here is at stake."

"So, now. You have your four cards. For myself--though you are so
excited you wouldn't notice it if I did not call your attention to
it--I take but three. You are an infant, man. See that you be not
delivered into the hands of the enemy."

They looked now each into his renewed hand of five cards. Dunwody
swept a stack of money toward the center of the table. "A thousand
dollars against one look from her eye!"

"My dear sir," rejoined the other calmly, "you are raised to the
extent of two glances--one from each eye."

"Another thousand for the touch of her glove."

"I come back. You shall have a pair."

"A thousand more to hear the sound of her step--another thousand
for one smile!"

Carlisle's voice trembled, but he forced himself under control.
"My dear sir, you shall have all you wish! I am sure if she could
see you now she herself would be disposed to smile. You do not yet
understand that woman. But now, suppose that the betting has gone
far enough? What cards have you? For myself, I discover that I
have drawn four kings. I trust that you have four aces of your
own."

There was sincerity in this wish, but Dunwody answered gloomily:
"You gave me three tens and a pair of fives, with what I held. You
have won the first round."

He dashed a hand, and cleared the square of matted hair from his
forehead, which now was beaded. Red, florid, full-blooded, balked
in his eagerness, he looked as savage as some denizen of the
ancient forest, in pursuit as reckless, as ill-suited with
ill-fortune.

"My deal," said he, at length, in a voice half a growl. And later,
"How many?"

"I shall, if you please, require but one card," was the quiet
answer. Dunwody himself required two. They sat narrowly eying
each other, although there was in this close duel small advantage
for either except in the run of the cards themselves.

"It is perhaps needless for us to waste time, since I can not
divide my stakes," smiled the younger gentleman.

Again with a half growl, Dunwody threw down his cards, face upward.
His teeth were clenched, all his muscles set, all his attitude
strained, tense.

"You have won, my dear Senator! I failed to improve my four cards,
which, it is true, were of one color, but which I regret to say
still remain of the one color and of no better company!"

"It is even!" exclaimed Dunwody. "Come!"

The cards went around once more, and once more the officer asked
for a