Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/38

 fortune with his steamers from Chicago to Duluth. Plays poker like a child."

"Ah, really," observed Mr. Eaton.

Colonel Spottiswoode was no lady; neither did he feel the necessity for being exclusive. His manner of speaking directly to a fellow-being startled Mr. J. Blair Eaton out of his eye glasses and into an approximately human reply. The Colonel's frankly expressed ignorance as to who Mr. J. Blair Eaton was appealed to that gentleman's sense of humor. "Really refreshing, don't you know, refreshing," Mr. Eaton confided to Joe Sloan.

But it did not refresh Cap Wright when Joe Sloan, after dinner, darted into his cabin with the information that their fresh fish had taken up with Prince Jim, and wouldn't play poker unless "The Colonel" were invited.

"I suspected something like that," observed the Cap, "suspected it when I seen 'em settin' side by side."

In Cap Wright's business it was necessary to think quickly; that is their job. "The joke's on us, Joe; we'll have to grin. But Prince Jim is square, so we'd better get half than nothing. Invite him. If you don't invite him, he'll give a poker party and leave us out. No, siree! Prince Jim don't associate with gamblers."

"Ain't that hell?" Joe burst out. "Here I've