Joe unpacked his grip. His trunk check he had given to the clerk, who said he would send to the railroad station for the baggage. Then Joe changed his collar, put on a fresh tie, and went down in the elevator. He wanted to be among the players who were to be his companions for the coming months.
Joe liked Rad Chase at once. In a way he was like Charlie Hall, but rather older, and with more knowledge of the world.
"Do you play cards?" was Rad's question, after the formalities of introduction, Joe's roommate having come in shortly after our hero went down.
"Well, I can make a stab at whist, but I'm no wonder," confessed Joe.
"Do you play Canfield solitaire?"
"Never heard of it."
"Shake hands!" cried Rad, and he seemed relieved.
"Why?" asked Joe.
"Well, the fellow I roomed with last year was a fiend at Canfield solitaire. He'd sit up until all hours of the morning, trying to make himself believe he wasn't cheating, and I lost ten pounds from not getting my proper sleep."
"Well, I'll promise not to keep you awake that way," said Joe with a laugh.