“The eight of hearts!” This in concert by the quartette of undisinterested witnesses.

The two Principals looked down, then.  That the Eminent Person’s free hand had remained passive throughout bore eloquent testimony to nerve and integrity alike.  Nevertheless, he now ran that hand slowly through his hair and wiped his forehead.  “That was one long five seconds—­most a week, I guess.  Did you ever see such a plumb dam-fool break in your whole life?” he said, appealingly, to the crowd.

“I guess,” said Steve sagely, pushing the eight-spot in with his other cards—­“I guess if you’d separated from a thousand big round dollars to draw a card and then got it turned over, you wouldn’t have cared a whoop if your left eye was out, either.  It is warm, ain’t it?” He sat down with a sigh of relief.

The Stockman bunched his cards idly and tapped the table with them.  The Judge was casually examining the chandelier with interest and approval.  Presently, he looked down and around.

“Oh, thunder!  What are you waiting for, Thompson?  I pass, of course!” he said testily.

Steve shoved in his pile.  “As I mentioned a while ago, you’re not obliged to call this,” he said demurely.  “Just suit yourselves.”

One card at a time, with thumb and forefinger, the Eminent Person turned over his hand with careful adjustment and alignment.  After much delay, he symmetrically arranged an Ace-full, face up, and regarded it with profound attention.

“That was a right good-looking hand, too—­before the draw,” he remarked at last, sweeping them into the discard.

“Ye-es,” assented the Stockman, mildly dubious.  “It might have taken second money—­maybe.”  He tossed in four deuces.

The Transient spread out a club flush.  “Do you know?” he said confidentially—­“do you know, I was actually glad to see that hand when I first picked it up?”

“Won’t you fellows never learn to play poker?” said the Judge severely.  “Why don’t you stay out till you get something?” He laid his hand down.  “Four tens and most five!  The Curse of Scotland and Forty Miles of Railroad! For-ty miles, before the draw—­and gone into the hands of a deceiver!”

“Oh!” Leaning over, Steve touched the ten of spades lightly.  “So that’s why I couldn’t fill my hand!” he remarked innocently.

“Get out!” snorted the Judge.  “No use throwing good money after bad.  I wouldn’t call you, not if I had five tens!”

He slammed in his hand.  The Eminent Person thoughtfully took out the hundred he had saved.  “Some one press the button, and I’ll do the rest,” said Steve.  He removed the side-money, placidly ignoring the “pot” of some fifteen hundred dollars, for which the Transient, having his money all in, was entitled to a showdown.

The Transient’s jaw dropped in unaffected amazement.  Dealer and Stockman drummed their fingers on the table unconcernedly.  And the Judge saw a great light.