The grimy figures headed thither might well be miners just in from Eldorado or Anvil Creek.
Gambling was practically wide open, too, and before long Gray found himself in a superheated, overcrowded back room with a stack of silver dollars which he scattered carelessly upon the numbers of a roulette table.

Roulette was much like the oil game.

This was a good way in which to kill an hour.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Gray paid little heed to those about him, until a large hand picked up one of his bets.

Then he raised his eyes.
The hand was attached to a muscular arm, which in turn was attached to a burly stranger of unpleasant mien.

Gray voiced a good-natured protest, but the fellow scowled and refused to acknowledge his mistake.
Noting that the man was flushed, Gray shrugged and allowed the incident to pass.