.

"I have not so much on me," said Harry, "but perhaps my I. O. U. will
do."

"What shall we say," said Mr. Sims, "a dollar to play and five dollars
limit?"

"Say five and twenty-five," said De Lacy, who was commanding himself
with a great effort.

"Is that too high?" said Harry, looking toward Ranald.

"No," said Ranald, "the higher the better."

It was soon evident that Ranald knew the game. He had learned it during
the long winter nights in the shanty from Yankee, who was a master at
it, and he played it warily and with iron nerve. He seemed to know as
by instinct when to retreat and when to pursue; and he played with the
single purpose of bleeding the lieutenant dry. Often did he refuse to
take toll of Harry or Mr. Sims when opportunity offered, but never once
did he allow the lieutenant to escape.

"You flatter me," said the lieutenant, sarcastically, as Ranald's
purpose became increasingly clear.

"I will have from you all you have won," replied Ranald, in a tone of
such settled resolve that it seemed as if nothing could prevent the
accomplishment of his purpose. In vain the lieutenant sought to brace
his nerves with his brandy-and-sodas. He played now recklessly and again
with over-caution, while Ranald, taking advantage of every slip and
every sign of weakness, followed him with relentless determination.

With such stakes the game was soon over. It was not long before the
lieutenant was stripped of his hundred, while Harry and Mr. Sims had
each lost smaller amounts.

"You will try another hundred?" said the lieutenant, burning to get
revenge.

Without a word Ranald laid down his hundred; the others did likewise,
and once more the game proceeded. There was no change in Ranald's play.
Thorough knowledge of the game, absolute self-command, an instinctive
reading of his opponent's mind, and unswerving purpose soon brought
about the only result possible. The lieutenant's second hundred with a
part of Harry's and Mr. Sims's passed into Ranald's possession.

Again De Lacy challenged to play.

"No," said Ranald, "I have done." He put back into his linen bag his one
hundred dollars, counted out two hundred, and gave it to LeNoir, saying:
"That is Rouleau's," and threw the rest upon the table. "I want no man's
money," he said, "that I do not earn."

The lieutenant sprang to his feet.

"Hold!" he cried, "you forget, there is something else!"

"No," said Ranald, as Harry and Mr. Sims put themselves in