just then caught sight of Noah Ezekiel and moved away from Reedy
Jenkins. He felt it safer--especially for Reedy, to stay out of reach
of him.

Noah Ezekiel's lank form was leaning against a roulette table, a stack
of yellow chips in front of him.

"Hello," said the hill billy as Bob edged his way up to his side.

"How is it going?" asked Bob.

"Fine," answered Noah, carefully laying five chips in the shape of a
star. "I got a system and I'm going to clean 'em up."

Bob smiled and watched. The wheel spun around. The ball slowed and
dropped on 24. Noah's magical star spread around 7. The dealer
reached over and wiped in his five chips.

"You see," Noah explained, taking it for granted Bob knew nothing of
the games, "this is ruelay. You play your money on one number and then
rue it." The hill billy chuckled at his pun. "There are 36 numbers on
the table," he pointed a long forefinger, "and there are 36 numbers on
the wheel. You put your money or chip--the chips are five cents
apiece--on one number, and if the ball stops at that number on the
wheel, you win 35 times what you played."

"But if it doesn't stop on your number?" said Bob.

"Then you are out of luck." Noah Ezekiel had again begun to place his
chips.

"Of course," he explained, "you play this thing dozens of ways; one to
two on the red or black, or you can play one to three on the first,
second or third twelve. Or you can play on the line between two
numbers, and if either number wins you get 17 chips."

Noah won this time. The number in the centre of his star came up and
he got 67 chips.

"Better quit now, hadn't you?" suggested Bob.

"Nope--just beginning to rake 'em in," replied Noah.

"Wish you would," said Bob, "and show me the rest of the games."

Noah reluctantly cashed in. He had begun with a dollar and got back
$4.60.

"You see," said Noah, clinking the silver in his hands as they moved
away, "this is lots easier than work. The only reason I work for you
is out of the kindness of my heart. I made that $4.60 in twenty
minutes."

"Here is craps." They had stopped at a table that looked like a gutted
piano, with sides a foot above the bottom.

"You take the dice"--Noah happened to be in line and got them as the
last man lost--"and put down say a half dollar." He laid one on the
line. "You throw the two dice. If seven comes up---- Ah, there!" he
chuckled. "I done it." The face of the dice showed [3 and 4]. "You