er got the
color! But wot are ye moonin' about for? Ain't ye goin' to play?
It's mor' 'n half past nine now."

Thus adjured, Uncle Jim moved up to the table and sat down, while Uncle
Billy dealt the cards, turning up the Jack or right bower--but
_without_ that exclamation of delight which always accompanied his good
fortune, nor did Uncle Jim respond with the usual corresponding
simulation of deep disgust. Such a circumstance had not occurred
before in the history of their partnership. They both played in
silence--a silence only interrupted by a larger splash of raindrops
down the chimney.

"We orter put a couple of stones on the chimney-top, edgewise, like
Jack Curtis does. It keeps out the rain without interferin' with the
draft," said Uncle Billy musingly.

"What's the use if"--

"If what?" said Uncle Billy quietly.

"If we don't make it broader," said Uncle Jim half wearily.

They both stared at the chimney, but Uncle Jim's eye followed the wall
around to the bunks. There were many discolorations on the canvas, and
a picture of the Goddess of Liberty from an illustrated paper had
broken out in a kind of damp, measly eruption. "I'll stick that funny
handbill of the 'Washin' Soda' I got at the grocery store the other day
right over the Liberty gal. It's a mighty perty woman washin' with
short sleeves," said Uncle Billy. "That's the comfort of them picters,
you kin always get somethin' new, and it adds thickness to the wall."

Uncle Jim went back to the cards in silence. After a moment he rose
again, and hung his overcoat against the door.

"Wind's comin' in," he said briefly.

"Yes," said Uncle Billy cheerfully, "but it wouldn't seem nat'ral if
there wasn't that crack in the door to let the sunlight in o' mornin's.
Makes a kind o' sundial, you know. When the streak o' light's in that
corner, I says 'six o'clock!' when it's across the chimney I say
'seven!' and so 'tis!"

It certainly had grown chilly, and the wind was rising. The candle
guttered and flickered; the embers on the hearth brightened
occasionally, as if trying to dispel the gathering shadows, but always
ineffectually. The game was frequently interrupted by the necessity of
stirring the fire. After an interval of gloom, in which each partner
successively drew the candle to his side to examine his cards, Uncle
Jim said:--

"Say?"

"Well!" responded Uncle Billy.

"Are you sure you saw that third crow on the wood-pile?"

"Sure