"The bank president took one card with a crafty, I’ll-make-him-think-I’m-four-flushing expression of countenance. The real estate man, with a queen-high sequence flush of hearts remarked that the bunch he had was good enough for him. Then they got to betting, and it was no time at all before the bank president had done the apology act with the remains of his $500. He pulled out a check-book then and was fumbling around for a fountain pen when the real estate man called him down.
"’Not on your life,’ he said. ’Agreement was that checks don’t go, you’ll remember.’
"’But this hand’——the bank president started to say.
"’Makes no difference about that hand,’ interrupted the real estate man. ’Agreement was for table stakes.’
"’But, great Cæsar, man,’ pleaded the bank president. 'I want to get some kind of a decent run for this hand. Why, I’d bet the clothes right off my back on it.’
"’Well,’ said the real estate man calmly, ’we didn’t make any stipulation about clothes and personal possessions, and you can get the clothes off your back if you want to. But no checks.’
"’Well,’ said the bank president, peeling off a big solitaire ring, ’this stone’s worth $400, and I’ll raise you that much.’
"’I see you,’ said the real estate man. ’What else have you got that I can raise against?’
"’Well,’ replied the bank president, ’this watch is worth $300 and’——
"’Skate it in,’ interrupted the real estate man. ’Raise you $300 then, your valuation of the ticker.’
"’Dog-gone the luck,’ said the bank president, ’I don’t want to call you. I know I’ve got you beat. I’d be willing to bet my corduroys, shoes and hat that I’ve got you soaked, for’——
"’Rush ’em to the center, then,’ calmly replied the real estate man. ’Supposing I appraise the corduroys, shoes and hat at $50 for the bundle. That satisfactory?’
"’It’s got to be,’ replied the bank president mournfully.
"’All right, then, put ’em in the pot and I’ll consider that you’ve called me,’ said the real estate man.
"The bank president stood up, peeled off his coat and waistcoat and hunting breeches and dropped them on the blanket that served for a table. Then he removed his pair of high hunting shoes and placed them on top of the clothes, and tossed his fore-and-aft cap on the heap. Then he sat down in his underclothes, picked up his four aces, and said: