out upon them.
The stranger pulled down his hat.

"You are lucky," he said. "Suppose we try another drink. There is
nothing like absinthe to sharpen one's wits, and I see that you and I
are going to have a delightful game."

After the drink the game proceeded. Kimberlin won from the very first,
rarely losing a game. He became greatly excited. His eyes shone; color
came to his cheeks. The stranger, having exhausted the roll of bills
which he first produced, drew forth another, much larger and of higher
denominations. There were several thousand dollars in the roll. At
Kimberlin's right hand were his winnings,--something like two hundred
dollars. The stakes were raised, and the game went rapidly on. Another
drink was taken. Then fortune turned the stranger's way, and he won
easily. It went back to Kimberlin, for he was now playing with all the
judgment and skill he could command. Once only did it occur to him to
wonder what he should do with the money if he should quit winner; but a
sense of honor decided him that it would belong to the stranger.

By this time the absinthe had so sharpened Kimberlin's faculties that,
the temporary satisfaction which it had brought to his hunger having
passed, his physical suffering returned with increased aggressiveness.
Could he not order a supper with his earnings? No; that was out of the
question, and the stranger said nothing about eating. Kimberlin
continued to play, while the manifestations of hunger took the form of
sharp pains, which darted through him viciously, causing him to writhe
and grind his teeth. The stranger paid no attention, for he was now
wholly absorbed in the game. He seemed puzzled and disconcerted. He
played with great care, studying each throw minutely. No conversation
passed between them now. They drank occasionally, the dice continued to
rattle, the money kept piling up at Kimberlin's hand.

The pale man began to behave strangely. At times he would start and
throw back his head, as though he were listening. For a moment his eyes
would sharpen and flash, and then sink into heaviness again. More than
once Kimberlin, who had now begun to suspect that his antagonist was
some kind of monster, saw a frightfully ghastly expression sweep over
his face, and his features would become fixed for a very short time in
a peculiar grimace. It was noticeable, however, that he was steadily
sinking deeper and deeper into a condition of apathy. Occasionally he
would raise his