Smart Money Page #2

Hmm.

Say, you don't happen to know

in which room the big roving poker game...

...is going on tonight, do you?

No, sir, I don't. We don't permit anything

like that around this hotel.

Oh, I see.

Thanks. Heh-heh.

Huh.

Whew.

Hmm.

Heh.

Oh, uh...

I'd like a heater, miss.

- Heater?

- Yeah, a cigar.

I've never heard them called that before.

Any particular brand?

Oh, about two bits or better,

if you got them.

These are very nice.

I can recommend them.

You smoke them yourself?

Oh, no, sir.

Well, they are good. Hmm.

Look awfully good.

I'll take four or five of these.

- How much are they?

- They're a dollar apiece.

You think so?

Well, that's the price.

All right. Ahem.

I'll take them.

Here you are, lady.

- Thank you.

- Keep the change.

Say, what are these things for?

Poker dice.

Oh, you gamble with them?

Yes, sir, it's a dollar if you lose.

If you win,

you get $2 worth of merchandise.

Anything behind the counter?

Anything in merchandise.

Heh-heh.

Well, you're a cute little package.

Would you like to roll the dice?

Well, I don't know.

I'm a little green at this sort of thing.

Poker dice, one flop.

- All right.

- Here goes.

- Hard to beat, lady. Heh-heh-heh.

- Not for me.

- Well, come on, let's see you do it.

- Here goes.

I'm for you. There you go.

Two fours.

- Three fours, one on me.

- Ha-ha-ha.

Well, here goes again.

Make it easy for you this time.

Pair of fives. That's a cinch.

- I'd beat it with my eyes closed.

- I bet you can too.

- Come on, let's see you do it. Ha-ha-ha.

- Here goes.

Oh, two fours.

- Well, I'm sorry. Sorry, lady.

- Two on me.

Ha-ha.

Say, you're a cute little trick.

Anybody ever tell you that?

Not yet.

Oh.

Well, here goes again.

Well, better still, straight six high.

- Beat that.

- You must have beginner's luck.

- But I'll beat it even yet.

- Come on, let's see you do it. Come on.

- There's a straight.

- I'm sorry, baby, but you lose.

Five high, mine was six high.

Say, look here. You better quit this.

I hate to see a nice little girl like you

lose her job.

Thanks.

That's three games on the house.

My, but you're lucky.

Do you gamble much?

Oh, I take a little flyer

every once in a while.

For big money?

Do I look like a tinhorn?

- I should say not.

- Heh-heh-heh.

Well, how much do I owe you?

Three dollars,

and you get $6 worth of merchandise.

What will you have?

I got my eye on that big box

of candy right there.

- That's just $6.

- Well, I'll have it.

- Shall I wrap it up for you?

- No, no, no. You keep it, baby.

Oh, I don't think I can do that. I mean...

No, that's all right. I don't eat candy.

Gets in my teeth.

Well, that's too bad for you.

- Yeah.

- But my good luck.

Look here...

You know, I'm a stranger in town.

How'd you like to come out

and have dinner with me tonight?

Oh, I couldn't. My mother

doesn't let me stay out at night.

Oh, that's too bad.

- Are you sure you won't change your mind?

- Oh, I couldn't. I really couldn't.

I'm glad you like it here.

It's very good, let me tell you that.

- Really?

- Yeah.

It's one of the best seafood places

I've ever been at. Ahem.

- I thought you'd like it.

- Great java too.

Mmm.

Not a bad cigar you sold me.

I always say you can tell a gentleman

by the kind of cigar he smokes.

Of course, at home,

I smoke my own brand.

- Yeah?

- A fellow in Havana makes them up for me.

- You don't say.

- Hmm.

Say, Marie, you know most of the regulars

that hang around the hotel, don't you?

Well, yes. Why?

Well, ever see Hickory Short around?

You know, the big gambler.

Well, he's an awfully nice fellow.

He's around all the time.

You don't happen to know which room

they're holding the game?

I happen to know.

You won't say I told you.

Not a word. Come on, tell me, sister.

Mr. Short ordered some cigars

to be sent up to his room this afternoon.

- Yeah?

- And it's 346.

Boy, am I itching to get in that game.

Ho-ho-ho-ho.

I hope you don't think I'm butting in,

Mr. Venizelos.

Call me Nick.

All right, Nick.

Attagirl. Heh-heh. Say,

we getting along swell, aren't we? Heh.

- What is it you're gonna say, baby?

- You've been so nice to me and all.

I was just going to suggest

that you put some money in the hotel safe.

- Yeah?

- For carfare home, in case you...

There won't be any in case, sister.

I hope not.

All right, I got an idea.

Here.

Now, you keep this for me.

- A hundred dollars? Why, I couldn't.

- Yeah.

You keep this for me, baby.

After the game, I'll make you a present

of it. And if I lose... Heh.

Gee, it sounds funny to hear myself

saying "lose. "

Well, if I should lose,

I'll need it for cigar money.

But you don't know me,

I might run away with it.

Now, listen, sister, I'm a gambler.

It's my business to read human nature,

to know people.

- And I can tell that you're on the level.

- But you could put it in the hotel safe.

Oh, no. You're safe enough for me, baby.

Well, all right, if you insist.

Attagirl. Come on, put it in the sock.

Heh-heh.

Uh...

I'd like to see Hickory Short.

Well, I'm Hickory Short.

Yeah?

Well, I'm Nick Venizelos from Irontown.

- Nick the Barber, they call me.

- Oh.

- Come in, Mr. Venizelos.

- Thanks.

I've often heard of you.

Yeah? Heh-heh.

Well...

Have you any way

of identifying yourself?

Why, yes, I...

Gee, I forgot my badge.

Yeah.

Here.

- Mm-hm. Yeah.

- "Nick Venizelos. "

- Well?

- You didn't miss many of them, did you?

Well, here's the convincer.

- That's me in the middle.

- Hmm.

Well, I guess you're yourself, all right.

I'm glad to meet you after all the stories

I've heard about your luck, Mr. Venizelos.

- Oh, call me Nick.

- Hmm.

- All right, Nick.

- Attaboy, Hick. Heh.

You know, I've been wanting

to meet you for a long time.

- For a little action? Heh-heh.

- How'd you guess?

Come on over.

I want you to meet some of the boys.

- Sure.

- King's high.

Boys, I want you to meet Mr. Venizelos.

Ahem.

- Mr. Tompkins.

- Honest John Tompkins?

- That's me.

- Oh, glad to know you, John.

- Mr. River.

- Old Deep River himself, eh?

In person. Not a motion picture, Nick.

Heh-heh-heh.

- Mr. Shultz.

- Back-to-Back Shultz.

You're the fella that almost

broke the bank at Monte Carlo.

- Guilty. Glad to know you, Nick.

- Well, I'm glad to know you, Shultz.

And Mr. Barnes.

- I don't like them from the bottom, brother.

- All right, Nick.

I'll make an exception in your case.

- Hello.

- Have some grape, Nick?

Well, thanks, I don't much

mind if I do. Yeah.

Hmm.

Ahhh. Mm-hm.

Fizz water, huh? Heh-heh.

Very good, Hickory. Where'd you get it?

I'd like to get a case.

I'll send you around a case tomorrow.

Well, maybe I'll be better able

to pay for it tomorrow.

- Well, I'll send it to you anyhow.

- Hmm.

Well, what are we waiting for?

How about a little game

of skill and chance?

Well, I've heard of such things.

What do you like to play?

Five-card stud. How does that suit you?

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