"See that, Tom!" said he. "Got any money?"

"If I have I shall keep it."

"Put down a quarter, and make another."

"No, sir! I'm no gambler!" replied Tom, with emphasis.

"Quite respectable, I assure you," added the blackleg at the table.

"I'm going," said Tom, decidedly.

"Baby!" sneered Ben. "Afraid to play!"

"I _won't_ play! I'm going."

The negro opened the door, and he passed out. Contrary to his expectation,
he was followed by Fred and Ben.

"Baby is afraid of cards!" sneered Ben, as they passed through the long
entry.

"Afraid of cards, but not afraid of you," replied Tom, as he planted a
heavy blow between the eyes of his companion.

Ben Lethbridge returned the blow, and it cost him another, and there was a
prospect of quite a lively skirmish in the entry; but Fred Pemberton
interposed his good offices, and effected a compromise, which, like most
of the political compromises, was only the postponement of the conflict.