CHAPTER XXVI

A “SKIN GAME.”

“What sort of a crowd is Diamond in?” asked Merriwell, somewhat puzzled by the big Yale man’s words.

“A poker gang.”

“Oh! that’s it?”

“Yes.”

“How did he get into it?”

“Don’t know. I saw him talking with two fellows, and then they walked away, and he went with them. Something made me follow them, and that’s the way I got onto it. You know there is nothing Jack had rather do than play poker.”

“But he quit.”

“At college, yes; you induced him to do that. That’s why I came for you now. I might have waded into the whole crowd and taken him out by force. Was tempted to do it, but my reason told me it was not a good plan.”

“It is strange to me that he should play poker with strangers. It’s not like Jack.”

“Well, I suppose he thought he might as well have some sport while he was away down here, and I don’t believe he is looking for sharpers in this part of the country. It’s more likely he thinks himself as sharp as these people. Besides that, they are playing a very small game.”

“How small?”

“Five-cent ante, twenty-five limit.”

“Well, I have seen a man lose ten or fifteen dollars at that. He can lose more if he is playing against crooks. But what made you think Diamond is in a gang of sharpers?”

“Mr. Jim Welch is playing with them.”

“And Jack Diamond is playing at the table with Jim Welch? Well, this is a surprise! I can hardly believe it.”

“I’ll show you.”

Hodge was not saying anything now, but he did not miss a word. He was no less astonished than Merriwell to learn that Jack was playing with Welch.

“Vait!” gurgled Hans, who was getting out of breath. “You can’t kept oop mit me uf I hurry so, can I?”

“You had better keep back, anyway,” said Bruce. “They will hear you if you come lumbering up to the cottage they are in.”

“Who toldt you so?” squawked the Dutch boy. “How vos id I knew so much apout your pusiness? You make me haf dot tired veelings, Misder Prowning!”

“Bruce is right,” said Frank. “You had better keep back, Hans. There may be a fight, and you will get in the way.”

“A vight!” gasped Hans. “Oxcuse me! I vos nod a scrappers! I vill sot down und vait dill you got pack here.”

Then he proceeded to sit down at the foot of a tree, leaning against it. The others hurried on. They left Camp Benson and continued up the shore to a small cove.

“There is the cottage,” said Bruce, pointing out one that stood back by itself amid the trees.

“It looks deserted,” observed Frank.

“That is because they have closed the door, and put the shutters to the windows.”

“But how are we to look in?”

“I know a way. Come.”

They followed him round behind the cottage, and then approached it with great caution, stepping lightly, so that they would not be heard.

As they came near, they could hear a humming of voices within. They crept up to the back of the cottage, which was not shingled on that end, and Browning applied his eye to a knot hole. After a moment he drew back, showing astonishment.

“You can’t guess who is trying to get into the game now?” he whispered.

Frank shook his head.

“Look and see,” said Bruce.

Merry did so. Applying his eye to the knot hole, he was able to look into the cottage. He also could hear the talk of the men around the table.

Six of them were seated, Diamond and Welch being two of the party. Another man, evidently a late comer, was standing. He it was who was trying to get into the game.

It was Bill Bunker!

“Why can’t I come in?” he was demanding, in a half-drunken manner. “Mr. Welch will speak for me.”

“Yes,” said Welch, “he is a friend of mine, and he is all right, gentlemen. I will speak for him.”

“It makes too many players at one table,” said one, who seemed to be something of a stranger to the others. “We have enough here now.”

“He isn’t one of the gang,” thought Frank, immediately. “He and Jack are the birds they are plucking.”

“Do the others object?” demanded Bunker, aggressively. “Look here; I’ve got money to burn, and I’m looking for an open grate to burn it in.”

Then he took out a roll of bills with one hand and jingled some bright yellow pieces with the other.

“Gold!” exclaimed a player. “Where did you get so much of that stuff? Gold isn’t plenty in these parts.”

“Well, I’ve got this, and you may have it—if you can win it,” said Bunker, with drunken swagger. “Shall I come in?”

“What do you say, Mr. Diamond?” asked Welch, speaking to Jack.

“Dunno’s I care a rap,” said the Virginian, thickly. “His money’s good’s anybody’s.”

Frank started, astounded.

“Diamond has been drinking!” was his first thought. “By Jove! the fellow is half drunk!”

Nothing could have astonished Merriwell more, for Diamond was not a hard drinker; in fact, was not a steady drinker, although he sometimes took a little beer or wine. Now, however, he was somewhat intoxicated, which explained how he happened to be playing poker with a lot of strangers.

It was growing dark. Welch got up and lighted a lamp within the cottage, saying:

“I don’t think there is any real objection to letting you into the game, Mr. Bunker; but the size of it may not suit you.”

“What’s the limit?” asked Bunker.

“A dollar—ten cents ante.”

This was another surprise for Frank. It was evident the limit and the ante had been raised since Browning left.

“Five dollars would be better,” said Bunker. “Let’s make it that. Tell you I’ve got money to burn. You fellers may as well have some of it for kindling. What say?”

“We’ll have a drink all round,” said Welch, producing a bottle and glasses.

The drinks were poured and taken, and then, after a brief discussion, it was decided to raise the limit to five dollars and let Bunker into the game. The fellow who had raised the first objection stood out the longest, but he finally gave in.

Diamond lighted a cigar. He had a pile of money before him, as they were not playing with chips.

Soon the game was running again.

Back of the cottage a brief consultation was held by Jack’s three friends, and then Merriwell again peered through the knot hole. He quickly grew interested, for a large jack pot was on the table, and there was brisk betting before the draw. Four of the seven remained “in.” They were the stranger who had objected to Bunker, Diamond, Welch and Bunker himself. Bunker was dealing.

Frank watched every move, and he quickly detected the fact that Bunker was “clever.” The man was holding back the top cards as the proper ones came up, and he gave three thus held back to Welch, who was drawing to a pair.

“That is enough!” whispered Merriwell, grimly, as he drew back. “It’s a skin game! We must get in before this hand is played out.”

Round the cottage to the door they went.

“We won’t stop to knock,” said Browning. “Stand aside!”

With a rush, he hurled himself against the door, which flew open with a smash and a slam.

Into the room went the big college man, followed by Merriwell and Hodge. The front room was empty. As Bruce paused a moment, Frank sprang past him, crying:

“Come on!”

He rushed into the back room, where the game was taking place.

The gamblers were hastily rising to their feet and gathering up their money, thinking they were raided by officers. They were filled with consternation.

Into the room came Merriwell, Browning and Hodge. Frank was at Jack Diamond’s side in a moment. He spoke swiftly:

“You’re in a skin game, old man! There’s a job to rob you here! I’ve seen proof of it.”

The Virginian was somewhat bewildered by the sudden and unexpected appearance of his friends. He did not move, but Frank gathered up the money before him, scooping it off the board in a twinkling.

The card players were amazed when they saw a lot of beardless young fellows come in upon them. At first they did not understand what it meant, but Welch quickly took in the situation. He saw that Diamond’s friends had followed him there to save him from the trap.

“These are not officers!” he shouted. “They have no right in here!”

“No!” cried Bunker, furiously. “They broke in without right! Give them blazes! Punch them!”

“Try it!” growled the big Yale man, squaring his shoulders and lifting his “dukes.” “It will be sport!”

“At them!” howled Welch.

He leaped forward, but Browning reached out a hand and seemed to catch the fellow in mid air. With a swing, he flung Welch fairly across the table.

“Come up, gentlemen!” he thundered. “I’ll take care of the whole of you if you walk up one at a time.”

One of the gamblers caught up a chair and flung it at the head of the big man. Bruce did not dodge, but he caught the chair and flung it back promptly, knocking the fellow down.

By this time Merriwell had succeeded in pulling Diamond to his feet, and he was trying to impress the Virginian with a sense of the situation. Jack started to protest that he was all right and had not needed assistance, but just then one of the gamblers tried to hit Frank. Diamond saw the movement, and that, more than anything else, awakened him. Like a flash, he whirled and let the fellow have it with his left, striking him under the ear. It was a savage blow, and it knocked Merriwell’s would-be assailant spinning into a corner.

“Don’t try to strike a friend of mine!” rang out the Virginian’s voice, now clear as a bell. “You can’t do that while I am around!”

“At them!” snarled Bunker. “Knock ’em out!”

Then there was a general charge on Merriwell and his friends. The gamblers caught up any kind of a weapon and started in to lay out the intruders in short order.

But they had started in on a hard job, as they were soon to discover, for the four Yale men were fighters. Now that he was aroused, there was nothing slow about Browning’s movements, and he actually enjoyed the fight.

During the next five minutes there was a pitched battle in that room, and a savage one at that. At the outset, the gamblers fought furiously, and some of the intruders were not to escape without small injuries.

Frank Merriwell singled out Bunker, who had caught up a stick of wood and was trying to get a crack at Browning that would lay the big man out. Merry lit on the ruffian and wrenched the club from his hand, at the same time giving him a jab that sent him reeling up against the wall.

Bunker turned, snarling like a wounded animal. With a leap he was upon Frank, and he attempted to crush Merriwell down with the fury of his assault.

But he had struck a lad who would not be crushed so easily. Frank met his rush, grappled with him, gave him a wrestler’s trip and hurled the man over his hip.

Bunker shook the cottage when he fell, but he was up again quickly.

“I’ll fix you!” he grated.

Frank laughed outright.

“Come on,” was his invitation. “You don’t seem to be doing very well so far.”

Then they met again, but this time Frank dodged and gave the man a body blow that brought a grunt from his lips.

Bunker was a fighter, and he was not awkward in his movements, although he was astonished by the work of the lad he had expected to knock out so easily. He whirled again, and this time he struck so quickly that Merry was hit a glancing blow on the cheek.

“That’s not so bad,” admitted Frank, cheerfully. “Come again.”

Bunker accepted the invitation, but the blow was parried and returned with interest. Then there was some “in-fighting” that would have set a crowd of spectators wild had it been at a boxing match. Merry was rapped several times before he got in another good one, but he got it in at last.

Panting, Bunker dropped to his knees. He did not go down, however, but made a forward plunge in rising, trying to come up under Frank’s guard.

Merry leaped back, and so was not caught about the body and lifted, that being the trick Bunker had attempted.

Browning’s heavy voice was heard urging the whole crowd to “come and see him.” Now and then he would grab a man and fling him bodily through the air. Thus it happened that he threw one of them against Frank, and Merriwell was knocked flat upon the floor. Bunker fancied he saw his opportunity, and he leaped up with the intention of planting both heels in Frank’s face. It was a wicked, almost murderous, attempt, but it did not succeed.

Browning saw him, and, being within reach at that moment, thrust out a hand, caught him in mid air before he could drop on Frank, and gave him a fling.

Browning’s wonderful strength saved Frank Merriwell from disfigurement for life, possibly from a fatal injury. Bunker was hurled across the room, and Merry leaped up.

“Good trick, old man!” he exclaimed, appreciatingly. “Dead lucky for me that you did it.”

Diamond and Hodge were doing their level best, and now there was a bellowing sound in the other room, and Hans Dunnerwust, armed with two clubs, one in each hand, came plunging in.

“Oxcuse me!” he cried. “Berhaps you vant me to lick myseluf! Vale, I vos a vighter from Vighterville! Whoop! Shoost seen how I got der game indo! I pet der whole crowdt vill lick me pefore der vun is ofer!”

Then he lay about him blindly with those clubs, being nearly as dangerous to his friends as to his foes.

Browning caught Hans by the collar and a convenient part of his trousers, and flung him out into the other room, closing the door.

“There!” grunted the big fellow; “now we will proceed with the festivities. Let the band play on!”

The gamblers were astounded, for they were beginning to believe that the intruders all enjoyed fighting. Many of the rascals were bruised and bleeding, and they were beginning to weaken. Welch urged them on.

Bunker waded into it again, and, aided by Welch, he led the gang to another assault.

Frank singled out the man who had tried to stamp upon him. He forced his way toward Bunker, reached him, went at him again.

“You are the one I am looking after?” he cried. “I have a score to settle with you, and I am going to settle it!”

Then they went at it again, but now Merriwell showed himself the man’s superior. He hit Bunker repeatedly.

One of his blows brought about a remarkable result. The beard on Bunker’s face was knocked away and nearly came off.

“It’s false!” thought Frank.

At that moment the hanging lamp came down with a crash and went out, leaving the room in absolute darkness. Browning caught hold of Merriwell and Diamond and forced them out through the door, Hodge following instantly. All four rushed out to the open air, where Hans Dunnerwust joined them.

“It’s all over,” said Frank. “Let’s get away quickly. This row will bring a crowd to this spot, for it must have been heard.”

Now it was quite dark in the woods, and they hastened away into the thick shadows.