Robert Barr

“ Heavens and earth! How many business men in this whole city would expect their bare word to be taken for $100,000?"
"I'm not a business man. I'm a gambler."
"True, true. Is the money in sight?"
"No; but you'll be paid. Your money is not in sight. I trust you. Can't you trust me?
"It isn't quite the same thing, Pony. I'll trust you for three times the money you have in sight, but when you talk about $100,000 you are talking of a lot of cash."
"If I can convince Mellish here that you will get your money, will you play?"
"You can convince me just as easily as you can Mellish. ”

“ Mellish couldn't stand it any longer. He retired to one of the inner rooms. The first deal with the new pack turned in Pony's favor and he seemed to feel that his luck had changed, but the next deal went against him and also the one following.
"It's your shuffle," said Rowell, pushing the cards towards his opponent. Bert did not touch the cards, but smiled across at the gambler.
"What's the matter with you? Why don't you shuffle?" ”

“ I guess you're not afraid I will flunk out.I'm ready to meet you on any terms and for any stake."
"Enough said. I'll let you know some of the particulars as soon as I find out all I want myself. Good-night."
"Good-night to you, rather," said Bert, as Mellish helped him on with his overcoat. "You've won the pile: robbing a poor man of his hard-earned gains!"
"Oh, the poor man does not need the money as badly as I do. Besides, I'm going to give you a chance to win it all back again and more."
When Ragstock had left, Pony still sat by the table absent-mindedly shuffling the cards. ”