°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
pile¡¡right¡¡here£»¡¡unless¡¡you're¡¡stickin'¡¡up¡¡your¡¡nose¡¡at¡¡two¡hundred¡¡¡dollar¡¡
pans¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡took¡¡a¡¡swallow¡¡of¡¡coffee¡¡before¡¡replying¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Shorty£»¡¡why¡¡are¡¡our¡¡two¡¡claims¡¡here¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Panama¡¡Canal£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What's¡¡the¡¡answer£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Panama¡¡Canal¡¡is¡¡west¡¡of¡¡the¡¡western¡¡
entrance£»¡¡that's¡¡all¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Go¡¡on£»¡¨¡¡Shorty¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡ain't¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡joke¡¡yet¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡short£»¡¡Shorty£»¡¡you¡¡staked¡¡our¡¡two¡¡claims¡¡on¡¡a¡¡big¡¡horseshoe¡¡bend¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Shorty¡¡set¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡pan¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡up¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Go¡¡on£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡repeated¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡upper¡¡stake¡¡of¡¡twenty¡eight¡¡is¡¡ten¡¡feet¡¡below¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡stake¡¡of¡¡
twenty¡seven¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡mean¡¡we¡¡ain't¡¡got¡¡nothin'£»¡¡Smoke£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Worse¡¡than¡¡that£»¡¡we've¡¡got¡¡ten¡¡feet¡¡less¡¡than¡¡nothing¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Shorty¡¡¡¡¡¡departed¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bank¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡run¡£¡¡¡¡Five¡¡¡¡¡¡minutes¡¡¡¡¡¡later¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡66¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡67¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡Bellew¡¡
returned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡response¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Joy's¡¡¡¡¡¡look£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡¡¡¡¡speech£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
went¡¡over¡¡to¡¡a¡¡log¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡to¡¡gaze¡¡steadily¡¡at¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡his¡¡
moccasins¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡break¡¡¡¡¡¡camp¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡start¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡Dawson£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡
said£»¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡fold¡¡the¡¡blankets¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡sorry£»¡¡Smoke£»¡¨¡¡Joy¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡my¡¡fault¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day's¡¡work£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡it's¡¡my¡¡fault£»¡¡wholly¡¡mine£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡persisted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Dad's¡¡staked¡¡for¡¡me¡¡
down¡¡near¡¡Discovery£»¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡give¡¡you¡¡my¡¡claim¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Shorty£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡pleaded¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Shorty¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡colossal¡¡laugh¡£¡¡
Chuckles¡¡and¡¡muffled¡¡explosions¡¡yielded¡¡to¡¡hearty¡¡roars¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡ain't¡¡hysterics£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡explained£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡sure¡¡get¡¡powerful¡¡amused¡¡at¡¡times£»¡¡
an'¡¡this¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gaze¡¡¡¡¡¡chanced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡fall¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡gold¡¡¡¡¡¡pan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡walked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
gravely¡¡kicked¡¡it£»¡¡scattering¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡over¡¡the¡¡landscape¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡¡¡¡¡ain't¡¡¡¡¡¡ourn£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡¡¡¡¡belongs¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡geezer¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡backed¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡five¡¡
hundred¡¡feet¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An'¡¡what¡¡gets¡¡me¡¡is¡¡four¡¡hundred¡¡an'¡¡ninety¡¡of¡¡
them¡¡feet¡¡was¡¡to¡¡the¡¡good¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡his¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Come¡¡on£»¡¡Smoke¡£¡¡Let's¡¡start¡¡the¡¡
hike¡¡to¡¡Dawson¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡if¡¡you're¡¡hankerin'¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡me¡¡I¡¡won't¡¡lift¡¡a¡¡finger¡¡
to¡¡prevent¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡67¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡68¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡Bellew¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡SHORTY¡¡DREAMS¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Funny¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡gamble¡¡none£»¡¨¡¡Shorty¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Smoke¡¡one¡¡night¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
Elkhorn¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ain't¡¡it¡¡in¡¡your¡¡blood£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡Smoke¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡the¡¡statistics¡¡are¡¡in¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡like¡¡
an¡¡even¡¡break¡¡for¡¡my¡¡money¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡huge¡¡¡¡¡¡bar¡room£»¡¡¡¡arose¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡click¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡rattle¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
rumble¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡games£»¡¡at¡¡which¡¡fur¡clad£»¡¡moccasined¡¡men¡¡tried¡¡their¡¡
luck¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡waved¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡include¡¡them¡¡all¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Look¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡¡¡¡¡mathematics¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡lose¡¡
more¡¡than¡¡they¡¡win¡¡to¡night£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡big¡¡proportion¡¡is¡¡losing¡¡right¡¡now¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡sure¡¡¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡figgers£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Shorty¡¡¡¡murmured¡¡¡¡¡¡admiringly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨An'¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡main¡¡you're¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡they's¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡as¡¡facts¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An'¡¡one¡¡fact¡¡is¡¡
streaks¡¡of¡¡luck¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They's¡¡times¡¡when¡¡every¡¡geezer¡¡playin'¡¡wins£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡
for¡¡I've¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡in¡¡such¡¡games¡¡an'¡¡saw¡¡more'n¡¡one¡¡bank¡¡busted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡only¡¡
way¡¡to¡¡win¡¡at¡¡gamblin'¡¡is¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡a¡¡hunch¡¡that¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡lucky¡¡streak¡¡
comin'¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡play¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡roof¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡sounds¡¡simple£»¡¨¡¡Smoke¡¡criticized¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡simple¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡see¡¡how¡¡men¡¡
can¡¡lose¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡trouble¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡Shorty¡¡admitted£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡most¡¡men¡¡gets¡¡fooled¡¡on¡¡their¡¡
hunches¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡occasion¡¡I¡¡sure¡¡get¡¡fooled¡¡on¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡thing¡¡is¡¡to¡¡try£»¡¡an'¡¡
find¡¡out¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡statistic£»¡¡¡¡too£»¡¡¡¡Shorty¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Most¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡prove¡¡¡¡¡¡wrong¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡
hunches¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡ever¡¡get¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡streaky¡¡feelin's¡¡that¡¡all¡¡you¡¡got¡¡to¡¡
do¡¡is¡¡put¡¡your¡¡money¡¡down¡¡an'¡¡pick¡¡a¡¡winner£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡laughed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡too¡¡scared¡¡of¡¡the¡¡percentage¡¡against¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I'll¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡what£»¡¡
Shorty¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡throw¡¡a¡¡dollar¡¡on¡¡the¡¡'high¡¡card'¡¡right¡¡now¡¡and¡¡see¡¡if¡¡it¡¡will¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡68¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡69¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡Bellew¡¡
buy¡¡us¡¡a¡¡drink¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡was¡¡edging¡¡his¡¡way¡¡in¡¡to¡¡the¡¡faro¡¡table£»¡¡when¡¡Shorty¡¡caught¡¡his¡¡
arm¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Hold¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡gettin'¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡hunches¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡put¡¡that¡¡dollar¡¡
on¡¡roulette¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡went¡¡over¡¡to¡¡a¡¡roulette¡¡table¡¡near¡¡the¡¡bar¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Wait¡¡till¡¡I¡¡give¡¡the¡¡word£»¡¨¡¡Shorty¡¡counselled¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡number£¿¡¨¡¡Smoke¡¡asked¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Pick¡¡it¡¡yourself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡wait¡¡till¡¡I¡¡say¡¡let¡¡her¡¡go¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡an¡¡even¡¡chance¡¡on¡¡that¡¡table£¿¡¨¡¡Smoke¡¡
argued¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡good¡¡as¡¡the¡¡next¡¡geezers¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡not¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡the¡¡bank's¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Wait¡¡and¡¡see£»¡¨¡¡Shorty¡¡urged¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Now£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡her¡¡go£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡game¡keeper¡¡had¡¡just¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡little¡¡ivory¡¡ball¡¡whirling¡¡around¡¡the¡¡
smooth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rim¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡revolving£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡slotted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wheel¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡the¡¡
lower¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡reached¡¡over¡¡a¡¡player£»¡¡and¡¡blindly¡¡tossed¡¡the¡¡dollar¡£¡¡
It¡¡¡¡¡¡slid¡¡¡¡¡¡along¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡smooth£»¡¡¡¡¡¡green¡¡¡¡¡¡cloth¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡stopped¡¡¡¡¡¡fairly¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡centre¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
'34¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡ball¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡rest£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡game¡keeper¡¡¡¡¡¡announced£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thirty¡four¡¡
wins£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡swept¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡table£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡alongside¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke's¡¡¡¡¡¡dollar£»¡¡¡¡¡¡stacked¡¡
thirty¡five¡¡dollars¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡drew¡¡the¡¡money¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡Shorty¡¡slapped¡¡him¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Now£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡real¡¡goods¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hunch£»¡¡Smoke£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How'd¡¡I¡¡know¡¡it£¿¡¡
There's¡¡no¡¡tellin'¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡just¡¡knew¡¡you'd¡¡win¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡if¡¡that¡¡dollar¡¡of¡¡yourn'd¡¡
fell¡¡on¡¡any¡¡other¡¡number¡¡it'd¡¡won¡¡just¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡hunch¡¡is¡¡right£»¡¡
you¡¡just¡¡can't¡¡help¡¡winnin'¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨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£»¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡69¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡70¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smoke¡¡Bellew¡¡
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¡¡t