smoke bellew-第14部分

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〃Suppose　it　had　come　'double　nought'？〃　Smoke　queried；　as　they　made　their　way　to　the　bar。

〃Then　your　dollar'd　ben　on　'double　nought；'〃　was　Shorty's　answer。　〃They's　no　gettin'　away　from　it。　　A　hunch　is　a　hunch。　　Here's　how。　Come　on　back　to　the　table。　　I　got　a　hunch；　after　pickin'　you　for　a　winner；　that　I　can　pick　some　few　numbers　myself。〃

〃Are　you　playing　a　system？〃　Smoke　asked；　at　the　end　of　ten　minutes；　when　his　partner　had　dropped　a　hundred　dollars。

Shorty　shook　his　head　indignantly；　as　he　spread　his　chips　out　in　the　vicinities　of　'3；'　'11；'　and　'17；'　and　tossed　a　spare　chip　on　the　'green。'

〃Hell　is　sure　cluttered　with　geezers　that　played　systems；〃　he　exposited；　as　the　keeper　raked　the　table。

From　idly　watching；　Smoke　became　fascinated；　following　closely　every　detail　of　the　game　from　the　whirling　of　the　ball　to　the　making　and　the　paying　of　the　bets。　　He　made　no　plays；　however；　merely　contenting　himself　with　looking　on。　　Yet　so　interested　was　he；　that　Shorty；　announcing　that　he　had　had　enough；　with　difficulty　drew　Smoke　away　from　the　table。　　The　game…keeper　returned　Shorty　the　gold　sack　he　had　deposited　as　a　credential　for　playing；　and　with　it　went　a　slip　of　paper　on　which　was　scribbled；　〃Out　。　。　。　350　dollars。〃　Shorty　carried　the　sack　and　the　paper　across　the　room　and　handed　them　to　the　weigher；　who　sat　behind　a　large　pair　of　gold…scales。　Out　of　Shorty's　sack　he　weighed　350　dollars；　which　he　poured　into　the　coffer　of　the　house。

〃That　hunch　of　yours　was　another　one　of　those　statistics；〃　Smoke　jeered。

〃I　had　to　play　it；　didn't　I；　in　order　to　find　out？〃　Shorty　retorted。　〃I　reckon　I　was　crowdin'　some　just　on　account　of　tryin'　to　convince　you　they's　such　a　thing　as　hunches。〃

〃Never　mind；　Shorty；〃　Smoke　laughed。　〃I've　got　a　hunch　right　now〃

Shorty's　eyes　sparkled　as　he　cried　eagerly：　　〃What　is　it？　　Kick　in　an'　play　it　pronto。〃

〃It's　not　that　kind；　Shorty。　　Now；　what　I've　got　is　a　hunch　that　some　day　I'll　work　out　a　system　that　will　beat　the　spots　off　that　table。〃

〃System！〃　Shorty　groaned；　then　surveyed　his　partner　with　a　vast　pity。　　〃Smoke；　listen　to　your　side…kicker　an'　leave　system　alone。　Systems　is　sure　losers。　　They　ain't　no　hunches　in　systems。〃

〃That's　why　I　like　them；〃　Smoke　answered。　　〃A　system　is　statistical。　When　you　get　the　right　system　you　can't　lose；　and　that's　the　difference　between　it　and　a　hunch。　　You　never　know　when　the　right　hunch　is　going　wrong。〃

〃But　I　know　a　lot　of　systems　that　went　wrong；　an'　I　never　seen　a　system　win。〃　　Shorty　paused　and　sighed。　　〃Look　here；　Smoke；　if　you're　gettin'　cracked　on　systems　this　ain't　no　place　for　you；　an'　it's　about　time　we　hit　the　trail　again。〃



II。

During　the　several　following　weeks；　the　two　partners　played　at　cross　purposes。　　Smoke　was　bent　on　spending　his　time　watching　the　roulette　game　in　the　Elkhorn；　while　Shorty　was　equally　bent　on　travelling　trail。　　At　last　Smoke　put　his　foot　down　when　a　stampede　was　proposed　for　two　hundred　miles　down　the　Yukon。

〃Look　here；　Shorty；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　not　going。　　That　trip　will　take　ten　days；　and　before　that　time　I　hope　to　have　my　system　in　proper　working　order。　　I　could　almost　win　with　it　now。　　What　are　you　dragging　me　around　the　country　this　way　for　anyway？〃

〃Smoke；　I　got　to　take　care　of　you；〃　was　Shorty's　reply。　　〃You're　getting　nutty。　　I'd　drag　you　stampedin'　to　Jericho　or　the　North　Pole　if　I　could　keep　you　away　from　that　table。〃

〃It's　all　right；　Shorty。　　But　just　remember　I've　reached　full　man…　grown；　meat…eating　size。　　The　only　dragging　you'll　do；　will　be　dragging　home　the　dust　I'm　going　to　win　with　that　system　of　mine；　and　you'll　most　likely　have　to　do　it　with　a　dog…team。〃

Shorty's　response　was　a　groan。

〃And　I　don't　want　you　to　be　bucking　any　games　on　your　own；〃　Smoke　went　on。　　〃We're　going　to　divide　the　winnings；　and　I'll　need　all　our　money　to　get　started。　　That　system's　young　yet；　and　it's　liable　to　trip　me　for　a　few　falls　before　I　get　it　lined　up。〃



III。

At　last；　after　long　hours　and　days　spent　at　watching　the　table；　the　night　came　when　Smoke　proclaimed　he　was　ready；　and　Shorty；　glum　and　pessimistic；　with　all　the　seeming　of　one　attending　a　funeral；　accompanied　his　partner　to　the　Elkhorn。　　Smoke　bought　a　stack　of　chips　and　stationed　himself　at　the　game…keeper's　end　of　the　table。　Again　and　again　the　ball　was　whirled　and　the　other　players　won　or　lost；　but　Smoke　did　not　venture　a　chip。　　Shorty　waxed　impatient。

〃Buck　in；　buck　in；〃　he　urged。　　〃Let's　get　this　funeral　over。　　What's　the　matter？　　Got　cold　feet？〃

Smoke　shook　his　head　and　waited。　　A　dozen　plays　went　by；　and　then；　suddenly；　he　placed　ten　one…dollar　chips　on　'26。'　　The　number　won；　and　the　keeper　paid　Smoke　three　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。　　A　dozen　plays　went　by；　twenty　plays；　and　thirty；　when　Smoke　placed　ten　dollars　on　'32。'　　Again　he　received　three　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。

〃It's　a　hunch。〃　　Shorty　whispered　vociferously　in　his　ear。　　〃Ride　it！　　Ride　it！〃

Half　an　hour　went　by；　during　which　Smoke　was　inactive；　then　he　placed　ten　dollars　on　'34'　and　won。

〃A　hunch！〃　Shorty　whispered。

〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　Smoke　whispered　back。　　〃It's　the　system。　Isn't　she　a　dandy？〃

〃You　can't　tell　me；〃　Shorty　contended。　　〃Hunches　comes　in　mighty　funny　ways。　　You　might　think　it's　a　system；　but　it　ain't。　　Systems　is　impossible。　　They　can't　happen。　　It's　a　sure　hunch　you're　playin'。〃

Smoke　now　altered　his　play。　　He　bet　more　frequently；　with　single　chips；　scattered　here　and　there；　and　he　lost　more　often　than　he　won。

〃Quit　it；〃　Shorty　advised。　　〃Cash　in。　　You've　rung　the　bull's　eye　three　times；　an'　you're　ahead　a　thousand。　　You　can't　keep　it　up。〃

At　this　moment　the　ball　started　whirling；　and　Smoke　dropped　ten　chips　on　'26。'　　The　ball　fell　into　the　slot　of　'26；'　and　the　keeper　again　paid　him　three　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。　　〃If　you're　plum　crazy　an'　got　the　immortal　cinch；　bet'm　the　limit；〃　Shorty　said。　〃Put　down　twenty…five　next　time。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　passed；　during　which　Smoke　won　and　lost　on　small　scattering　bets。　　Then；　with　the　abruptness　that　characterized　his　big　betting；　he　placed　twenty…five　dollars　on　the　'double　nought；'　and　the　keeper　paid　him　eight　hundred　and　seventy…five　dollars。

〃Wake　me　up；　Smoke；　I'm　dreamin'；〃　Shorty　moaned。

Smoke　smiled；　consulted　his　note…book；　and　became　absorbed　in　calculation。　　He　continually　drew　the　note…book　from　his　pocket；　and　from　time　to　time　jotted　down　figures。

A　crowd　had　packed　densely　around　the　table；　while　the　players　themselves　were　attempting　to　cover　the　same　numbers　he　covered。　　It　was　then　that　a　change　came　over　his　play。　　Ten　times　in　succession　he　placed　ten　dollars　on　'18'　and　lost。　　At　this　stage　he　was　deserted　by　the　hardiest。　　He　changed　his　number　and　won　another　three　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。　　Immediately　the　players　were　back　with　him；　deserting　again　after　a　series　of　losing　bets。

〃Quit　it；　Smoke；　quit　it；〃　Shorty　advised。　　〃The　longest　string　of　hunches　is　only　so　long；　an'　your　string's　finished。　　No　more　bull's…eyes　for　you。〃

〃I'm　going　to　ring　her　once　again　before　I　cash　in；〃　Smoke　answered。

For　a　few　minutes；　with　varying　luck；　he　played　scattering　chips　over　the　table；　and　then　dropped　twenty…five　dollars　on　the　'double　nought。'

〃I'll　take　my　slip　now；〃　he　said　to　the　dealer；　as　he　won。

〃Oh；　you　don't　need　to　show　it　to　me；〃　Shorty　said；　as　they　walked　to　the　weigher。　　〃I　ben　keepin'　track。　　You're　something　like　thirty…six　hundred　to　the　good。　　How　near　am　I？〃

〃Thirty…six…thirty；〃　Smoke　replied。　　〃And　now　you've　got　to　pack　the　dust　home。　　That　was　the　agreement。〃



IV。

〃Don't　crowd　your　luck；〃　Shorty　pleaded　with　Smoke；　the　next　night；　in　the　cabin；　as　he　evidenced　preparations　to　return　to　the　Elkhorn。　〃You　played　a　mighty　long　string　of　hunches；　but　you　played　it　out。　If　you　go　back　you'll　sure　drop　all　your　winnings。〃

〃But　I　tell　you　it　isn't　hunches；　Shorty。　　It's　statistics。　　It's　a　system。　　It　can't　lose。〃

〃System　be　damned。　　They　ain't　no　such　a　thing　as　system。　　I　made　seventeen　straight　passes　at　a　crap　table　once。　　Was　it　system？　Nope。　　It　was　fool　luck；　only　I　had　cold　feet　an'　didn't　dast　let　it　ride。　　It　it'd　rid；　instead　of　me　drawin'　down　after　the　third　pass；　I'd　a　won　over　thirty　thousan'　on　the　original　two…bit　piece。〃

〃Just　the　same；　Shorty；　this　is　a　real　system。〃

〃Huh！　　You　got　to　show　me。〃

〃I　did　show　you。　　Come　on　with　me　now　and　I'll　show　you　again。〃

When　they　entered　the　Elkhorn；　all　eyes　centred　on　Smoke；　and　those　about　the　table　made　way　for　him　as　he　took　up　his　old　place　at　the　keeper's　end。　　His　play　was　quite　unlike　that　of　the　previous　night。　In　the　course　of　an　hour　and　a　half　he　made　only　four　bets；　but　each　bet　was　for　twenty…five　dollars；　and　each　bet　won。　　He　cashed　in　thirty…five　hundred　dollars；　and　Shorty　carried　the　dust　home　to　the　cabin。

〃Now's　the　time　to　jump　the　game；〃　Shorty　advised；　as　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　his　bunk　and　took　off　his　moccasins。　　〃You're　seven　thousan'　ahead。　　A　man's　a　fool　that'd　crowd　his　luck　harder。〃

〃Shorty；　a　man　would　be　a　blithering　lunatic　if　he　didn't　keep　on　backing　a　winning　system　like　mine。〃

〃Smoke；　you're　a　sure　bright　boy。　　You're　college…learnt。　　You　know　more'n　a　minute　than　I　could　know　in　forty　thousan'　years。　　But　just　the　same　you're　dead　wrong　when　you　call　your　luck　a　system。　　I've　ben　around　some；　an'　seen　a　few；　an'　I　tell　you　straight　an'　confidential　an'　all…assurin'；　a　system　to　beat　a　bankin'　game　ain't　possible。〃

〃But　I'm　showing　you　this　one。　　It's　a　pipe。〃

〃No；　you're　not；　Smoke。　　It's　a　pipe…dream。　　I'm　asleep。　　Bime　by　I'll　wake　up；　an'　build　the　fire；　an'　start　breakfast。〃

〃Well；　my　unbelieving　friend；　there's　the　dust。　　Heft　it。〃

So　saying；　Smoke　tossed　the　bulging　gold…sack　upon　his　partner's　knees。　　It　weighed　thirty…five　pounds；　and　Shorty　was　fully　aware　of　the　crush　of　its　impact　on　his　flesh。

〃It's　real；〃　Smoke　hammered　his　point　home。

〃Huh！　　I've　saw　some　mighty　real　dreams　in　my　time。　　In　a　dream　all　things　is　possible。　　In　real　life　a　system　ain't　possible。　　Now；　I　ain't　never　ben　to　college；　but　I'm　plum　justified　in　sizin'　up　this　gamblin'　orgy　of　ourn　as　a　sure　enough　dream。〃

〃Hamilton's　'Law　of　Parsimony；'〃　Smoke　laughed。

〃I　ain't