An inveterate poker player, he got into a game in Springfield with big players and for high stakes.

Sitting by the table, I noticed that he seemed sleepy and inattentive.

So I kept a close watch on the other fellows.

Presently I observed that one of his opponents was occasionally dropping a card in his hat, which he held in his lap, until a number of cards had been laid away for future use in the game.
The pot had gone around several times and was steadily raised by some of the players, Bill staying right along, though he still seemed to be drowsy.
The bets kept rising.

At last the man with the hatful of cards picked a hand out of his reserves, put the hat on his head and raised Bill two hundred dollars.