e common greenbacks. He met
each wager, while he sat negligent and half smiled and chewed his
unlighted cigar.

"This is the last round, gentlemen," he reminded. "Are you all in? Don't
leave with regrets. You," he said, direct to me. "Are you in such short
circumstances that you have no spunk? Why did you come here, sir, if not
to win? Why, the stakes you play would not buy refreshment for the lady!"

That was too much. I threw scruples aside. He had badgered me--he was
there to win if he could; I now was hot with the same design. I extracted
my twenty-dollar note, and deaf to a quickly breathed "Wait the turn" from
My Lady I planked it down before him. She should know me for a man of
decision.

"There, sir," said I. "I am betting twenty-two dollars in all, which is my
limit to-night, on the same right-end card as I stand."

I thought that I had him. Forthwith he straightened alertly, spoke
tartly.

"The game is closed, gentlemen. Remember, you are wagering on the first
turn. There are no splits in monte. Not at this table. Our friend says the
right-end card. You, sir," and he addressed Jim. "They are backing you.
Which do you say is the queen? Lay your finger on her."

Jim so did, with a finger stubby, and dirty under the nail.

"That is the card, is it? You are agreed?" he queried us, sweeping his
cold gray eyes from face to face. "We'll have no crabbing."

We nodded, intently eying the card, fearful yet, some of us, that it might
be denied us.

"You, sir, then." And he addressed me. "You are the heaviest better.
Suppose you turn the card for yourself and those other gentlemen."

I obediently reached for it. My hand trembled. There were sixty or
seventy dollars upon the table, and my own contribution was my last cent.
As I fumbled I felt the strain of bodies pressing against mine, and heard
the hiss of feverish breaths, and a foolish laugh or two. Nevertheless the
silence seemed overpowering.

I turned the card--the card with the bent corner, of which I was as
certain as of my own name; I faced it up, confidently, my capital already
doubled; and amidst a burst of astonished cries I stared dumbfounded.

It was the eight of clubs! My fingers left it as though it were a snake.
It was the eight of clubs! Where I had seen, in fancy, the queen of
hearts, there lay like a changeling the eight of clubs, with corner bent
as only token of the transformation.

The crowd elbowed about me. With rapid movement the ga