You could hear the sound of a honky-tonk piano playing a tune and the laughter and shouts of men coming from the hotel.  Willie, a friend of Mark's was curious to what was going on.  His eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked in.  Several men tossed in their hands.  The one man was Keeler, the owner of the game.  I was the other man.  Willie was flabbergasted when he saw who it was.  He hurried off to tell Mark. 

"I don't care what you saw! You're a liar!" Said Mark.  "I am not a liar! You take that back!" Said Willie.  "Liar!" Yelled Mark.  Willie hit Mark and the boys started to scuffle.  Willie got the best of Mark.  He made Mark say uncle and if he was right he owed Mark a nuggler for free for an apology.  Mark agreed and they went to see what Willie was talkin' about.  Mark slowly walked up to the window.  When he looked in he could see it was me.  He slowly backed off and just stood there.  "See.....I wasn't lying! Now I'll take my apology with a nuggler to go with it!" Said Willie.  He hit Mark hard, but Mark was to focused on me then to even care how much it hurt.                  

We were all tired and decided to call it a night.  Keeler told Rose, his girlfriend to bring him a drink.  He invited us to join him.  I told him I'd pass this round.  Keeler .told me he thought I was a pretty good poker player.  I told him I was once, a long time ago.  I then tossed Fats a dollar and thanked him for the entertainment and left.

As I headed for my horse I heard someone call my name.  It was Jesse.  I asked him what he was doing here.  He said he couldn't wait anymore.  He had to find out what was happening.  "Well.....did you catch him at it?" He asked.  I shook my head no.  I told him I watched his hands like a hawk.  I never took my eyes off of him all night.  I didn't see anything out of order.  I felt he was an old hand at this and he wouldn't risk cheating unless the stakes are higher.  They were higher the other night.  Jesse lost his farm to Keeler.  Jesse still hadn't told his wife, Mary yet.  He had promised her he would never touch a card again.  She swore if he did she would leave him.  "If I loose my wife and farm because of that 'Tin Horn' I'll kill him so help me!"  I told him he was talkin' like a fool.  He said he would take Keeler and beat him to a pulp and make him admit that he cheated.  I told him I'd play poker with Keeler again tomorrow night.  Maybe if the stakes were higher he'd try something I could catch him at.  I told Jesse to go home and be patience.  I knew Jesse needed my help, I owed him and besides I liked poker.

Keeler was ready to leave town.  Each night he made less and less money.  Rose was happy about that.  She wanted to be near some life again.  Maybe see a show once in awhile.  Keeler told her then it was settled.  He told her it would take about a day or two settle up on the IOU's for cash. 

When I got back to the ranch I quietly went inside.  Just as I was gettin' ready to take my boots off Mark walked out from the bedroom.  "Oh hello son. Sorry I woke you."  "I wasn't asleep," said Mark.  I noticed his face was bruised.  When I went to look he pulled away from me.  I asked him if he had gotten into a fight in town.  "Sorta!" Said Mark.  "Now Mark, we don't keep things from each other as a rule."  "No.....not as a rule," said Mark.  He told me about his fight with Willie and how he thought he was lying.  "Lying about what?" I asked.  "About you gamblin' with that man who's married to the new waitress at the hotel. Willie said your no better then a
'Tin Horn.' "  "And you fought him on my account?"  I told him to sit down.  I told him about Micah's and my plan to try and catch Keeler at cheatin'. 

Jesse was gettin' his seed around for plantin' when Keeler rode up.  After some small conversation Keeler told he came for his fifteen hundred dollar.  Jesse said he didn't have the money and that Keeler told him he'd give him sometime.  Keeler said he had enough of this town.  He felt it was time for another community to have the benefit of his sporting ability.  He told Jesse he was leaving in two days.  Keeler then asked him if he had a thousand.  "All you'll get out of this ride is a sunstroke."  Jesse points to the buckboard which is loaded with seed) All my money is in them sacks."  Keeler told him he better start packin', this spread goes to the bank tomorrow in the morning.  Jesse leaps to the buckboard and gets his shotgun.  Keeler then shot a hole in one of the bags of seed.  The seed is pouring out onto the ground.  Mary came running out of the house.  She wanted to know what was going on.  Keeler told her the whole story.  He then rode off.  Mary was upset.  She and Jesse were arguing when I rode up.  Jesse told me what Keeler had said.  Mary was practically in tears.  She felt should couldn't trust Jesse.  I tried to explain to Mary how Jesse needed the money for a good crop this year.  He was hoping to win it.  I told her I knew it wasn't right and not to judge him too quickly.  I told her I was going to try and prove that Keeler cheats and that tomorrow would be my last chance.  Mary said that she had until tomorrow too, to make up her mind.  She thanked me. 

        After school Willie and two other boys hurried on to get a head of Mark.  They set on the ground outside of Millie's.  Willie pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket and starts dealing the cards.  "Step right up, gents! Step right up and let's play cards! Let's wheel and deal! Jacks or better, aces high and deuces wild!"  As Mark and his friend walked by he stopped when he heard Willie.  "Hey Tin Horn!  I'm calling ya'! What's the matter, ain't our game fast enough for you, Mr. Tin Horn?  Wanna call me a liar again? Or did you have enough last night?"   Mark's friend told him to come on, that Willie was just a big mouth.  He and Mark ignored Willie and walked away. 

I was gettin' ready to go into town.  Mark was workin' on his homework.  He was having trouble with I E - E I words. I told him there was a rule to follow.  "I before E except after C and when sounding like A is in neighbor and weigh."  He then asked me about glacier.  I told him that was some French word or somethin'.  Mark said he couldn't concentrate.  I told him everything would be over by tomorrow, one way or another.  I headed for town.  Mark then went back to his lessons.  This time Mark was writin' words like 'gambler' then 'gunfight.'  This frightened Mark.

When I got into town Millie was closing the store for the night.  She walked over to me.  "Well if it isn't Mr. McCain the gambler!"  "Hello Millie."  "What's going on? Do you know that the whole towns calling you a Tin Horn gambler? I'm tired of defending you!"  "Oh you've been defending me? Thank you!"  She walked closer.  "Why are you doing it?"  "Why does a steer rub his flank against a tree.  Because he likes it."  She felt I was keeping something from her and she was right.  "I just like to play poker!"  "With a professional Tin Horn? When your son is alone all night!"  I didn't say anything.....I couldn't.  I just looked away.  "Well I guess I know when I've been told to mind my own business. Goodnight.....Mr. McCain!"  "Now Millie....." "Only my friends call me Millie! People who don't trust me and gamblers call me Miss Scott!"  She walked away.  Micah then came out of his office.  He heard every word. "Boy have we ever been tan and skinned to the barn door," said Micah.  "Oh I don't know.....I thought I stood up to her pretty well Micah."  "You lost!" Said Micah.  I told Micah what had happened out at Jesse's place earlier today with Keeler.  I told Micah I had to force Keeler's hand but with one hundred and seventy-five dollars you can't do much.  He then went into his office.  He came out with two hundred and twenty-five dollars.  I didn't want to take it.  I could loose it.  He insisted that I take all of it!              

All the seats were taken at the card table.  I made sure that Rose saw my roll of money.  It didn't take her long to tell Keeler I was loaded.  He told her to tell Joe to get out of the game.  Rose then came over to me and told me there was a seat available now. 

We played cards for awhile.  Not much happenin'.  Keeler mentioned it was going to be a dull night.  He suggested we take the limit off.  Table stakes.  I was all for it.  Keeler calls to Rose to bring a round of drinks for everybody and a sandwich for him.  When Rose brought the tray to the table I stopped her and told her to set the tray down in front of me.  Everything got quiet. Keeler asked me what was the matter.  I told him I'd like that napkin better if it wasn't folded.  "You think there's a stacked deck in the napkin? Go ahead and look," Said Keeler.  I lifted the napkin.  Nothing there.  "That's one of the bad things about being a gambler. Now get out!" Said Keeler.  "Your not very grateful Keeler. At least I proved you run an honest game."  He laughed and we shook hands.  He said he couldn't hold a grudge.      

    We played for several hours.  Just about everybody folded.  Keeler was ready to call it quits.  I talked about my streak of luck and how it was a long time coming.  I talked Keeler into just him and I playing.  Keeler asked me how much money I had.  I told him about seven hundred dollars.  He said he'd play one game of showdown for the whole thing.  I hesitated.  "Thought you wanted to play?" Asked Keeler.  "Let's go!" I said.  I licked my thumb and casually pressed it into the cigar ash.  Making sure no one saw it.  I took my thumb and brushed the ashes over my cards.  Rose then dropped a bottle of whiskey onto the floor.  Not thinking I looked a way for a moment.  I quickly turn my attention back to Keeler.  Keeler slapped the deck on the middle of the table.  "Cut!"  I cut the deck.  Keeler then shuffled them.  He started dealing them.  It looks like Keeler was going to win with a pair of kings.  "You sure had me worried.....I was afraid you wouldn't do it. But you came through like a thoroughbred.....you cheated!"  I grabbed my rifle.  "You switched the decks!"  I told him about smudgin' the cards that was in my hand and the one was the ace of hearts.  This card was clean.  When Rose dropped the bottle he switched the decks.  He said I was loco.  I put my hand on the under-side of the table and put the table to it's side.  I started feeling for a special compartment under the poker table.  I couldn't find one.  I took my foot and kicked the table.  The compartment opened and the cards fell out.  He knew I had him.  He reached for his derringer and fired.  I kick the pistol out of his hand and hit him.  "Fats! You got any music for cheatin' tin horns?"

Micah locked up Keeler.  Micah asked me if I wanted the deck of cards for a souvenir.  I didn't need a souvenir, I was glad it was over.  "Hey look at these Pa.....this is a marked deck."  "Pa.....teach me how to pay poker!"  "If you don't Lucasboy, somebody else will," said Micah.  "Yeah but not for a while yet Micah."  "Alright son, someday!"  "First thing you have to learn about poker is it's not always played as a game. Come on, let's go home."