the Trail to Seven Pines (1972) by Louis - Hopalong 02 L'amour

saw him and raised, and Hopalong sat back in his chair and grinned at them. His hard blue eyes were smiling over the ice that glinted in their depths. Drennan suddenly shifted his feet and looked anxiously at Poker Harris, but the big man was looking at Hopalong. Hankins sat silent, his big hands resting on the arms of his chair. Troy twisted nervously and glared at Hopalong for the delay.
    Hankins's guns, Hopalong noted, were almost under the arms of his chair, which precluded a swift draw. Drennan wore no gun in sight, and it was a question whether he would declare himself in or not. If trouble showed, Troy would be the first to move. He was the sort to go off half-cocked. Harris was the tough one.
    "Let's make it pot limit," Cassidy said, chuckling. "I like 'em bloody!"
    Troy swore bitterly as Harris nodded assent, then threw in his hand and drew back slightly, leaving himself in position to cover Hopalong if trouble started.
    Poker Harris studied the man across the table with ill-concealed curiosity. It was possible the man who called himself Red River Regan might have guessed their play on the last hand. If he had guessed it, he knew something about crooked cards. If it had been mere chance that his hand had beaten Troy to the spread, he might be just a lucky cowhand. While inclining to this view, Harris was uncertain, and uncertainty he definitely did not like. He did not like it in others, and he liked it even less in himself.
    "Pot limit," he said, "can run into money. You got it?"
    For answer Hopalong drew a thick roll of bills from his pocket and placed them beside his chips. "I'll cover any play you make, Harris," he said carelessly. "Make her as tough as you like."
    "Lot of money for a cowhand," Harris suggested.
    "I make good money." Hopalong grinned widely.
    This Red River Regan had dealt the cards, but his handling of them had been clumsy, and if he was a gambler, he looked less like one than any man Harris had ever seen. So far he had played a fair game of draw, but nothing unusual. It was true that twice, when Harris had planned a kill, Cassidy had thrown in his hand and passed.
    "No," Harris said, "no pot limit, but I'll bet you a flat five hundred over what's in the pot now that I got you beat."
    "Call," Hopalong said, still smiling. He spread his cards as he spoke-four aces.
    Three by bottom dealing and one by accident.
    Poker Harris's eyes bulged. He came half out of his chair, the cords in his neck swelling. "Why, you mangy wolf!"
    Troy's grab for a gun was wasted,. With a swift motion Hop-along had sprung back, knocking over his chair as his Colts leaped to his hands.
    Troy's hand froze, and Harris stiffened where he stood. Cassidy smiled. "What's the matter? You got aces too?" He motioned with his guns. "Back up!"
    Holstering his left-hand gun, he turned over Harris's hand, then chuckled. "Your aces came from a newer deck, Poker. You should use two decks equal so it won't show up." Calmly he began to pocket the money. "Sorry to spoil this game for you boys, but you started playin' rough. I just kept it up." He nodded toward his hand. "Four bullets. Don't make me use any more."
    Troy was livid with fury, Poker Harris big, utterly contained, only his eyes showing the rage that consumed him. Hankins, whose hands had dropped only to realize the futility of attempting a draw from his position, held his place. Only Drennan seemed unmoved and somewhat curious.
    "Enjoyed the game," Hopalong said quietly. "Now you boys sit quiet while I leave."
    "Wait a minute!" Harris had relaxed in his chair. "Why leave? Strikes me you're an hombre knows his way around. You handle your guns faster than any man I ever saw-except one. Want a job?"
    Hopalong gestured at the money. "With all that? You crazy?"
    "That's chicken feed. There's plenty around here."
    "Boss-" Troy started to protest.
    "Shut up!" Harris replied irritably. "I can us!? a man like you."
    Red River Regan shrugged. "I'll always talk business."
    "Then find