a sudden rattling at the door. Uncle Billy started to his feet, but
Uncle Jim caught his arm. "_Don't leave the cards_! It's only the
wind; sit down," he said in a low awe-hushed voice, "it's your deal;
you were two before, and two now, that makes you four; you've only one
point to make to win the game. Go on."

They both poured out a cup of whiskey, smiling vaguely, yet with a
certain terror in their eyes. Their hands were cold; the cards slipped
from Uncle Billy's benumbed fingers; when he had shuffled them he
passed them to his partner to shuffle them also, but did not speak.
When Uncle Jim had shuffled them methodically he handed them back
fatefully to his partner. Uncle Billy dealt them with a trembling
hand. He turned up a club. "If you are sure of these tricks you know
you've won," said Uncle Jim in a voice that was scarcely audible.
Uncle Billy did not reply, but tremulously laid down the ace and right
and left bowers.

He had won!

A feeling of relief came over each, and they laughed hysterically and
discordantly. Ridiculous and childish as their contest might have
seemed to a looker-on, to each the tension had been as great as that of
the greatest gambler, without the gambler's trained restraint,
coolness, and composure. Uncle Billy nervously took up the cards again.

"Don't," said Uncle Jim gravely; "it's no use--the luck's gone now."

"Just one more deal," pleaded his partner.

Uncle Jim looked at the fire, Uncle Billy hastily dealt, and threw the
two hands face up on the table. They were the ordinary average cards.
He dealt again, with the same result. "I told you so," said Uncle Jim,
without looking up.

It certainly seemed a tame performance after their wonderful hands, and
after another trial Uncle Billy threw the cards aside and drew his
stool before the fire. "Mighty queer, warn't it?" he said, with
reminiscent awe. "Three times running. Do you know, I felt a kind o'
creepy feelin' down my back all the time. Criky! what luck! None of
the boys would believe it if we told 'em--least of all that Dick
Bullen, who don't believe in luck, anyway. Wonder what he'd have said!
and, Lord! how he'd have looked! Wall! what are you starin' so for?"

Uncle Jim had faced around, and was gazing at Uncle Billy's
good-humored, simple face. "Nothin'!" he said briefly, and his eyes
again sought the fire.

"Then don't look as if you was seein' suthin'--you give me the creeps,"
returned Uncle B