Frank Merriwell's Backers: or, The Pride of His Friends. Standish Burt L.
wear."
"Let it drive," said Frank. "I'm listening."
"Like 'most ev'rybody," said Bill, "I'm out fer the dust. That's what brought me up against you. I opined you'd be easy meat. I've sorter changed my mind. You look an' talk like a tenderfoot, but I take it that you has your eye-teeth cut, an' this yere ain't the first time you've seen Arizona."
"I have been in Arizona before. I have likewise been in various parts of the West."
"I knowed it," nodded Bill. "I likewise opine you has a whole lot of fight in ye."
"Well, I rather enjoy the strenuous life."
"But you're certain up against a right powerful combination in this yere gang what means to have your mines."
"Without doubt."
"You needs assistance to hold them there mines. Such bein' the case, suppose we strikes a partnership, you an' I, an' stan's by each other. You'll find me a right handy partner when it comes to fightin', an' I kin back ye up with a gang what will wade through gore fer me. Under them circumstances, I reckons we kin give this yere minin' trust a run fer its money."
"Your offer is very interesting, not to say fascinating," confessed Frank. "But there is something behind it. Come out with the whole matter."
"There's nothing to come out with, save that I'm to be taken in a half-partner in your mines."
"Only that?" smiled Merry scornfully.
Bill did not like the manner in which the youth spoke those two words.
"I 'lows," he said, "that you'll be gettin' off a heap cheap at that. If you fails to accept, it's almost certain your friends never hears of you no more. You'll be planted somewhere yereabouts. Arter that, the minin' trust will have easy goin'."
"Well," said Merry, "I presume you will give me time to think this matter over?"
"Certainly. I gives ye till to-morrer mornin'."
"All right."
Again Bill lighted a fresh cigarette.
"But, without 'pearin' to press ye too hard, which might cause ye onpleasant rememberances in the futer, I hints that I'll be a heap riled up if you fails to accept my offer."
Then Bill called the guard and sauntered out.
Frank had no thought of permitting the desperado to force him into such a partnership, but he believed that it would be well to appear to take time to consider it.
That afternoon, toward nightfall, he was permitted to go outside in the open air, with two armed guards watching over him.
Frank inhaled the open air with a sense of gratitude, for the hut had become stuffy and oppressive. He looked around, noting the surroundings, without betraying any great interest in the location. He saw that all about the hills rose to enclose the valley, but conjectured that the party had entered from the south or southeast.
By this time the men were interested in him, and they looked him over curiously. Four of them were playing cards, and Merry sat down on the ground where he could watch the game.
"You don't want to be makin' no remarks about what keerds ye sees in anybody's hand, young man," growled one of them, whose cards Merry could see.
Frank smiled.
"I'm not quite that fresh," he said. "I have played the game occasionally myself. If I had a chance to sit in, I might give you some points."
They laughed derisively at that, for the idea that this smooth-faced youth could give them points at poker seemed preposterous.
"Why, ef you got inter this game we'd skin the eye-teeth outer ye!" declared one.
"You'd be easy pluckin'," said another.
"It would be a shame to rob ye," sneered a third. "But seein's you ain't got no dust we won't have that pleasure."
"If it's dust that bars me," said Merry, "I might have enough to last a hand or two. I see you're playing five dollars limit, with a two bits edge."
"Why, you're plumb skinned dry!" said Big Monte. "You ain't got no stuff."
Whereupon Frank displayed a little thin wad of bank-bills, amounting to about twenty-five dollars in all.
They were astounded, for no money had been found on him when he was searched for the papers.
"How is this?" growled Monte. "Whar did ye keep it hid?"
"That's my business," said Merry. "If you're anxious to teach me this game let me in."
They made a place for him, assuring him that he would "last quick."
Now Merry was a most adept poker-player, although he let the game entirely alone, not believing in gambling. He was also a clever magician, and he could do tricks with cards to astonish far more astute men than these ruffians.
It was Pinto Pede's deal, and the Mexican handled the cards in a slick manner. Without pretending to watch him, Merry really kept a close eye on the fellow's movements.
Pede looked his cards over carelessly. Big Monte chipped a dollar, the next man raised him a dollar, and it was up to Frank, who immediately raised five.
Monte laughed hoarsely.
"Throwin' yer money away right off, eh?" he said.
The man after Frank dropped out.
Pinto Pede raised five dollars.
The fellow whose edge it was dropped his cards, but Monte came in, as did the next man and Frank.
"How men' card?" asked the Mexican.
"I'll take two," said Monte.
"Better draw to the strength o' yer hand," advised the next man. "Gimme three."
Pede looked inquiringly at Merry.
"One card," said Frank.
Pede frowned and looked annoyed. He had stacked the cards, and everything had worked perfectly up to Merriwell, who had been given three jacks on the deal, and whom the Mexican had expected would draw two.
"You take da two card!" exclaimed Pede. "Yo' no fool anybod' with da side card."
"I'll take one!" said Frank grimly. "If I choose to hold a side card to threes that is my business. Perhaps I have two pairs."
The Mexican had betrayed his trick by his anger at Merry's style of drawing. Writhing with anger, he tossed Frank one card.
"I tak' two," he said.
Merry leaned forward and watched the Mexican's fingers so closely that Pede was given no chance to perform any crooked work, if he had contemplated it.
"Now we're off," said Frank. "Go ahead and do your betting."
Then he glanced at his cards. He had held up a five spot with his three jacks. To his satisfaction, he found Pede had given him another five spot.
Merry had conceived that it was the Mexican's plan to give him threes and then to fill his hand with a small pair, but to take a pair himself, having on the deal secured threes of a higher denomination than those in Merry's hand. For that very reason, Frank had decided to draw one card, instead of two, thinking to defeat Pede's object in securing a full.
By a strange chance, Frank had held up a five spot, while all the time Pede had been intending to give him a pair of fives. This being the case, the youth secured his full hand just the same, but without the knowledge of the dealer. At the same time, he spoiled Pede's draw, for the pair the Mexican had counted on getting had been divided, he getting instead one of the fives intended for Merriwell. This left Pede with three queens, a five, and a nine.
But the Mexican believed that Merriwell had secured only threes, as he did not dream for an instant that the side card held up with the three jacks could be a five spot.
In case Frank had three jacks only, Pede's three queens were "good."
The betting began.
Monte started it with a dollar.
The next man had failed to improve his hand, and