that it
did not seem apparent.

Bloodgood lost all his chips. The game was held up for a few moments. He
stepped into the next room and returned with a fresh supply.

"This is the bottom," he declared. "You people may have them as soon as
you like. To blazes with them! Let's lift the limit."

"Ah--er--let's throw it off--entirely," suggested Mr. Slush.

Bloodgood glared at the little man in astonishment.

"What?" he cried. "You propose that? Why, you didn't want to play a
bigger game than a quarter limit at the start!"

"Perhaps you are--er--right," admitted Mr. Slush. "I--er--don't deny it.
But I have grown more--more interested, you understand. I--I don't mind
playing a good game--now."

"Well, then, if the other gentlemen say so, by the gods, we'll make it
no limit!" Bloodgood almost shouted.

The Frenchman bowed suavely, a slight smile curling the ends of his
pointed mustache upward.

"I haf not ze least--what you call eet?--ze least objectshong," he
purred.

"I don't mind," said the Englishman.

Now there was great interest. Somehow, Frank felt that a climax was
coming. He watched everything with deep interest.

Luck continued to run against Bloodgood. To Frank's surprise, it was
plain Mr. Slush was winning. This seemed to surprise and puzzle both the
Englishman and the Frenchman.

It was hard work to draw the little man in when Hazleton or Montfort
dealt. On his own deal or that of Bloodgood, he seemed ready for
anything.

"By Jove!" whispered Frank, in Diamond's ear. "That man is not such a
fool as I thought! I haven't been able to understand him at all, and I
don't understand him now."

At length there came a big jack-pot. It was passed round several times.
Then Hazleton opened it on three nines.

Bloodgood sat next. He had two pairs, aces up, and he raised instantly.

Montfort was the next man. He held a pair of deuces, but he saw all that
had been bet, and doubled the amount!

Mr. Slush hesitated a little. He seemed ready to lay down, but finally
braced up and came in, calling.

Hazleton did not accept the call. He raised again.

Bloodgood looked at his hand and cursed under his breath. It was just
good enough to make him feel that he ought to make another raise, but
he began to think there were other good hands out, and it was not
possible to tell where continued raising would land him, so he "made
good."

With nothing but a pair of deuces in his hand, Montfort "cracked her up"
a