touch another card."

His companions only smiled wearily, for they knew that to-morrow night
he would be back at the table.

"How much of old man Compton's money did you get tonight?" asked one of
the four after Bince had left the room.

"About two thousand dollars," was the reply, "which added to what I
already hold, puts Mr. Compton in my debt some seven or eight thousand
dollars."

Whereupon they all laughed.

"I suppose," remarked anther, "that it's a damn shame, but if we don't
get it some one else will."

"Is he paying anything at all?" asked another.

"Oh, yes; he comes across with something now and then, but we'll
probably have to carry the bulk of it until after the wedding."

"Well, I can't carry it forever," said the first speaker. "I'm not
playing here for my health," and, rising, he too left the room. Going
directly to the buffet, he found Bince, as he was quite sure that he
would.

"Look here, old man," he said, "I hate to seem insistent, but, on the
level, I've got to have some money."