liked chess, and was a fine player. Since breaking his arm he
had turned to games with the feverish eagerness of one who looks for
something absorbing to fill an unrestful mind. It was Seaver's skill
in chess that had at first attracted Bertram to the man long ago; but
Bertram could beat him easily--too easily for much pleasure in it now.
So they did not play chess often these days. Bertram had found that, in
spite of his injury, he could still take part in other games, and some
of them, if not so intricate as chess, were at least more apt to take
his mind off himself, especially if there were a bit of money up to add
zest and interest.

As it happened, however, Bertram learned one day that Arkwright could
play chess--and play well, too, as he discovered after their first
game together. This fact contributed not a little to such success as
Arkwright was having in his efforts to wean Bertram from his undesirable
companions; for Bertram soon found out that Arkwright was more than a
match for himself, and the occasional games he did succeed in winning
only whetted his appetite for more. Many an evening now, therefore, was
spent by the two men in Bertram's den, with Billy anxiously hovering
near, her eyes longingly watching either her husband's absorbed face or
the pretty little red and white ivory figures, which seemed to possess
so wonderful a power to hold his attention. In spite of her joy at the
chessmen's efficacy in keeping Bertram at home, however, she was almost
jealous of them.

"Mr. Arkwright, couldn't you show _me_ how to play, sometime?" she said
wistfully, one evening, when the momentary absence of Bertram had left
the two alone together. "I used to watch Bertram and Marie play years
ago; but I never knew how to play myself. Not that I can see where the
fun is in just sitting staring at a chessboard for half an hour at a
time, though! But Bertram likes it, and so I--I want to learn to stare
with him. Will you teach me?"

"I should be glad to," smiled Arkwright.

"Then will you come, maybe, sometimes when Bertram is at the doctor's?
He goes every Tuesday and Friday at three o'clock for treatment. I'd
rather you came then for two reasons: first, because I don't want
Bertram to know I'm learning, till I can play _some_; and, secondly,
because--because I don't want to take you away--from him."

The last words were spoken very low, and were accompanied by a painful
blush. It was the first time Billy had ever h