The cowpunchers sat as stiff as though in Sunday store-clothes.

Shorty took advantage of this favoring hush.
"I find him sitting in at a game of poker and I give him the girl's letter.

He shakes it open saying: 'See that ten and raise you ten more.' I look over his shoulder as he flips up his cards.

He's got a measly pair of deuces! Then he reads the letter and hands it back to me.

'Is it as bad as all that ?' he says.