use I think, Condy, that THIS way perhaps you won't play quite so
often at first; and then little by little perhaps--perhaps--well, never
mind that now. I want to play; put it that way. But I want you to
promise me never to play with any one else--say for six months."

And in the end, whipped by a sense of shame, Condy made her the
promise. They became very gay upon the instant.

"Hoh!" exclaimed Condy; "what do YOU know of poker? I think we had best
play old sledge or cassino."

Blix had dealt a hand and partitioned the chips.

"Straights and flushes BEFORE the draw," she announced calmly.

Condy started and stared; then, looking at her askance, picked up his
hand.

"It's up to you."

"I'll make it five to play."

"Five? Very well. How many cards?"

"Three."

"I'll take two."

"Bet you five more."

Blix looked at her hand. Then, without trace of expression in her
voice or face, said:

"There's your five, and I'll raise you five."

"Five better."

"And five better than that."

"Call you."

"Full house. Aces on tens," said Blix, throwing down her cards.

"Heavens! they're good as gold," muttered Condy as Blix gathered in the
chips.

An hour later she had won all the chips but five.

"Now we'll stop and get to fishing again; don't you want to?"

He agreed, and she counted the chips.

"Condy, you owe me seven dollars and a half," she announced.

Condy began to smile. "Well," he said jocosely, "I'll send you around
a check to-morrow."

But at this Blix was cross upon the instant. "You wouldn't do
that--wouldn't talk that way with one of your friends at the club!" she
exclaimed; "and it's not right to do it with me. Condy, give me seven
dollars and a half. When you play cards with me it's just as though it
were with another man. I would have paid you if you had won."

"But I haven't got more than nine dollars. Who'll pay for the supper
to-night at Luna's, and our railroad fare going home?"

"I'll pay."

"But I--I can't afford to lose money this way."

"Shouldn't have played, then. I took the same chances as you. Condy,
I want my money."

"You--you--why you've regularly flimflammed me."

"Will you give me my money?"

"Oh, take your money then!"

Blix shut the money in her purse, and rose, dusting her dress.

"Now," she said--"now that the pastime of card-playing is over, we will
return to the serious business of life, which is the catching--no,
'KILLING' of lake trou