"Hold on!" cried Orde. "Where's yours?"
"Oh, that's all right," the gambler reassured him. "I'm with the
house. I guess McNeill's credit is good," he laughed.
"That may all be," insisted Orde, "but I'm putting up my good money,
and I expect to see good money put up in return."
They wrangled over this point for some time, but Orde was obstinate.
Finally the gamblers yielded. A canvass of the drawer, helped out
by the bar and the other games, made up the sum. It bulked large on
the table beside Orde's higher denominations.
The interested audience now consisted of the dozen men comprised by
Orde's friends; nearly twice as many strangers, evidently rivermen;
eight hangers-on of the joint, probably fighters and "bouncers";
half a dozen professional gamblers, and several waitresses. The
four barkeepers still held their positions. Of these, the rivermen
were scattered loosely back of Orde, although Orde's own friends had
by now gathered compactly enough at his shoulder. The mercenaries
and gamblers had divided, and flanked the table at either side.
Newmark, a growing wonder and disgust creeping into his usually
unexpressive face, recognised the strategic advantage of this
arrangement.
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