“When I gamble and lose I never howl,” said Baugh to his friends, “but I do love a run for my money, though I didn’t have any more chance to-day than a rabbit.  I’ll take my hat off to the man that got it, however, and charge it up to my tuition account.”

“You big chump, you! if you hadn’t bet your overcoat it wouldn’t be so bad.  What possessed you to bet it?” asked Stubb, half reprovingly.

“Oh, hell, I’ll not need it.  It’s not going to be a very cold winter, nohow,” replied Baugh, as he threw up one eye toward the warm sun.  “We need exercise.  Let’s walk back to town.  Now, this is a little unexpected, but what have I got you boy’s for, if you can’t help a friend in trouble.  There’s one good thing—­I’ve got my board paid three weeks in advance; paid it this morning out of yesterday’s winnings.  Lucky, ain’t I?”

“Yes, you’re powerful lucky.  You’re alive, ain’t you?” said Stubb, rubbing salt into his wounds.

“Now, my dear Stubby, don’t get gay with the leading lady; you may get in a bad box some day and need me.”

This turn of affairs was looked upon by Stubb and Arab as quite a joke on their leader.  But it was no warning to them, and they continued to play their favorite games, Stubb at poker, while Arab gave his attention to monte.  Things ran along for a few weeks in this manner, Baugh never wanting for a dollar or the necessary liquids that cheer the despondent.  Finally they were forced to take an inventory of their cash and similar assets.  The result was suggestive that they would have to return to the chuck-line, or unearth some other resource.  The condition of their finances lacked little of the red-ink line.

Baugh, who had been silent during this pow-wow, finally said, “My board will have to be provided for in a few days, but I have an idea, struck it to-day, and if she works, we’ll pull through to grass like four time winners.”

“What is it?” asked the other two, in a chorus.

“There’s a little German on a back street here, who owns a bar-room with a hotel attached.  He has a mania to run for office; in fact, there’s several candidates announced already.  Now, the convention don’t meet until May, which is in our favor.  If my game succeeds, we will be back at work before that time.  That will let us out easy.”

As their finances were on a parity with Baugh’s, the others were willing to undertake anything that looked likely to tide them over the winter.  “Leave things to me,” said Baugh.  “I’ll send a friend around to sound our German, and see what office he thinks he’d like to have.”

The information sought developed the fact that it was the office of sheriff that he wanted.  When the name was furnished, the leader of this scheme wrote it on a card—­Seigerman, Louie Seigerman,—­not trusting to memory.  Baugh now reduced their finances further for a shave, while he meditated how he would launch his scheme.  An hour afterwards, he walked up to the bar, and asked, “Is Mr. Seigerman in?”