affairs," said Loring reprovingly as he came into the box. "Aside
from a mere detail like that, I don't mind saying that Johnny Gamble
has just bet the last hundred dollars he has in the world on an
absolutely criminal long shot."

"I hope he wins!" stated Polly heartily. "I think he's the only real
gentleman I ever knew."

"Well, I like that!" protested Val Russel, laughing.

"I don't mean a slam at you boys," she hastily corrected. "You're a
nice clean bunch; but I know so much about Johnny. He helps people,
then hides so he can't be thanked. He's the one man out of a
thousand that both women and men can absolutely trust."

"That's rather a broad statement," objected Paul Gresham, who had
eyed Polly with fastidious distaste every time she spoke. He was a
rather silent young man with a thin high-arched nose and eyebrows
that met, and was so flawlessly dressed that he sat stiffly.

"I'll make it two in a thousand, Mr. Gresham," said Polly
pleasantly. "I hadn't noticed you; and whatever I am I try to be
polite."

The four other young men, who were used to Polly's sweeping
generalities, laughed; for Polly had their hearty approval.

Johnny Gamble arrived.

"Where's the surprise?" he demanded with a furtive glance in the