you a free hand and it won't cost you a cent. Fix your baby blues
on the little ball and watch me close. Don't let me deceive you.
Now then, which hut hides the grain?"

Noting a half-dozen pairs of eyes upon him, the Norseman became
conscious that he was a center of interest. He grinned half-
heartedly and, after a brief hesitation, thrust forth a clumsy
paw, lifted a shell, and exposed the object of general curiosity.

"You guessed it!" There was commendation, there was pleased
surprise, in Mr. Broad's tone. "You can't fool a foreigner, can
you, boys? My, my! Ain't it lucky for me that we played for fun?
But you got to give me another chance, Lars; I'll fool you yet. In
walks the little pill once more, I make the magic pass, and you
follow me attentively, knowing in your heart of hearts that I'm a
slick un. Now then, shoot, Kid; you can't miss me!"

The onlookers stirred with interest; with eager fingers the
artless Norwegian fumbled in his pocket. At the last moment,
however, he thought better of his impulse, grunted once, then
turned his back to the table and walked away.

"Missed him!" murmured the dealer, with no display of feeling;
then to the group around him he announced, shamelessly: "You got
to lead those birds; they fly fast."

One of Mr. Broad's boosters, he who had twice won for the
Norseman's benefit, carelessly returned his winnings. "Sure!" he
agreed. "They got a head like a turtle, them Swedes."