I notes that Rainbow steps off that time some tottersome; but he's
so plumb weak that a-way, cats is robust to him; an' so I deems
nothin' tharof. I'm skinnin' my kyards a bit interested anyhow,
bein' in the hole myse'f.
"Everybody comes in this deal, an' when the chips is in the center--
this yere's before the draw--Hamilton, speakin' up for Rainbow,
says:
"'These yere's Doc Peets's chips anyhow?'
"'Which they shorely be,' says Boggs, 'so play 'em merciless, 'cause
Peets is rich.'
"'That's what I asks for,' says Hamilton, 'for I don't aim to make
no mistakes with pore Rainbow's money.'
"'That's all right,' says Boggs, 'dump 'em in. If you-all lose, it's
Peets's; if you win, it's Rainbow's.'
"'Play 'em game an' liberal, Old Man,' says Rainbow over by the
bar,--an' it strikes me at the time his tones is weak an' queer; but
bein' as I jest then notes a third queen in my hand, I don't have no
chance to dwell on the fact. 'Play 'em game an' free,' says Rainbow
ag'in. 'Free as the waters of life. Win or lose, she's all the same
a hundred year from now.'
"Hamilton takes another look an' then raises the ante a hundred
dollars. This yere is table stakes; this game was; an' the stakes is
five hundred.
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