Final answer:
In a scene from a story or novel, George and Slim talk while the other guys play a game in the background.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about a scene from a story or novel where two characters, George and Slim, are engaged in a conversation while the other guys in the background are playing a game. The passage describes the setting of the Cliff House with a music-box playing, the sound of surf, and dogs on the floor. The game being played by the other guys is not specified in the given information.