“‘An’ it’s to be deplored,’ says Enright, when he makes the presentation speech to Holliday, ’that you-all don’t have this weepon when you cuts loose at Collins instead of said jimcrow derringer.  In sech events, that hoss-thief’s death would have been assured.  Shore! shootin’ off Collins’ jaw is good as far as it goes, but it can’t be regyarded as no sech boon as downin’ him complete.

“It’s after supper when this Holliday encounters Cherokee; the two has a conference.  This Holliday lays bar’ his purpose.

“‘Which I’m yere,’ says this Holliday, ’not only for your money, but I wants the camp.’  Then he goes for’ard an’ proposes that they plays till one is broke; an, if it’s Cherokee who goes down, he is to vamos the outfit while Holliday succeeds to his game.  ‘An’ the winner is to stake his defeated adversary to one thousand dollars wherewith to begin life anew,’ concloodes this Holliday.

“‘Which what you states seems like agreeable offers,’ says Cherokee, an’ he smiles clever an’ gentlemanly.  ’How strong be you-all, may I ask?’

“‘Thirty thousand dollars in thirty bills,’ replies this Holliday.  ‘An’ now may I enquire how strong be you?  I also likes to know how long a trail I’ve got to travel.’

“‘My roll is about forty thousand big,’ says Cherokee.  Then he goes on:  ’It’s all right; I’ll open a game for you at second drink time sharp.’

“‘That’s comfortin’ to hear,’ retorts this Holliday.  ’The chances,—­what with splits an’ what with the ten thousand you oversizes me,—­is nacherally with you; but I takes ’em.  If I lose, I goes back with a even thousand; if I win, you-all hits the trail with a thousand, while I’m owner of your roll an’ bank.  Does that onderstandin’ go?’

“‘It goes!’ says Cherokee.  Then he turns off for a brief powwow with Faro Nell.

“‘But thar’s one thing you-all forgets, Cherokee,’ says Nell.  ’If he breaks you, he’s got to go on an’ break me.  I’ve a bundle of three thousand; he’s got to get it all before ever the play is closed.  Tell this yere Holliday party that.’

“Cherokee argues ag’in it; but Nell stamps ‘round an’ starts to weep some, an’ at that, like every other troo gent, he gives in abject.

“‘Thar’s a bet I overlooks,’ observes Cherokee, when he resoomes his talk with this Holliday; ’it’s my partner.  It’s only a little matter of three thousand, but the way the scheme frames itse’f up, after I’m down an’ out, you’ll have to break my partner before Wolfville’s all your own.’

“‘That’s eminent satisfactory,’ returns this Holliday.  ‘An’ I freely adds that your partner is a dead game sport to take so brief a fortune an’—­win all, lose all—­go after more’n twenty times as much.  Your partner’s a shore enough optimist that a-way.’

“Cherokee don’t make no retort.  This Holliday ain’t posted none that the partner Cherokee’s mentionin’ is Faro Nell, an’ Cherokee allows he won’t onbosom himse’f on that p’int onless his hand is forced.