Page:Saga of Billy the Kid.djvu/256

again, seven-up or casino, and sometimes monte. When the game was poker, seven-up, or casino, the Kid occupied a chair at one side of the table and Bell a chair at the other. When it was monte and Bell dealing, the Kid balanced himself on top of the table to be above the layout in a position that made it easy for him to put down his bets with his manacled hands. Now Bell took a seat in a chair at the table and Billy, as was his habit, perched himself on the table-top, his shackled feet resting on the seat of a chair.

"You bank, Bell," said the Kid. "I'll buck the game."

The Kid shot one shrewd, furtive glance at Bell's six-shooter. Bell was wearing it to-day without a scabbard, stuck down his pants leg on his right side between his shirt and his belt. As Bell sat down its muzzle rammed into his flesh. With a casual gesture, he adjusted it, pushing the handle slightly farther back toward his hip. Then, taking up the deck, he shuffled it with the ease of old familiarity, riffling the cards like a faro dealer, giving them deft cuts that made a slapping noise.

"Help yourself to chips out of the match box, Kid," he said. "Ten matches the limit on a card."

"Bueno, muchacho."

Bell began to deal. He pulled a few cards from the deck and laid them face up on the table. His monte layout began to assume form.

"I'm out for blood this game," warned the Kid jovially.

"Coffee talks."

"Bet ten dollars on that deuce of diamonds."

The Kid piled ten matches on the card. Bell went on turning. The bet lost and he raked in the matches with a laugh.