So Glenister was gambling, the girl learned, and with such luck as to break the Black Jack game and excite the greed of every gambler in camp.  News of his winnings had gone out into the street, and the sporting men were coming to share his fortune, to fatten like vultures on the adversity of their fellows.  Those who had no money to stake were borrowing, like the man next door.

She left her retreat, and, descending the stairs, was greeted by a strange sight.  The dance-hall was empty of all but the musicians, who blew and fiddled lustily in vain endeavor to draw from the rapidly swelling crowd that thronged the gambling-room and stretched to the door.  The press was thickest about a table midway down the hall.  Cherry could see nothing of what went on there, for men and women stood ten deep about it and others perched on chairs and tables along the walls.  A roar arose suddenly, followed by utter silence; then came the clink and rattle of silver.  A moment, and the crowd resumed its laughter and talk.

“All down, boys,” sounded the level voice of the dealer.  “The field or the favorite.  He’s made eighteen straight passes.  Get your money on the line.”  There ensued another breathless instant wherein she heard the thud of dice, then followed the shout of triumph that told what the spots revealed.  The dealer payed off.  Glenister reared himself head and shoulders above the others and pushed out through the ring to the roulette-wheel.  The rest followed.  Behind the circular table they had quitted, the dealer was putting away his dice, and there was not a coin in his rack.  Mexico Mullins approached Cherry, and she questioned him.

“He just broke the crap game,” Mullins told her; “nineteen passes without losing the bones.”

“How much did he win?”

“Oh, he didn’t win much himself, but it’s the people betting with him that does the damage!  They’re gamblers, most of them, and they play the limit.  He took out the Black Jack bank-roll first, $4,000, then cleaned the ‘Tub.’  By that time the tin horns began to come in.  It’s the greatest run I ever see.”

“Did you get in?”

“Now, don’t you know that I never play anything but ‘bank’?  If he lasts long enough to reach the faro lay-out, I’ll get mine.”

The excitement of the crowd began to infect the girl, even though she looked on from the outside.  The exultant voices, the sudden hush, the tensity of nerve it all betokened, set her a-thrill.  A stranger left the throng and rushed to the spot where Cherry and Mexico stood talking.  He was small and sandy, with shifting glance and chinless jaw.  His eyes glittered, his teeth shone rat-like through his dry lips, and his voice was shrill.  He darted towards them like some furtive, frightened little animal, unnaturally excited.

“I guess that isn’t so bad for three bets!” He shook a sheaf of bank-notes at them.

“Why don’t you stick?” inquired Mullins.