“Pile ’em up, Joseph,” he urged. “I need your money.”
At length even Joseph was impressed by his chum’s confidence and paused to view the pile of chips.
“I said fifty dollars, didn’t I?” he asked. “Well, I guess the fifty’s there. So——”
“But why stop at fifty?” asked Guy. “Heavens, man! do you think for a moment that my spending ability is limited to fifty dollars? Go ahead; play your part, Joe. Remember you’re a philanthropist!”
“I call you,” replied Boerick sulkily.
Guy sighed. “Was there ever such luck?” he asked despondently. “To think of wasting a hand like this on a paltry fifty dollars.” He laid down his cards, three queens and a pair of deuces, and glanced politely at Boerick. Boerick raised the card before him and with gloomy countenance showed his hand.
“Aces and nines?” said Guy. “Oh, hardly fit, Joe, hardly fit!” He turned to Phillip. But that youth’s cards were already on the board and he was calmly accepting one of Chester’s cigarettes.
“By Jove, Phil, you nearly had it, eh? Well, better luck next time.”
“Hope so,” replied Phillip indifferently. “See how much I owe you, will you please?”
Guy glanced over the sheet beside him.