Chapter 26 Summary

When everyone has gone except Eddie, Maxie explains his ability to win so much money against three experienced players. Louie Livergreen was scared of me, says Maxie. Louie knew that one word from him could get all of The Three arrested, and therefore Louie was scared of upsetting Maxie. Louie's fear in turn upset the other two. Due to this, none of The Three were concentrating on their cards, but Maxie was and was able to win ten hands in a row.

Eddie wants to know why Maxie did not have The Three arrested, since their arrest would leave the trucking industry leaderless. Maxie says that this is against his philosophy of war, which is that one enemy can be replaced by stronger, meaner enemies. It is better to fight against an enemy you know and understand rather than those you do not...