"Naw, he ain't," voiced another. "He's got two fruit-cans full of
dust. I saw 'em. ... He's just lay down--like a poisoned coyote."

"Shore I'm glad Cleve's got the luck, fer mebbe he'll give my gold
back," spoke up another gamester, with a laugh.

"Wal, he certainlee is the chilvalus card sharp," rejoined the last
player. "Jim, was you allus as lucky in love as in cards?"

"Lucky in love? ... Sure!" answered Jim Cleve, with a mocking,
reckless ring in his voice.

"Funny, ain't thet, boys? Now there's the boss. Kells can sure win
the gurls, but he's a pore gambler." Kells heard this speech, and he
laughed with the others. "Hey, you greaser, you never won any of my
money," he said.

"Come an' set in, boss. Come an' see your gold fade away. You can't
stop this Jim Cleve. Luck--bull luck straddles his neck. He'll win
your gold--your hosses an' saddles an' spurs an' guns--an' your
shirt, if you've nerve enough to bet it."

The speaker slapped his cards upon the table while he gazed at Cleve
in grieved admiration. Kells walked over to the group and he put his
hand on Cleve's shoulder.

"Say youngster," he said, genially, "you said you were just as lucky
in love. ... Now I had a hunch some BAD luck with a girl drove you
out here to the border."