l 'em an' see kin you
roll to de po' house."

The rabbi spoke confidentially to the dice for a few moments and then
his voice lifted above the murmur of the congregation. "Snow babies,
let de soot specs read seven. Rooster dice, crow de pay call! Hen dice,
hatch de money eggs. Mule dice, kick dat boy into de rivah! Bam! An' I
reads five-dooce."

This triumph of the rabbi was a signal for a revolt on the part of the
Wildcat. "I quits. I craves to handle dem bones pussonal. Does you own
'em all de time I quits."

The rabbi handed a pair of dice to the Wildcat. "Roll 'em does you
crave to," he said. The concession was made only after he had switched
the dice. The Wildcat got hold of twin dice which were loaded to come
out dooce, trey, or twelve on the first throw. He warmed the dice to a
functioning temperature in the palm of his right hand. In his left he
held the remainder of his roll. He laid the money on the centre of the
table. "Shoots it all. Two hund'ed dollars. Fade me, boy."

The rabbi counted out two hundred dollars, but before the Wildcat threw
the dice the Mud Turtle beside him spoke up. "I shoots fo' hund'ed on
the Wildcat's luck. Shoot's fo' hund'ed. Fade me, boy."

The rabbi grunted and dug into his roll for another four hundred.

The Wildcat turned to the Mud Turtle. "Boy, us is bust does I lose!"

"I been bust befo', Wilecat. So is you. Roll 'em see kin you git double
or nuthin'."

The Wildcat said a few words to the dice, and an instant later they
rattled across the green cloth. "Cyclone babies, blow dat rabbi to
hell! Whuff! An' I reads--ace-dooce. Doggone, Lady Luck, whah at is
you?"

The Mud Turtle grabbed the Wildcat by the arm. "Come on heah befo' dey
gits yo' clothes."

The Wildcat turned away from the table. "Us sho' needs 'at mascot goat.
Was hard luck a minny us done ketched a whale. Trouble wid luck, it's
always changin'. Don' stay on de good side long enough fo' a boy to git
settled down." He bade farewell to the rabbi. "You sho' was right. I'll
say gin comes high. Fo' hund'ed dollars a drink!"

The rabbi laughed a hollow laugh. "Come on back sometime an' try de
thousan' dollah gin when you feels strongeh."

"Does I find Lily an' Lady Luck I comes back an' shows you some
million-dollar gin--mebbe."

"On your way, boy--at's de quinine talkin'!"

CHAPTER XVI

Launched by the rabbi's parting taunt, the Wildcat and the Mud Turtle
made their way out of the ginagogue. On t