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money onto the bar.
    â€œYou sure you wanna put it all in the safe?” Leo asked the man. “You don’t wanna spend a little on the tables?” He grinned at the man and rubbed his well-trimmed mustache. “They’re paying out tonight.”
    The man looked longingly over his shoulder and then back to Leo. “Jes putta the money inna the safe. My wife, she threatened to poison my food if I lost our money at the cards again.”
    Leo laughed heartily, and even Marco couldn’t help but grin. The threat of an Italian wife was not to be taken lightly; however, such an extreme reckoning was unlikely. The man took a receipt from Leo, gave Marco and Alfredo a nod, and, with one last look at the gaming tables, exited the saloon.
    â€œHe’ll be back later tonight,” Leo declared. He put the man’s money in the safe behind him and turned back to the Panetta brothers. “What can I do for you two?”
    â€œWe’re here to deposit our earnings, too,” Marco said, putting his money on the bar. “Of course, not all of it.”
    Leo smiled. “Of course not. If you’re feeling lucky tonight, there’s going to be a high-stakes game in the Snake Room. When I finish up here, I’ll be dealing.”
    Marco glanced toward the door across the room. This exit led to a short hall and several other rooms, one of which was known for its more intense games. Most saloons had a snake room where men could lose their lives as easily as they lost their money. Even so, it was one of Marco’s favorite places to spend his time.
    â€œSounds challenging,” he said, looking back at Leo.
    â€œIt should be.”
    He counted through Marco’s money and wrote a receipt. While many of the immigrants didn’t trust the banks to handle their money, they were less guarded with their favorite saloonkeeper. Many of the bar owners kept the miners’ wages for them in the house safe. They spent most of their money in the saloon anyway, so it seemed only appropriate.
    After seeing to their deposits, Marco and Alfredo made their way around the room. They each ordered beers and flirted with the women who served them. One of the girls named Bianca was a favorite of Marco’s.
    â€œYou are here for some fun, no?” she asked in thickly accented English.
    â€œI’m here for the best time money can buy,” Marco declared. He nodded toward one of the gaming tables. “You wanna be my lady luck?”
    Her dark eyes flashed as her sensuous mouth widened in a smile. “I wanna be whatever you want me to be.”
    Marco lost track of Alfredo for a time and concentrated on Bianca and the games at hand. He lost and won several hands of poker, then grew bored and headed to the Snake Room. Bianca clung to his arm possessively.
    â€œWe could go to my room,” she whispered low.
    â€œLeo’s expecting me,” Marco replied, giving her a wink. “I feel lucky tonight. Maybe I’ll win a big fortune, and we can run away together.”
    She pouted and moved to stand in front of the closed door to the Snake Room. “You tease me, but you know I adore you. I will run away with you, Marco.”
    He nodded, knowing she would run away with anyonewho would take her from this life. He couldn’t blame her for trying. “Come on, now. We can’t keep Leo waiting.”
    Giving up, Bianca opened the door and stepped aside. True to his word, Leo was now dealing cards to several men. Marco recognized some of the players. Most were well into their cups, enjoying the cheap liquor. With a shot of whiskey selling for ten cents and a twelve-ounce schooner of beer for a nickel, it was often said, “There’s a whole lot of drunkenness to be had in a dollar.”
    Feeling rather sober in light of this new company, Marco tossed Bianca a nickel and told her to fetch him another beer. She gave a playful nip to his earlobe before slinking off across the