"It would appear so. You'd concealed yourself pretty effectually for some time. Your friend the colonel was getting anxious, you know."
"How on earth did you ever do it?"
"Tell you some time," answered Ralston sleepily. "By the way, do you mind saying how long you'd been in that house?"
"Three days."
"And lost——?"
"Twenty-seven thousand dollars."
"No one seemed to know you gambled."
"I don't. It was my first experience."
"How long has this little expedition lasted?"
"Two weeks."