Smiling with commiseration, Ace Fernandez made his next-to-last gesture in a misspent life. He reached for the pot. As his eager hands shot out there was a sharp, tearing sound, and the white sleeve of the elder Fernandez ripped loudly, and there snugly against his arm was what is known in the parlance of those aware of such things as a sleeve holdout. In it were several cards, among them the missing nine, ten, and queen.
For one utterly appalling instant Ace Fernande froze, with what sinking of the heart you can imagine. Then he made the second of his last two gestures. He reached for his gun.
(from "Medicine Ground," by Louis L'Amour)
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