In a few
minutes they arranged a pool； each putting in a thousand； and took over
the table。
〃Come on and buck us；〃 Harvey Moran challenged； as the keeper sent
the ball on its first whirl around。
〃Give me the twenty…five limit；〃 Smoke suggested。
〃Sure； go to it。〃
Smoke immediately placed twenty…five chips on the 'double nought；'
and won。
Moran wiped the sweat from his forehead。
〃Go on；〃 he said。 〃We got ten thousand in this bank。〃
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At the end of an hour and a half； the ten thousand was Smoke's。
〃The bank's bust；〃 the keeper announced。
〃Got enough？〃 Smoke asked。
The game…owners looked at one another。 They were awed。 They；
the fatted proteges of the laws of chance； were undone。 They were up
against one who had more intimate access to those laws； or who had
invoked higher and undreamed laws。
〃We quit；〃 Moran said。 〃Ain't that right； Burke？〃
Big Burke； who owned the games in the M。 and G。 Saloon； nodded。
〃The impossible has happened；〃 he said。 〃This Smoke here has got a
system all right。 If we let him go on we'll all bust。 All I can see； if
we're goin' to keep our tables running； is to cut down the limit to a dollar；
or to ten cents； or a cent。 He won't win much in a night with such
stakes。〃
All looked at Smoke。 He shrugged his shoulders。
〃In that case； gentlemen； I'll have to hire a gang of men to play at all
your tables。 I can pay them ten dollars for a four…hour shift and make
money。〃
〃Then we'll shut down our tables；〃 Big Burke replied。 〃Unless〃 He
hesitated and ran his eye over his fellows to see that they were with him。
〃Unless you're willing to talk business。 What will you sell the system
for？〃
〃Thirty thousand dollars；〃 Smoke answered。 〃That's a tax of three
thousand apiece。〃
They debated and nodded。
〃And you'll tell us your system？〃
〃Surely。〃
〃And you'll promise not to play roulette in Dawson ever again？〃
〃No； sir；〃 Smoke said positively。 〃I'll promise not to play this system
again。〃
〃My God！〃 Moran exploded。 〃You haven't got other systems； have
you？〃
〃Hold on！〃 Shorty cried。 〃I want to talk to my pardner。 Come over
here； Smoke； on the side。〃
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Smoke followed into a quiet corner of the room； while hundreds of
curious eyes centred on him and Shorty。
〃Look here； Smoke；〃 Shorty whispered hoarsely。 〃Mebbe it ain't a
dream。 In which case you're sellin' out almighty cheap。 You've sure got
the world by the slack of its pants。 They's millions in it。 Shake it！
Shake it hard！〃
〃But if it's a dream？〃 Smoke queried softly。
〃Then； for the sake of the dream an' the love of Mike； stick them
gamblers up good and plenty。 What's the good of dreamin' if you can't
dream to the real right； dead sure； eternal finish？〃
〃Fortunately； this isn't a dream； Shorty。〃
〃Then if you sell out for thirty thousan'； I'll never forgive you。〃
〃When I sell out for thirty thousand； you'll fall on my neck an' wake up
to find out that you haven't been dreaming at all。 This is no dream；
Shorty。 In about two minutes you'll see you have been wide awake all
the time。 Let me tell you that when I sell out it's because I've got to sell
out。〃
Back at the table； Smoke informed the game…owners that his offer still
held。 They proffered him their paper to the extent of three thousand
each。
〃Hold out for the dust；〃 Shorty cautioned。
〃I was about to intimate that I'd take the money weighed out；〃 Smoke
said。
The owner of the Elkhorn cashed their paper； and Shorty took
possession of the gold…dust。
〃Now； I don't want to wake up；〃 he chortled； as he hefted the various
sacks。 〃Toted up； it's a seventy thousan' dream。 It's be too blamed
expensive to open my eyes； roll out of the blankets； an' start breakfast。〃
〃What's your system？〃 Big Burke demanded。 〃We've paid for it； and
we want it。〃
Smoke led the way to the table。
〃Now； gentlemen； bear with me a moment。 This isn't an ordinary
system。 It can scarcely be called legitimate； but its one great virtue is
that it works。 I've got my suspicious； but I'm not saying anything。 You
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watch。 Mr Keeper； be ready with the ball。 Wait； I am going to pick '26。'
Consider I've bet on it。 Be ready； Mr KeeperNow！〃
The ball whirled around。
〃You observe；〃 Smoke went on； 〃that '9' was directly opposite。〃
The ball finished in '26。'
Big Burke swore deep in his chest； and all waited。
〃For 'double nought' to win； '11' must be opposite。 Try it yourself and
see。〃
〃But the system？〃 Moran demanded impatiently。 〃We know you can
pick winning numbers； and we know what those numbers are； but how do
you do it？〃
〃By observed sequences。 By accident I chanced twice to notice the
ball whirled when '9' was opposite。 Both times '26' won。 After that I
saw it happen again。 Then I looked for other sequences； and found them。
'Double nought' opposite fetches '32；' and '11' fetches 'double nought。' It
doesn't always happen； but it USUALLY happens。 You notice； I say
'usually。' As I said before； I have my suspicions； but I'm not saying
anything。〃
Big Burke； with a sudden dawn of comprehension reached over；
stopped the wheel； and examined it carefully。 The heads of the nine other
game…owners bent over and joined in the examination。 Big Burke
straightened up and cast a glance at the near…by stove。
〃Hell；〃 he said。 〃It wasn't any system at all。 The table stood close
to the fire； and the blamed wheel's warped。 And we've been worked to a
frazzle。 No wonder he liked this table。 He couldn't have bucked for
sour apples at any other table。〃
Harvey Moran gave a great sigh of relief and wiped his forehead。
〃Well； anyway；〃 he said； 〃it's cheap at the price just to find out that it
wasn't a system。〃 His face began to work； and then he broke into
laughter and slapped Smoke on the shoulder。 〃Smoke； you had us going
for a while； and we patting ourselves on the back because you were letting
our tables alone！ Say； I've got some real fizz I'll open if all you'll come
over to the Tivoli with me。〃
Later； back in the cabin； Shorty silently overhauled and hefted the
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various bulging gold…sacks。 He finally piled them on the table； sat down
on the edge of his bunk； and began taking off his moccasins。
〃Seventy thousan'；〃 he calculated。 〃It weighs three hundred and fifty
pounds。 And all out of a warped wheel an' a quick eye。 Smoke； you
eat'm raw； you eat'm alive； you work under water； you've given me the
jim…jams； but just the same I know it's a dream。 It's only in dreams that
the g