Thus the hours passed.
By one o'clock Frank was far ahead of the game, but he still played on, for he knew it would not seem right for him to propose stopping.
Dare, Harris and Winslow were nearly broken, but they still hung on, hoping for a turn in their direction. Snell had plenty of money, for all that he had been the heaviest loser.
Finally there came a good-sized jackpot, which Dare opened. Snell was the next man, and he promptly raised it fifty cents. Winslow dropped out, and Hodge raised Snell fifty cents. Then it came Frank's turn, and he simply staid in. Harris was dealing, and he dropped out, while Dare simply "made good."
This gave Snell his turn, and he "boosted" two dollars.
"Whew!" breathed Winslow. "That settles me. I'm out."
Hodge was game, and he "came up" on a pair of nines.
Snell was watching Merriwell, and the latter quietly pushed in two dollars, which finished the betting till cards were drawn, as Dare dropped out, after some deliberation.
"How many?" asked Harris, of Snell.
"Don't want any," was the calm reply.