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numbers in vain attempts to work out his system。 They complained of
their inability to get a clew to start with； and swore that it was pure luck；
though the most colossal streak of it they had ever seen。
It was Smoke's varied play that obfuscated them。 Sometimes；
consulting his note…book or engaging in long calculations； an hour elapsed
without his staking a chip。 At other times he would win three limit…bets
and clean up a thousand dollars and odd in five or ten minutes。 At still
other times； his tactics would be to scatter single chips prodigally and
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amazingly over the table。 This would continue for from ten to thirty
minutes of play； when； abruptly； as the ball whirled through the last few of
its circles； he would play the limit on column； colour； and number； and win
all three。 Once； to complete confusion in the minds of those that strove
to divine his secret； he lost forty straight bets； each at the limit。 But each
night； play no matter how diversely； Shorty carried home thirty…five
hundred dollars for him。
〃It ain't no system；〃 Shorty expounded at one of their bed…going
discussions。 〃I follow you； an' follow you； but they ain't no figgerin' it
out。 You never play twice the same。 All you do is pick winners when
you want to； an' when you don't want to； you just on purpose don't。〃
〃Maybe you're nearer right than you think； Shorty。 I've just got to
pick losers sometimes。 It's part of the system。〃
〃Systemhell！ I've talked with every gambler in town； an' the last
one is agreed they ain't no such thing as system。〃
〃Yet I'm showing them one all the time。〃
〃Look here； Smoke。〃 Shorty paused over the candle； in the act of
blowing it out。 〃I'm real irritated。 Maybe you think this is a candle。 It
ain't。 An' this ain't me neither。 I'm out on trail somewheres； in my
blankets； lyin' on my back with my mouth open； an' dreamin' all this。
That ain't you talkin'； any more than this candle is a candle。〃
〃It's funny； how I happen to be dreaming along with you then；〃 Smoke
persisted。
〃No； it ain't。 You're part of my dream； that's all。 I've hearn many a
man talk in my dreams。 I want to tell you one thing； Smoke。 I'm gettin'
mangy an' mad。 If this here dream keeps up much more I'm goin' to bite
my veins an' howl。〃
VI。
On the sixth night of play at the Elkhorn； the limit was reduced to five
dollars。
〃It's all right；〃 Smoke assured the game…keeper。 〃I want thirty… five
hundred to…night； as usual； and you only compel me to play longer。 I've
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got to pick twice as many winners； that's all。〃
〃Why don't you buck somebody else's table？〃 the keeper demanded
wrathfully。
〃Because I like this one。〃 Smoke glanced over to the roaring stove
only a few feet away。 〃Besides； there are no draughts here； and it is
warm and comfortable。〃
On the ninth night； when Shorty had carried the dust home； he had a
fit。
〃I quit； Smoke； I quit；〃 he began。 〃I know when I got enough。 I
ain't dreamin'。 I'm wide awake。 A system can't be； but you got one just
the same。 There's nothin' in the rule o' three。 The almanac's clean out。
The world's gone smash。 There's nothin' regular an' uniform no more。
The multiplication table's gone loco。 Two is eight； nine is eleven； and
two…times…six is eight hundred an' forty… sixan'an' a half。 Anything is
everything； an' nothing's all； an' twice all is cold cream； milk…shakes； an'
calico horses。 You've got a system。 Figgers beat the figgerin'。 What
ain't is； an' what isn't has to be。 The sun rises in the west； the moon's a
paystreak； the stars is canned corn…beef； scurvy's the blessin' of God； him
that dies kicks again； rocks floats； water's gas； I ain't me； you're somebody
else； an' mebbe we're twins if we ain't hashed…brown potatoes fried in
verdigris。 Wake me up！ Somebody！ Oh！ Wake me up！〃
VII。
The next morning a visitor came to the cabin。 Smoke knew him；
Harvey Moran； the owner of all the games in the Tivoli。 There was a
note of appeal in his deep gruff voice as he plunged into his business。
〃It's like this； Smoke；〃 he began。 〃You've got us all guessing。 I'm
representing nine other game…owners and myself from all the saloons in
town。 We don't understand。 We know that no system ever worked
against roulette。 All the mathematic sharps in the colleges have told us
gamblers the same thing。 They say that roulette itself is the system； the
one and only system； and； therefore； that no system can beat it； for that
would mean arithmetic has gone bug… house。〃
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Shorty nodded his head violently。
〃If a system can beat a system； then there's no such thing as system；〃
the gambler went on。 〃In such a case anything could be possiblea thing
could be in two different places at once； or two things could be in the same
place that's only large enough for one at the same time。〃
〃Well； you've seen me play；〃 Smoke answered defiantly； 〃and if you
think it's only a string of luck on my part； why worry？〃
〃That's the trouble。 We can't help worrying。 It's a system you've got；
and all the time we know it can't be。 I've watched you five nights now；
and all I can make out is that you favour certain numbers and keep on
winning。 Now the ten of us game…owners have got together； and we want
to make a friendly proposition。 We'll put a roulette table in a back room
of the Elkhorn； pool the bank against you； and have you buck us。 It will
be all quiet and private。 Just you and Shorty and us。 What do you say？〃