deal--as to deceive Beaucaire into firmly believing that he held an
absolutely unbeatable hand--he was dealt four aces and a king."

The lawyer leaned forward, breathing heavily.

"Four aces! Only one hand is better than that, and it would be
impossible to get such a hand out of one pack."

"That is exactly true, Haines. I am no card player, but I do know that
much about the game. Yet Kirby took the pot with a straight flush.
Now, either he, or Carver, slipped an extra ace into the pack, or else
Beaucaire did. In my opinion the Judge had no chance to work such a
trick. And that's the case, as it stands."

Haines jumped to his feet and began pacing the dirt floor excitedly,
his hands clasped behind his back.

"By God, man!" he cried, pausing suddenly. "Even if he did have a
chance, the Judge never did it--never. He was a good sport, and always
played a straight game. You say he bet everything he had?"

"To the last dollar--Kirby egged him on. Besides the money, a deed to
his land, and a bill of sale for his negroes were on the table."

"The field hands, you mean?"

"Yes, and the house servants. Kirby insisted that he write these
words, 'This includes every chattel slave legally belonging to me,' and
made Beaucaire sign it in that form."