. All this was
humbug, for he had added it up before Philip came in, and knew to a
dollar how much it amounted to. Philip stood by, feeling miserably
uncomfortable, while the reckoning went on.

"Really," said Congreve, looking up at length, in assumed surprise, "I
had no idea it amounted to so much!"

"How much does it come to?" questioned his wretched dupe.

"One hundred and thirty-six dollars," was the calm response.

"A hundred and thirty-six dollars!" gasped Philip.

"Yes; surprising, isn't it? Little sums count up, you know. However,
we've had some fun out of it, haven't we?"

"I don't see where the fun comes in," said Philip, bitterly. "Of course,
it's fun for you to win so much."

"You won some of the time, Phil. Think how many games we have had, and
how exciting it was. You play a good deal better game than you did."

"But I have lost a big pile of money."

"Oh, yes. Experience costs money, you know. You'll get it all back, and
more, too, some day."

"How can I, when you are going away?"

"I don't mean out of me. I suppose my game is better than yours. I mean
out of somebody else."

Philip was silent. The hope held out did not seem to comfort him much.

"When will you pay me that money, Phil?" asked Congreve, abruptly.

"When? I'm sure I don't know. I haven't any money, you know."

"That won't do. It isn't satisfactory," said Congreve, assuming a
sternness he had never before exhibited toward his friend.

"What do you mean?" asked Philip, half frightened, half offended.

"I mean that I need the money, and must have it."

"I'd pay it to you if I had it, but I haven't."

"You must get it."

"How can I? My father won't give it to me."

"Listen to me. I am in earnest. I want to ask you a question. Suppose
you had won, wouldn't you have expected me to pay you?"

"Why, yes, I suppose so."

"Well, it's a poor rule that doesn't work both ways. I tell you, Phil, I
need that money. I need it to pay my hotel bill."

"Was that what you depended upon to pay your bills?" asked Philip, with
awakening suspicion. "I thought you had plenty of money."

This was what Congreve had represented to his dupe, but the question by
no means disconcerted him.

"Of course," he said; "but a man can't always command his resources. I
have sent in two different directions for money, but they have put me
off, so I have to fall back on you."

"I'd like to pay the money, and get it off my mind," said Philip,
uncom