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〃Hamilton's 'Law of Parsimony；'〃 Smoke laughed。
〃I ain't never heard of the geezer； but his dope's sure right。 I'm dreamin'； Smoke； an' you're just snoopin' around in my dream an' tormentin' me with system。 If you love me； if you sure do love me； you'll just yell； 'Shorty！ Wake up！' An' I'll wake up an' start breakfast。〃
V。
The third night of play； as Smoke laid his first bet； the game… keeper shoved fifteen dollars back to him。
〃Ten's all you can play；〃 he said。 〃The limit's come down。〃
〃Gettin' picayune；〃 Shorty sneered。
〃No one has to play at this table that don't want to；〃 the keeper retorted。 〃And I'm willing to say straight out in meeting that we'd sooner your pardner didn't play at our table。〃
〃Scared of his system； eh？〃 Shorty challenged； as the keeper paid over three hundred and fifty dollars。
〃I ain't saying I believe in system； because I don't。 There never was a system that'd beat roulette or any percentage game。 But just the same I've seen some queer strings of luck； and I ain't going to let this bank go bust if I can help it。〃
〃Cold feet。〃
〃Gambling is just as much business； my friend； as any other business。 We ain't philanthropists。〃
Night by night； Smoke continued to win。 His method of play varied。 Expert after expert； in the jam about the table； scribbled down his bets and numbers in vain attempts to work out his system。 They complained of their inability to get a clew to start with； and swore that it was pure luck； though the most colossal streak of it they had ever seen。
It was Smoke's varied play that obfuscated them。 Sometimes； consulting his note…book or engaging in long calculations； an hour elapsed without his staking a chip。 At other times he would win three limit…bets and clean up a thousand dollars and odd in five or ten minutes。 At still other times； his tactics would be to scatter single chips prodigally and amazingly over the table。 This would continue for from ten to thirty minutes of play； when； abruptly； as the ball whirled through the last few of its circles； he would play the limit on column； colour； and number； and win all three。 Once； to complete confusion in the minds of those that strove to divine his secret； he lost forty straight bets； each at the limit。 But each night； play no matter how diversely； Shorty carried home thirty…five hundred dollars for him。
〃It ain't no system；〃 Shorty expounded at one of their bed…going discussions。 〃I follow you； an' follow you； but they ain't no figgerin' it out。 You never play twice the same。 All you do is pick winners when you want to； an' when you don't want to； you just on purpose don't。〃
〃Maybe you're nearer right than you think； Shorty。 I've just got to pick losers sometimes。 It's part of the system。〃
〃Systemhell！ I've talked with every gambler in town； an' the last one is agreed they ain't no such thing as system。〃
〃Yet I'm showing them one all the time。〃
〃Look here； Smoke。〃 Shorty paused over the candle； in the act of blowing it out。 〃I'm real irritated。 Maybe you think this is a candle。 It ain't。 An' this ain't me neither。 I'm out on trail somewheres； in my blankets； lyin' on my back with my mouth open； an' dreamin' all this。 That ain't you talkin'； any more than this candle is a candle。〃
〃It's funny； how I happen to be dreaming along with you then；〃 Smoke persisted。
〃No； it ain't。 You're part of my dream； that's all。 I've hearn many a man talk in my dreams。 I want to tell you one thing； Smoke。 I'm gettin' mangy an' mad。 If this here dream keeps up much more I'm goin' to bite my veins an' howl。〃
VI。
On the sixth night of play at the Elkhorn； the limit was reduced to five dollars。
〃It's all right；〃 Smoke assured the game…keeper。 〃I want thirty… five hundred to…night； as usual； and you only compel me to play longer。 I've got to pick twice as many winners； that's all。〃
〃Why don't you buck somebody else's table？〃 the keeper demanded wrathfully。
〃Because I like this one。〃 Smoke glanced over to the roaring stove only a few feet away。 〃Besides； there are no draughts here； and it is warm and comfortable。〃
On the ninth night； when Shorty had carried the dust home； he had a fit。
〃I quit； Smoke； I quit；〃 he began。 〃I know when I got enough。 I ain't dreamin'。 I'm wide awake。 A system can't be； but you got one just the same。 There's nothin' in the rule o' three。 The almanac's clean out。 The world's gone smash。 There's nothin' regular an' uniform no more。 The multiplication table's gone loco。 Two is eight； nine is eleven； and two…times…six is eight hundred an' forty… sixan'an' a half。 Anything is everything； an' nothing's all； an' twice all is cold cream； milk…shakes； an' calico horses。 You've got a system。 Figgers beat the figgerin'。 What ain't is； an' what isn't has to be。 The sun rises in the west； the moon's a paystreak； the stars is canned corn…beef； scurvy's the blessin' of God； him that dies kicks again； rocks floats； water's gas； I ain't me； you're somebody else； an' mebbe we're twins if we ain't hashed…brown potatoes fried in verdigris。 Wake me up！ Somebody！ Oh！ Wake me up！〃
VII。
The next morning a visitor came to the cabin。 Smoke knew him； Harvey Moran； the owner of all the games in the Tivoli。 There was a note of appeal in his deep gruff voice as he plunged into his business。
〃It's like this； Smoke；〃 he began。 〃You've got us all guessing。 I'm representing nine other game…owners and myself from all the saloons in town。 We don't understand。 We know that no system ever worked against roulette。 All the mathematic sharps in the colleges have told us gamblers the same thing。 They say that roulette itself is the system； the one and only system； and； therefore； that no system can beat it； for that would mean arithmetic has gone bug… house。〃
Shorty nodded his head violently。
〃If a system can beat a system； then there's no such thing as system；〃 the gambler went on。 〃In such a case anything could be possiblea thing could be in two different places at once； or two things could be in the same place that's only large enough for one at the same time。〃
〃Well； you've seen me play；〃 Smoke answered defiantly； 〃and if you think it's only a string of luck on my part； why worry？〃
〃That's the trouble。 We can't help worrying。 It's a system you've got； and all the time we know it can't be。 I've watched you five nights now； and all I can make out is that you favour certain numbers and keep on winning。 Now the ten of us game…owners have got together； and we want to make a friendly proposition。 We'll put a roulette table in a back room of the Elkhorn； pool the bank against you； and have you buck us。 It will be all quiet and private。 Just you and Shorty and us。 What do you say？〃
〃I think it's the other way around；〃 Smoke answered。 〃It's up to you to come and see me。 I'll be playing in the bar…room of the Elkhorn to…night。 You can watch me there just as well。〃
VIII。
That night； when Smoke took up his customary place at the table； the keeper shut down the game。
〃The game's closed；〃 he said。 〃Boss's orders。〃
But the assembled game…owners were not to be balked。 In a few minutes