Bill came back with a raise of two hundred, and as the other covered it he quietly shoved a pistol into his face and observed: "I am calling the hand that is in your hat!" [Illustration: HE SHOVED A PISTOL IN THE MAN'S FACE AND SAID "I'M CALLING THE HAND THAT'S IN YOUR HAT"] Gathering in the pot with his left hand, he held the pistol with his right and inquired if any of the players had any objections to offer.
They hastened to reply that they had no objections whatever and we went away from there.
"Bill," I said, when we were well outside the place, "I had been noticing that fellow's play right along, but I thought you hadn't.

I was going to get into the game myself if he beat you out of that money." "Billy," replied Hickock, "I don't want you ever to learn it, but that is one of my favorite poker tricks.

It always wins against crooked players." Not all of the gunmen of the West began straight.

Some of them--many, in fact--were thieves and murderers from the beginning.

Such were the members of the McCandless gang, which Hickock disposed of so thoroughly.