"The first clerk's tried it, but the old man protects 'em, and" (in a whisper) "get's his share, I guess.
He can set them off whenever he wants to." (I must explain that there is only one "old man" on a steamboat--that is, the captain.) By this time Parkins had turned and thrown his cards so that everybody knew or thought he knew where the ace was.

Smith, the man with the white hat, now rose five dollars more and offered to bet fifteen.

But Parkins was more indignant than ever.

He told Smith to go away.

He thrust his hand into his pocket and drew out a handful of twenty-dollar gold-pieces.