a lady friend
here. I may receive an invitation to dine with the party she
accompanies."

"I won't excuse you," said Thatford.

"Our friend here will keep you company."

"No, you must go with me."

"Where will you go?"

"To the Brunswick."

"I may join you later."

Oscar discerned the fine play that was being worked on him. He fell to
the whole business, and more keenly appreciated what an excellent actor
the man Girard really was.

"I fear I will have to beg off," said Oscar.

"No, no, gentleman, this will not do. I am as hungry as a bear, but do
not propose to sit down to a solitary meal. Come, Mr. Dunne, you must
certainly be my guest."

"All right, sir, as you insist. I did intend to go home and retire early
to-night, but recognizing how your friend here has deserted you I will
go with you."

"I am obliged to you, and we will have a meal that shall amply
compensate you. Girard will lose it, and when we tell him of our good
time to-morrow we will make him green with envy."

"I may be with you. I am not sure yet I will receive an invitation from
the other party."

"That chap," thought Oscar, "is a quick thinker. He knows how to take
advantage of the slightest incident when he is playing a game. All
right, he is a bright player. We shall see how to scheme against him."

Girard went away, and Thatford and Oscar proceeded to the Brunswick. The
former became quite confidential after the first glass of wine, and his
confidences were conventional and natural.

"My friend Girard is a great chap," he said, "one of the biggest-hearted
fellows in the world. He is very rich and generous."

"He appears like a very generous man," said Oscar.

"He is just what he appears to be. He has but one weakness--he is
excessively fond of draw."

"Yes," thought Oscar, "he is playing a big game of draw with me, and he
expects to draw me into some sort of a web. Well, he may succeed; we
can't tell, Mr. Spider."

Oscar did not speak out just what he thought, but said:

"I am partial to a little game myself under the proper conditions."

"What do you consider the proper conditions?"

"My companions in the game gentlemen, who, like myself, play for the
sake of amusement, and not to win for the sake of the money."

"Then Girard is your man, and I think he has taken a great fancy to you,
Dunne. He is a queer fellow in some things, but when he takes a fancy to
a man, he clings to him, and is always ready to do a good tu